BANDUNG PROPOSALS COVER WIDE RANGE

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27642, 26 April 1955, Page 13

BANDUNG PROPOSALS COVER WIDE RANGE

(Rec. 9 p.m.)

RANDUNG, April 24.

The Asian-African conference ended today after passing a number of resolutions which included the condemnation of colonialism, racialism, and weapons of mass destruction. One resolution condemned colonialism “in all its aspects,” but did not mention communism, which some delegates had argued for days to have included as a new type of colonialism.

A declaration which maintained that freedom and independence were endangered by international doctrines seeking to dominate, exploit, and subjugate peoples through force, infiltration, and subversion, was eliminated from the conference’s final communique. The communique called on the Netherlands to abolish colonialism in Dutch New Guinea, and asked all colonial Powers to grant freedom and independence to all peoples. Siam’s Foreign Minister (Prince Wan) announced early today that the conference had finally reached unanimity on all its resolutions. The conference convened in a final open plenary session, where delegates made their closing remarks. The final communique said the nations agreed on abstention from exerting pressures on other countries. They agreed to respect the right of each of the nations to defend itself singly or collectively in conformity with the United Nations Charter. Friendly Co-operation In their 10 principles for friendly co-operation, the conference’s 29 nations abstention from collective defence arrangements which served the big Powers. The conference conceded the right to each nation to enter defensive regional military alliances permitted by the United Nations Charter. Drafters of the resolution on colonialism had met for 12 hours over five sessions without resolving their differences on whether communism should be included. They had before them the suggestion of tne Chinese Premier (Mr Chou En-lai) that all colonialism in the world should cease within 15 years. It was not accepted. The conference urged the Netherlands to reopen negotiations as soon as possible to abolish colonialism in Dutch New Guinea. It supported the Indonesian case for Dutch New Guinea. It declared its support for the rights of the peoples of Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia, and urged the French Government to bring about a peaceful settlement. It declared support of the rights of the Arab people of Palestine and called for United Nations resolutions on Palestine to be put into effect.' The communique reaffirmed that the determination of Asian and African peoples to eradicate racialism was justified, and deplored the policies and practices of racial segregation and discrimination. It expressed warm sympathy and support for the courageous stand , taken by. the victims of racial discrimination in South Africa. The delegates approved a resolution which condemned the production . or the use of weapons of mass destruction and warned against the dangers of thermonuclear explosions. Along with this, they accepted the idea of setting up a chain of atomic testing stations through Africa and Asia to Australia to seek signs ol spreading radioactivity. The stations were proposed by Mr Nehru. The conference considered disarmament. It said prohibition of the production, tests, and use of nuclear and thermonuclear weapons was imperative to save mankind and civilisation from the prospect of destruction. It urged the speedy establishment of an international atomic energy agency providing adequate representation of the conference's countries on its executive. The 29 nations welcomed offers to make available information on atomic energy for peaceful purposes. They agreed to appoint liaison officers for

the exchange of information and ideas on matters of mutual interest.

The political committee adopted Pakistan’s proposal to seek greater Asian-African representation in the United Nations Security Council. It agreed also to press for the admission to the United Nations of Cambodia, Ceylon, Jordan, Japan, Laos, Libya, and, subject to the Geneva agreements, Vietnam. The conference also recommended: The establishment of a special ■United Nations fund for economic development. The allocation by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development of a greater part of its resources to Asian-African countries. The earlv establishment of an international finance corporation, which should include in its activities the undertaking of equity investment. The encouragement of the promotion of joint ventures among AsianAfrican countries in so far as this would promote • their common interest. The peaceful settlement of the dispute between Yemen and Britain over Aden and the British protectorates south of Yemen. Referring to trade, the conference recommended that collective action should be taken for stabilising the prices of and the demand for primary commodities such as jute and rubber through bilateral and multilateral arrangements. Cultural Co-operation All governments at the conference reiterated their determination to work for closer cultural co-operation. The conference “took note of the fact that the existence of colonialism in many parts of Asia and Africa not only prevents cultural co-operation but suppresses the national cultures of peoples.” Mr Nehru told the r -nsl session: "We send our greetings * Europe and America.” He said i inference also sent its greeting to . .valia and New Zealand, “who are almost in our region.” He said that Australia and New Zealand did not belong to Europe, much less to America, and they should come nearer and nearer to Asia.