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The Press THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1970. “Non-alignment” In 1970

President Tito's quest in Africa to drum up support for a third “ summit conference of non-aligned “ nations ” has an anachronistic ring. When the first Afro-Asian conference met at Bandung, Indonesia, in 1955, it made sense to talk about a world sharply divided, and to attempt to create a third, mediating bloc of States to be the voice of reason amid nuclear confrontation. At the first and second “ non-aligned ” conferences proper, in 1961 and 1964, the term still had some meaning, even if few of the countries attending could claim to be genuinely non-aligned on all issues. But in 1970 “ non-alignment ”, considered as a serious political force, looks like a dead letter. Effusions of mutual good will at the previous conferences have melted before the harsher realities of power politics and many of the nations which would claim to be “ non-aligned ” are at odds with others in the same group. They have been powerless to halt events such as the Biafran tragedy where they might appear to have the most hope of influencing their cause of peace and a viable world order. The two power blocs with which they were supposed to be “ non-aligned ” now contain members such as France and Rumania with as much freedom of action as many Stages outside the blocs. The lines which once divided East and West so neatly have crumbled; almost everyone is non-aligned—at least on some issues—these days.

Even so. President Tito’s tour of seven African States should not be dismissed lightly. At 77 he is the last of the original claimants to leadership of a “third world” in the brave days of the late 19505. Presidents Nkrumah and Sukarno have been deposed by their own military; Mr Nehru is dead and India no longer enjoys the status of moral leader. President Tito has survived to become a legend in his own lifetime; his experience can offer valuable examples to other States. He was a successful guerrilla leader against a particularly violent form of colonial occupation: he has withstood pressures to commit his country to the Communist bloc: and he has evolved a brand of communism which appears to work well, without the worst excesses of totalitarianism.

President Tito has been a pragmatic politician. He must be well aware that it will not be easy to assemble a plausible-looking collection of “ non- “ aligned ” leaders; or to achieve more from a conference than pious statements of intent. In one area, economic eo-operation, progress looks more likely. President Tito wants to encourage a sense of economic independence. At a time when there is growing concern about “ economic colonialism ”, whether from the Chinese, the Russians, or the Americans, his appeal should be welcome in Africa. Jugoslavia is one of the most industrialised “ non- “ aligned ” nations and the President is not being entirely altruistic. His tour is being followed up by Jugoslav trade missions, looking for markets to help Jugoslavia’s foreign currency deficiency. Putting aside grandiose plans for reviving a “ third force ”, much good for Jugoslavia—and the Africans—could come from President Tito’s trip.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19700205.2.61

Bibliographic details

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32214, 5 February 1970, Page 10

Word Count
514

The Press THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1970. “Non-alignment” In 1970 Press, Volume CX, Issue 32214, 5 February 1970, Page 10

The Press THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1970. “Non-alignment” In 1970 Press, Volume CX, Issue 32214, 5 February 1970, Page 10