CALL TO INDIA

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29724, 18 January 1962, Page 11

CALL TO INDIA

Afro-Asian Market (NZP.A-Reuter—Copyright) NEW DELHI, January 18. The newspaper. -Indian Express." today urged India to take the initiative for the gradual formation of an AfroAsian common market. Commenting on the agreement on agricultural policy reached by the European Common Market countries, the newspaper said the Common Market had crossed “the point of no return." “So far the countries of the Common Market have not shown any understanding of the basic issue of our time—that the gulf between rich and poor countries has been widening.” the newspaper said. “It is likely that the Common Market countries will reach some sort of understanding with the United States so that American exports do not suffer. "If the Kennedy Administration falls for this shortcut solution, the allegation that rich countries of the West are ganging up against developing countries will be fully justified and the West v.’ill lose the protracted economic cold war even before it has begun. Europe has acted. "New Delhi should not now hesitate in taking the initiative for the gradual formation of an Afro-Asian common market." The "Times of India" said the economic and political integration of Western Europe “cannot but have far reaching implications for under-developed countries. “Already the EEC. is the largest trading bloc in the world. With the entry of Britain and other countries and a greater degree of political cohesion its bargaining position in relation to under-developed countries is bound to become much stronger than it is today. “Under - developed countries. most of which today depend largely on export of raw materials, know it to their cost how adverse terms of trade can impede their development programmes. "They do not ye* have means to develop a common market of their own. But even so they can ignore the lesson of what is happening in Western Europe at their own peril," said the newspaper.