M a y 14, 1955
It is in the context of the economic
p o l i c y resolution a n d t h e a d o p t i o n
of the
plan
frame,
provisional
t h o u g h it be, a n d the formal assoc i a t i o n o f t h e constructive p r o gramme w i t h b o t h — i t can mean
n o t h i n g else t h a n a m a l g a m a t i o n —
t h a t t h e presence o f A c h a r y a V i n o b a
Bhave
at
this
session
becomes
meaningful.
Fuller employment,
a progressive rise in the standard of
living,
equality
of
opportunity,
establishment o f heavy i n d u s t r y a n d
d e v e l o p m e n t of s m a l l scale, v i l l a g e
a n d h a n d industries on a scale never
c o n t e m p l a t e d before—to take u p a l l
these in its stride, the Congress
needs the c o u n t r y b e h i n d i t .
But
the c o u n t r y means the people, a n d
i s i t n o t i d l e t o c l a i m o r t o expect
t h a t n o t this section o r t h a t , b u t
t h e w h o l e people can be b e h i n d
this or that plan, or for the matter
o f t h a t , t h a t they are b e h i n d t h e
Congress or P a n d i t N e h r u ?
I t was d i f f i c u l t t o b e persuaded
even t h e n ,
though
a plausible
THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY
enough case could be made out for
i t , t h a t t h e Congress r e s o l u t i o n f o r
a socialistic p a t t e r n of society was
j u s t a n election dodge t o f o r e s t a l l
o p p o s i t i o n against i t i n A n d h r a .
C o m m e n t i n g o n A v a d i , i t h a d been
r e m a r k e d i n these c o l u m n s :
" I t w o u l d b e w r o n g t o assume
t h a t n o change i n p o l i c y i s c o n t e m p l a t e d by Congress.
. . T h e r e is
a m p l e evidence t h a t Congress has,
u n d e r the c o m p u l s i o n o f w i d e r
p o l i t i c a l a n d economic influences,
c o m e to a decision t h a t it is necessary t o ensure social c o n t r o l o f t h e
m a j o r means o f p r o d u c t i o n . Speculators a n d gamblers are free t o t a k e
comfort
from
Panditji's
sausive
diplomacy.
B u t those w h o are
a w a r e o f the f u n d a m e n t a l p o l i t i c o economic trends m a y n o t b e w r o n g
i n t h e i r assumption t h a t acceptance
by Congress of a p o l i c y m o r e revol u t i o n a r y t h a n t h a t of a co-operative C o m m o n w e a l t h is inevitable."
W h a t t h e n appeared f a i n t a n d
i n c h o a t e has n o w become clear a n d
mored.N o tthatthemuse
n o shadows,
T h e next election—
never f a r i n the m i n d o f the p o l i ticians—casts its s h a d o w f a r a h e a d .
Hence the talk of cleansing the
organisation a n d disciplinary action
against g r o u p f o r m a t i o n s w i t h i n t h e
Congress. T h e r e is t h e u g l y spectre
o f l i n g u i s t i c dissensions. B u t t h e r e
i s also t h e w i d e r h o r i z o n . I n d i a n o
l o n g e r stands alone. W i t h the o t h e r
countries o f A s i a a n d A f r i c a , she
faces the same task of c a r r y i n g o u t
a social t r a n s f o r m a t i o n a n d b r i n g s
i n t o i t a w e a l t h o f experience
d e r i v e d f r o m h e r o w n struggles i n
t h e past a n d h e r t r a d i t i o n a l techn i q u e , perfected t h r o u g h t h e ages,
o f effecting social change t h r o u g h
acceptance o f differences a n d b y
n o n - v i o l e n t means.
T o her r i c h
i n h e r i t a n c e has been a d d e d the
fruits of m o d e r n knowledge and
science. W i t h reason u n c l o u d e d b y
i g n o b l e self-seeking, aims u n s u l l i e d
by m e a n ends, t h e people are p r e p a r e d f o r this great endeavour.
