SOUTH ASIAN ECONOMIES

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26122, 26 May 1950, Page 7

SOUTH ASIAN ECONOMIES

CEYLON MINISTER’S VIEWS URGENCY OF POSITION EMPHASISED (Rec. 8.30 p.m.» WASHINGTON, May 24. "Communism in Asia is bred, fed, and nurtured on starving stomachs and in hovels unfit even for beasts,’’ said Sir John Kotalawala, Minister of Works and Transport in the Government of Ceylon, in Washington to-day. Referring to the masses of Southeast Asia who were living on the verge of starvation. Sir John Kotalawala Baid: If we. their present leaders, fail in our efforts to improve their standard of living, our peoples will surely fall victims of ideologies other than those of democracy.” Sir John Kotalawala said that President Truman’s programme for helping ur.der-developea areas and other aid schemes brought new hope to the peoples of the South-east Asian area, but their problems were so urgent and So enormous that there was a genuine apprehension that help might come too late and be wholly inadequate. Even more important than direct financial aid was the implementation by large industrial countries like the United States of free multilateral trade. Criticising the International Wheat Agreement, he 'Said that Ceylon had to pay 40 per cent, more for its wheat imports as a result of sterling devaluation. but there had been no corresponding increase in the prices of Ceylon's principal experts—tea and rubber. ‘Surpluses of cereals in countries erica, Canada, and Australia must be allowed to have their full effect on the existing price levels,’’ he continued. “The existing commodity I arrangements must be revised to meet tr.e urgent necessities of large areas just above starvation level.” Sir John Kotalawala said that the feeders of Pakistan. India. Ceylon, Burma, and Indonesia could lead their Fe-jples into increasing happiness if tr.ey were given reasonable support by the old *r democracies.