“Talks Setback For U.K. Policy”

Press, Volume C, Issue 29467, 20 March 1961, Page 15

“Talks Setback For U.K. Policy”

MOSCOW, March 18. “The voice of the Afro-Asian countries of the Commonwealth conference sounded so forcefully and convincingly that Britain had to subscribe to many decisions which did not dovetail with her traditional policy,” said a commentator on Moscow Radio, summing up the results of the conference in a broadcast in English to Australia today.

“Looking back at the history of the Commonwealth, we see that one voice usually sounded there, the voice of Britain.” he said. “The other negotiators were relegated to the role of observers whose job was to listen to the British proposals and voice their approval. “Now this long-existing state of affairs, which was wholly to the liking of the British Government, has obviously come to an end. “The conference urged

speedy agreement on complete and general disarmament. It demanded the immediate resumption of EastWest talks.

“The communique bluntly emphasises that disarmament without control is just as absurd as control without disarmament.

“Until recently the British Government’s position boiled down in essence to the principle ‘control without disarmament’.” ie said. He said the Western Powers favoured splitting the Congo in a confederation, as was being done, but that the Commonwealth conference came out for preserving the Congo’s integrity and independence against all foreign intervention, and was in favour of implementing the Security Council resolution of February 21. "Britain too signed this (declaration),” the commentator said. The commentator said racial discrimination and apartheid was an issue which did not find full reflection in the final communique, but played a big role in the conference.

"Contrary to Britain’s will, the Afro-Asian countries put the question this way: either South Africa immediately discontinues the policy of apartheid, or else South Africa leaves the Commonwealth. “When the South African Premier flatly refused to liquidate race discrimination the issue might have become still more acute. “Either Britain takes the position of the A-fro-Asian countries or else there will be fewer countries by far in the Commonwealth than at present.” he said. “The conference ended tn a setback for old England and a victory for the young Afro-Asian countries belonging to the Commonwealth But the outcome should be viewed from a much broader angle. “This is not only a setback for Britain, bvt for all the colonial powers who are trying by all means to retain their domination over the former colonial and dependent countries of Africa and Asia,” he said.