Four Power Talks
i n B r i t a i n , Sir A n t h o n y Eden a n d
his F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r t o o k the i n i t i a t i v e i n p r o p o s i n g t a l k s w i t h Russia
their post-dated cheque.
Since the " a t t h e s u m m i t " . F r a n c e respondc o l d w a r , Russia h a d always h a d e d p r o m p t l y t o S i r A n t h o n y ' s gesthe d i p l o m a t i c i n i t i a t i v e i n propos- t u r e . A m e r i c a was hesitant. I t was
i n g f o u r - P o w e r talks to resolve o u t - o n l y w h e n W a s h i n g t o n realised t h a t
s t a n d i n g w o r l d issues.
These p r o - A m e r i c a ' s a t t i t u d e m i g h t u n d u l y
posals h a d been repeatedly rejected s t r a i n her relations w i t h h e r allies
by the Western Powers.
President t h a t she j o i n e d B r i t a i n a n d F r a n c e
Eisenhower h a d always insisted t h a t i n p r o p o s i n g f o u r - P o w e r talks " a t
the C o m m u n i s t s m u s t p r o v e , n o t b y t h e s u m m i t " t o Russia. Cynics w i l l
words b u t by deeds, t h a t they de- b e excused i n d r a w i n g the inference
sired peace.
I n t h e i r a c t i o n i n t h a t W a s h i n g t o n has endorsed the
K o r e a , they showed t h a t they w e r e A n g l o - F r e n c h m o v e f o r f o u r - P o w e r
w i l l i n g t o negotiate.
A t Geneva, talks n o t because i t has a n y f a i t h i n
they gave unmistakable evidence of t h e o u t c o m e o f such discussions, b u t
acceptance
of
their peaceful intentions. Russia .re- because A m e r i c a ' s
peated h e r proposal for talks " at such a m o v e m i g h t h e l p Sir A n t h o n y
the s u m m i t " . I t was t u r n e d d o w n a n d his Conservative P a r t y t o r e t u r n
T h e y w i l l reby the Western Powers on the a r g u - t o p o w e r i n B r i t a i n .
m e n t t h a t n o purpose w o u l d b e c a l l t h a t S i r W i n s t o n C h u r c h i l l w o n
served i n h a v i n g f o u r - P o w e r talks t h e last general elections f o r h i m a n d
before r a t i f i c a t i o n of the Paris a n d his. P a r t y b y his d r a m a t i c appeal t o
B o n n Agreements.
T h i s r e j e c t i o n t h e people t o g i v e h i m a n o p p o r t u n was a c c o m p a n i e d by a promise t h a t i t y t o ensure w o r l d peace. H e p r o they w o u l d be ready to consider the m i s e d t h e B r i t i s h electorate t h a t i f
p r o p o s a l for four-Power talks after h e a n d h i s P a r t y w e r e v o t e d t o
ratification
of
the
Agreements. p o w e r , h e w o u l d c a l l f o r f o u r - P o w e r
These Agreements have been r a t i - talks " at the s u m m i t " to discuss
fied.
Western G e r m a n y is n o w a o u t s t a n d i n g w o r l d issues. Sir W i n N A T O P o w e r as a sovereign State. ston c o u l d n o t h o n o u r his electoral
Some o f A m e r i c a ' s N A T O partners pledge m a i n l y because of President
to
t h o u g h t i t p r u d e n t t o r e m i n d her o f Eisenhower's obstinate refusal
t h e i r j o i n t promise t o Russia. W i t h p a r t i c i p a t e i n discussions a m o n g
Sir A n t h o n y can
utmost
reluctance,
A m e r i c a has H e a d s o f States.
agreed t o j o i n B r i t a i n a n d France n o w face t h e electorate w i t h a clean
i n p r o p o s i n g f o u r - P o w e r talks " a t conscience. He has succeeded w h e r e
his i l l u s t r i o u s predecessor h a d f a i l e d .
the highest l e v e l " t o Russia.
