CALL FOR AID TO INDIA

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28472, 30 December 1957, Page 9

CALL FOR AID TO INDIA

“Proved Capacity To Develop”

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, December 27. The “Manchester Guardian” today called for economic aid to India, in particular, and for other nations in Asia and Africa. “India, after all, is the outstanding instance of a country that has proved its capacity to develop speedily, given the resources, and het progress is now being held back by the lack of foreign capital. “Yet it has fared no better than others ,in the attempt to raise money in the west,” the newspaper said. “There is a feeling that we ought not to offer further assistance when turning down the requests of other Commonwealth countries. But is economic prudence all?” the “Manchester Guardian" asked.

“The wealthy nations must be ready to sacrifice more for the poor. They ought to do ft, regardless of any political gain. If the Indian experiment fails, the consequences would be felt throughout the Western world. “The British Government says that it cannot afford to help, and yet it spends almost as much on the Royal Air Force in one year as the whole of India's requirement in foreign exchange for the five years of the current plan. “We ought to think again about our responsibility towards India especially, and generally to other strong claimants in Asia and Africa. We should not expect gratitude in return, but in those countries greater strength, prosperity, and independence for their own sake," the "Manchester Guardian” said.