Show Marquis ur uis Chi Childs Ids Nehru Warns Asia of New Imperialism m p e r i a Ism WASHINGTON So So much has happened in the years since 1910 1110 that events of the first magnitude e tend to be he obscured against ng the backdrop of the fantastic history of our era That is true of oC the climax of Indias India's long struggle for free free- dom The fact that it came with relatively ely little violence may be he one reason why its historic importance importance im im- im- im was not entirely The pattern of or peaceful transition from colonialism to independence in independence in- in dependence was a portent of oC hope for both Asia and the west American sympathy in the thelong thelong thelong long struggle was almost wholly with tho the Indians This sympathy in considerable part had its origin origin ori ori- gin in in the recollection of our own struggle gle for freedom from Great Britain a memory kept alive o in many ways British Often Orten Annoyed The British as they struggled with the problem of whether to hang on in part or let go al altogether altogether altogether al- al together were often onen annoyed with the American viewpoint which they said was naive and oversimplified I recall an evening evening evening eve eve- ning of argument at the Uie climax of the struggle between a half half- dozen Americans and an able member of the British embassy staff stace Finally the said When I return to England Im I'm going to start a number of women's clubs that will begin agitation immediately to get g-et equality for the Negro in your southern states This touched two sensitive points First is the color problem problem problem lem in America which many Europeans and Asians believe is a handicap so great this country country country coun coun- try can never take the lead in inthe inthe inthe the effort to bring east cast and west together in a working partner partner- ship Second is the resentment of what western Europe often orten has felt was unwarranted American Ameri Ameri- can intervention in the relation between Europeans and coloni colont- als Tide fille of Nationalism at The classic example is Indo Indo- nesia The income from this rich colony helped to give the tho Dutch a living Jiving standard that could hardly have been maintained maintained maintained main main- without it After the war wear warthe warthe the Dutch were prepared to tomake tomake tomake make political concessions but they were also prepared to resist resist resist re re- re- re the tide of nationalism that was mounting to a violent flood In the view of the State department department department de de- de- de to resist this tide with force would be to hand Indonesia over to communism For Communist propaganda and Communist agents exploit two burning burning- desires of the Asiatic with tireless persistence and pa pa- tience One is the desire for independence independence independence in in- dependence and the other is the desire of or the peasant to own his own land Fortunately an able career diplomat Merle Cochran represented represented represented rep rep- resented America in Indonesia He won the sympathy of the leaders of oC the Independence movement and helped to guide that movement mo peacefully to toward toward toward to- to ward statehood Dutch Hutch Resentful The Dutch are bitterly re resentful resentful re- re of Americas America's role The previous Netherlands ambassador dor Eelco Van called on Secy of oC State Dean Acheson Acheson Acheson Ache- Ache son shortly before he was to 10 leave Washington In effect he said this The people of my country will never forgive you for what you have done in taking part in separating us from what We need not have lost This suggests some of oC the complexity and difficulty in the relationship between Europe America and Asia That relationship relationship relationship rela rela- must be worked out harmoniously if the the peoples of ot Asia are not to be drawn n into the awful vortex o of India it seems to me ate is the thel l key ey to a peaceful relationship and above e all India under the leadership of Prime Minister N Nehru A New v Imperialism nt m Some months ago Nehru vis visited Indonesia In the course of ot long talks with the leaders of oC the new Indonesian government go the Indian prime minister gave some advice ice that went more or orless orless orless less as follows You and I know very well the imperialism of the past But ButI I think we can stop slop worrying about that past imperialism We Ve must be concerned about the imperialism of the present and the future which is Communist imperialism imperialism another another form of white imperialism His remarks made a deep im im- Nehru knew what he was talking about because of the threat of Communist force in India With the friendship of ot India there is Js hope for a future east- east west partnership based on freedom freedom freedom free free- dom and independence Without it there seems to be little hope And not nearly enough is being done to insure the development of oC this friendship Copyright ht 1950 by United Feature Syndicate Inc |