INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27751, 31 August 1955, Page 11

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Evening Session Of Convention

ASIANS AND WESTERN POLITICAL IDEAS

General agreement that the West should not try to impose its political ideas on Asian countries was reached in a panel discussion at the convention on international relations in the Canterbury University College hall last evening. . „ * * The panel comprised Messrs a. a. Dingwall, chairman (Dominion president of the Workers’ Educational Association). G. Manning < Deputy-Mayor of Christchurch). H. W. Youren (a farmer, of Napier, W. T. Roy (adult education tutor, of Auckland), the Rev. A. M. Richards (a journalist, of Christchurch), and Miss M. McLean (Christchurch City Councillor). For the most part attempts to superimpose Western political ideals on Asian culture did not succeed, said Mr Youren, who opened the discussion. “No-one would agree that it is wise to impose any culture on another culture,” said Mr Manning, amid cries of “Hear, hear.” “For instance, I do not think it wise to impose English culture on Welsh culture, but when it comes to the intermingling of nations to become one we must experience a clash of cultures.” “Western culture has had an impact on Asian culture and has destroyed both that culture and the political indigenous system as they were,” said Mr Roy. “It is impossible to turn the clock back. It is neither wise nor prss’ble to superimpose our culture on the East. They have already taken it from you, and are moulding it to their own shape. At best, you can cause a temporary stoppage in history, but a river will flow round any rock, however large.” Miss McLean said that the Atlantic Charter had affirmed the principle that nations should not try to interfere in each others affairs. That should be remembered. “We ought to be learning about their culture,” said Mr Richards. He thought that the idea of setting up a school for Oriental studies »n New Zealand was a good one. “It would probably do us good to have some Buddist missionaries out here,” he said. Attitude to Pact It was surprising to hear that a question asking whether membership of SEATO was compatible with friendship with south-east Asian countries should be asked, said Mr Richards. He had taken it for granted that SEATO existed for the benefit of the countries. “These military and economic programmes in South-east Asia are not, m the first place at any rate, brought into existence for the benefit of the local people,” he said. “If the local people do benefit from them, they do so incidentally. But the fact is compatible with friendship.” “It depends which side of the fence you are on,” said Mr Roy. “From our point of view, it is compatible. Southeast Asians see that members are former colonial Powers and not firstclass Asian nations, and some of them consider that the pact is not sufficiently safeguarded to be purely defensive.” Mr Youren: There is no doubt there is a good deal of misgiving about it. Extensive Trade New Zealand’s trade with Southeast Asia should be increased, said Mr Manning, in the interests of both the Dominion and the Eastern countries. “We have resources of food,” he said. “Our major market has been Great Britain. Sometimes we feel or anticipate that that market is contracting, and we should look around for more markets to have our eggs in more than one basket. “If the South-east Asian people could develop an appreciation for the food supplies that we have surplus in New Zealand, there would be the chance of raising the standard of living of those people and building up their resistance against disease,” he said.

“Our standard .of living is so high, surely we can Help countries whose standards of living are so low,” said Miss McLean. “We should be prepared to trade, from a Christian point of view.”

ADMISSION OF CHINA TO UNITED NATIONS

STATEMENT BY DR. PAPPE

“In your report of the discussion on my paper on the United Nations at the convention on international relations, some prominence has been given to remarks made by me in reply to a question by Mr W. R. Lascelles concerning the admission of the New China to the United Nations,” said Dr. H. O. Pappe in a statement yesterday to “The Press.”

“These remarks, quoted out of their context are somewhat misleading. The question was dealt with under the legal aspect of the concept of universality in its bearing upon the membership the United Nations. Because of the politically difficulties connected with this question I had recommended in my address not to press such issues in the United Nations until the passions of the cold war had cooled down. I would not wish to give undue prominence to this contentious issue, especially with a view to the international discussions actually going on between the West and the East.”