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Details

Latitude
-26.7888705
Longitude
151.553249
Start Date
1955-05-10
End Date
1955-05-10

Description

parliament.no: 21
session.no: 1
period.no: 2
chamber: SENATE
page.no: 267.0
speaker: Senator MATTNER
speaker.id: KSS
title: FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND DEFENCE
electorate: SA
type: Questions
state: Not Available
party: LP
role: Not Available
incumbent party: False
poet: Not Available
poem: Not Available

Sources

ID
td151b

Extended Data

index
513.0
para
. - As we know, the Afro-Asian conference, which was attended by the leaders of 29 countries - representing hundreds of millions of people - recently concluded its sitting at Bandung, in Indonesia. That conference was an event of great historic interest, inasmuch as it brought to a close an era of European leadership in most of Asia and some parts of Africa. Many of the nations which were represented at the conference benefited over several centuries by wise British administration. In this respect, I refute Senator Aylett's contentions in relation to the British administration of Kenya and other countries. I have no hesitation in saying that British leadership for several centuries in countries that Great Britain colonized, brought law and order, security, and progressive development to those countries. The British governed India for about three and a half centuries, and Burma, Ceylon and Pakistan for similar periods. Proof of the efficiency of the British administration is shown by the fact that nationals of the various countries who studied under the British system are now able to direct self-government in those countries. In point of fact, Great Britain did for those Asian countries what ancient Rome did for Great Britain during the early Christian era. I was sorry to hear Senator Aylett try to belittle the fine work that was carried out under European leadership to develop backward countries of Asia to the extent that they are now able to govern them selves. Of course, I do not doubt for a moment that, in British, French, and Dutch colonial administration of Indonesia, there were errors of judgment and mistakes. However, in the overall picture, the colonial administration by Great Britain of Asian countries was a tremendous factor in their development. The Premier of China, Mr. Chou Enlai, revealed himself as the most outstanding personality at the Bandung conference. But we must maintain reservations in connexion with his approach to certain Asian delegates at the conference. Mr. Chou En-lai, at that forum., gained access to the leaders of countries whose populations number many millions. Without a doubt, he made a good impression on both African and Asian delegates. However, I think that we should be cautious in accepting at their face value, his overtures to the free Asian leaders. I am reminded of a poem that we used to recite at school. Its opening lines were - Will you come into my parlour, Said the spider to the fly. I believe that the Chinese Premier is too well disciplined, and too well doctrinated in the objectives of international communism - that is, the attaining of world power and world domination - to detach himself from his party, its principles and objectives. Of course, if he intends to pursue a good-neighbour policy, in order to assist us to maintain peace in our time, and if his intention is to contain communism on the Chinese mainland, he could go down in history as a strong Asian personality who had benefited not only Asia, but the rest of the world. As far as I am concerned, however, he will have to prove by deeds, rather than words, that those are his ambitions. Senator Aylett advocated red China's admission to the United Nations. As I have said on previous occasions in this chamber, that country must prove its bona fides before consideration can be given to its admission. China was guilty of naked and open aggression in Korea, and peace has not yet been signed in that country. Furthermore, China has backed aggressors in Indo-China, and is still engaged in backing subversive activities in countries adjoining China. In those circumstances, it would be palpably wrong, and contrary to the interests of justice, to grant China a seat in the United Nations, or for Australia to recognize that country. Until China proves its good faith, and shows that it means to apply the honeyed policy that Chou En-lai. enunciated at Bandung, I shall remain opposed to recognition of red China. If China proves by deeds that it intends to be a good neighbour, and wants to maintain peace, not only in Asia, but throughout the world, I will support any move for Australia to recognize that country and support its admission to the United Nations.