Early Rebuffs For Soviet Diplomacy In Africa

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29748, 15 February 1962, Page 13

Early Rebuffs For Soviet Diplomacy In Africa

LONDON, February 24.

There are now more than 62 diplomatic missions from Communist countries in Africa, and a second African Department has been created in the Soviet Foreign Ministry to help to control their work, said the “Daily Telegraph’s” special correspondent, discussing development of the Russian influence in Africa, and its progress after early rebuffs.

The weakness of Russian diplomacy had rarely been exposed so glaringly as in Africa, he wrote. The closing down of iron curtain embassies in the Congo in 1960. the expulsion of a Russian Ambassador from Guinea in 1961, the growth of SovietGuinean differences over economic aid and the decline of the pro-Communist regime of Mr Antoine Gizenga—these constituted a series of failures all ost unparallelled in Soviet experience Not Obvious “That such would prove to be the record was by no means apparent six years ago when Moscow's active efforts to exploit the political situation in Africa began in all seriousness." the correspondent said. “Since then the West has tended to look with alarm at the growth of Communist diplomatic missions in Africa, the establishing of economic links with new countries, the blossoming of a vast system of cultural and educational propaganda and the infiltration of trade unions and political parties.

“Some Western observers even went so far as to write off individual countries like Guinea as being hopelessly committed to the Communist bloc.

“Recent events have proved them wrong. By misunderstanding the African political scene, they made basically th- same mistake as Russian diplomacy itself. “It would be equally foolish, however, to go to the other extreme of underestimating the Soviet effort Russian diplomats are beginning to learn their lessons and may gradually acquire the necessary flexibility “Formal links which have been established with African countries may then be the basis for a very real threat to their independence” Communist Infiltration The correspondent said it would also be a mistake to under-estimate Communist infiltration of African trade unionism, journalism and hundreds of Communiatsponsored “front” organisations. The usual delegations* indoctrination of promising

young Africans in Prague and Moscow and the dissemination of propaganda by all possible means contributed to “the softening" of the new African States. Discussing factors “which inhibit Soviet penetration." the correspondent said that the Russian economy could not afford a programme of lavish economic aid. It could only afford to make loans repayable with interest. Again, the Russian loans might look impressive on paper, but the fulfilment of promises was another matter A further factor was the poor calibre of Soviet representatives. But, added the correspondent the real Communist battle for Africa was only now beginning. “So far it is mainly confined to the North and West Africa. Next on the list are East, Central and South Africa, especially Kenya and Tanganyika. "One certainty is that the Soviet bloc will try not to repeat the major blunders It has made in the opening pounds.”