I t w o u l d b e unwise t o over-emphaO n t h e eve o f a general election
Y N I C S
will
be
excused
in
t h e i r suspicion t h a t t h e W e s t e r n
C
Powers have r e l u c t a n t l y h o n o u r e d
562
sise such considerations of n a t i o n a l
p a r t y politics as m o t i v a t i n g i n f l u ences b e h i n d the W e s t e r n Powers'
i n v i t a t i o n t o Russia t o j o i n f o u r P o w e r talks " a t t h e highest l e v e l " ,
Deeper influences have p r o m p t e d t h e
W e s t e r n Powers t o propose f o u r P o w e r talks a t this stage. T h r o u g h
r a t i f i c a t i o n o f the Paris a n d B o n n
Agreements, one o f t h e i r c o n d i t i o n s
t o j o i n i n f o u r - P o w e r talks " a t the
s u m m i t " has been f u l f i l l e d . Russia's
willingness t o sign t h e A u s t r i a n
Peace T r e a t y has left W a s h i n g t o n
w i t h n o excuse t o delay f o u r - P o w e r
talks " a t t h e highest l e v e l " . W h i l e
the W e s t e r n Powers w e r e busy i n
i m p l e m e n t i n g the Paris a r i d B o n n
Agreements, M o s c o w h a d stolen a
d i p l o m a t i c m a r c h over t h e m , More
t h a n Russia's eagerness to sign the
A u s t r i a n Peace T r e a t y , A u s t r i a ' s
acceptance o f the R u s s i a n p r o p o s a l
f o r n e u t r a l i s a t i o n of A u s t r i a has upset
the
Western
Powers' plans f o r
Europe.
T h r o u g h this d i p l o m a t i c
t r i u m p h , Russia has a l m o s t succeeded in neutralising the Western
Powers' p o l i c y o f p o l i t i c a l a n d m i l i tary integration of Western Germany
w i t h W e s t e r n E u r o p e even
before
the actual implementation of
that
p o l i c y . I n B o n n , t h e r e are g r o w i n g doubts whether the price t h a t
Western Germany is paying to reg a i n p a r t i a l sovereignty a n d t o reb u i l d the German a r m y is not too
high.
I t was w i d e l y e x p e c t e d t h a t
Russia w o u l d offer G e r m a n y t h e
same terms a s M o s c o w h a d o f f e r e d
THE
ECONOMIC
WEEKLY
to Vienna for a s o l u t i o n
of t h e
German problem.
E v e n the A d e nauer Government, and certainly
the Germans in Western Germany,
w o u l d f i n d the a n t i c i p a t e d Russian
offer of a u n i t e d , sovereign, n e u t r a l
Germany
t o o t e m p t i n g t o refuse.
S u c h a possibility m a d e
a gesture
by the W e s t e r n Powers i n e v i t a b l e .
I t i s a s w e l l t h a t t h e y have t a k e n
t h e i n i t i a t i v e t o i n v i t e Russia t o
f o u r - P o w e r talks " a t t h e s u m m i t ".
T h a t G e r m a n y w i l l b e the
m a j o r E u r o p e a n p r o b l e m u n d e r discussion at the proposed f o u r - P o w e r
Conference, is a foregone
conclusion.
E v e n those w h o are suspicious o f
Russia's
peaceful
intentions
will
concede M o s c o w ' s d i p l o m a t i c w i s d o m i n r e l e n t i n g i n its a t t i t u d e t o
Austria.
A f t e r t h e plans for n e u tralisation
o f A u s t r i a are
implem e n t e d as a sequel to t h e c o n c l u sion of t h e Peace T r e a t y , t h e o c c u p y i n g Powers, i n c l u d i n g Russia, w i l l
h a v e t o w i t h d r a w t h e i r forces f r o m
Austria.
It w i l l be admitted that
Russia has been eager to sign the
A u s t r i a n Peace T r e a t y so t h a t Weste r n G e r m a n y w i l l realise w h a t she
is l o s i n g by j o i n i n g t h e W e s t e r n
E u r o p e a n alliance.
T h e r e can b e
n o easing o f w o r l d tension w i t h o u t
a n agreement o n G e r m a n y .
There
can be no s o l u t i o n of the G e r m a n
p r o b l e m w i t h o u t u n i f i c a t i o n o f the
t w o G e r m a n y s . Russia's p o l i c y
to
A u s t r i a indicates t h a t M o s c o w m a y
suggest n e u t r a l i s a t i o n of
a united,
sovereign G e r m a n y as a s o l u t i o n to
the G e r m a n problem.
Irrespective
o f the p r o b l e m o f n e u t r a l i s a t i o n , i t
is e v i d e n t
t h a t there can
be no
agreed s o l u t i o n o f the G e r m a n p r o b l e m w i t h W e s t e r n G e r m a n y as a
N A T O Power.
It
i s clear
that
Russia w i l l b e p r e p a r e d
to make
concessions t o G e r m a n y i f o n l y t o
neutralise N A T O a n d the Paris
a n d B o n n Agreements. A n y agreed
solution
o f the G e r m a n
problem
will
mean evacuation o f
NATO
forces f r o m W e s t e r n G e r m a n y as
w e l l as w i t h d r a w a l of Russian f o r ces f r o m E a s t e r n G e r m a n y . T o
neutralise the effects of the Paris
and
B o n n A g r e e m e n t s , Russia
is
p r e p a r e d to accept
these consequences.
In the meanwhile, Russia is t a k i n g actions to c o u n t e r
NATO.
A t W a r s a w , Russia
and
the C o m m u n i s t States o f Eastern
E u r o p e are n o w assembled t o create
a c o u n t e r - N A T O in retaliation of
Western Germany's m i l i t a r y integration w i t h Western Europe.
May 14, 1955
to participate in four-Power
talks
" at the highest l e v e l " is c o n f i n e d
to European
problems or to
the
m a j o r issues responsible f o r the c o n tinued
tension between
the t w o
r i v a l p o w e r blocs.
W i t h a n EastW e s t agreement o n A u s t r i a , G e r m a n y is the o n l y unsolved p r o b l e m
in Europe. W i t h o u t an agreement
on Germany, neither European nor
w o r l d peace can b e secured.
But
even after a n agreed s o l u t i o n o f t h e
G e r m a n p r o b l e m , there w i l l b e
m a n y w o r l d issues w h i c h
w i l l rem a i n i n dispute.
T h e r e are m a n y
issues i n dispute i n A s i a a n d
the
Far
East.
Both
European
and
A s i a n issues i n dispute w i l l ,
no
d o u b t , be discussed in d e t a i l by the
F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r s o r t h e i r Deputies
I t i s n o t q u i t e clear w h e t h e r t h e
W e s t e r n Powers' i n v i t a t i o n t o Russia
563
after the Conference of t h e Heads
o f States.
It is right and
proper
t h a t this Conference s h o u l d have
n o f i x e d o r r i g i d agenda, a n d t h a t
the talks between
the Heads of
States s h o u l d be i n f o r m a l . O n c e t h e
W e s t e r n Powers a n d the C o m m u n i s t
States reach a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g o n
t h e p r i n c i p l e of peaceful
co-existence, i t w i l l n o t be d i f f i c u l t t o reach
agreements
on specific issues
and
p r o b l e m s . I t w o u l d b e i d l e t o pret e n d t h a t i t w i l l be easy for the
H e a d s of States to agree to disagree.
B u t h o p e lingers t h a t t h e devastati n g consequences o f a n a t o m i c w a r
will
c o m p e l the t w o r i v a l
power
blocs t o accept the w i s d o m o f reachi n g a n a g r e e m e n t o n peaceful coexistence.