OF THE SOVIET UNION
p Comrades, our foreign policy plays a major role in our great constructive work, in ensuring favourable conditions for the building of socialism and communism.
p The victory of the Great October Revolution has initiated truly revolutionary changes in international relations. For the first time in the world there appeared a state which opposed the imperialist policy of oppressing and enslaving the peoples, the policy of colonial exploitation, violence and predatory wars, with a policy of upholding the freedom and independence of the peoples, of safeguarding peace against the imperialist aggressors. The struggle of these two opposite policies has continued for half a century now.
p The nature of the Soviet Union’s foreign policy and its distinctive features stem from the very essence of the socialist social system.
p What are its major features?
p Our foreign policy was born in the crucible of the socialist revolution. It has been, and remains, an instrument serving the revolutionary transformation of society in our country. Defence of the revolution’s gains—this is the task Lenin set before Soviet foreign policy immediately after the victory of the October Revolution. Addressing leading Party functionaries in January 1918, he urged them to solve questions of foreign policy "from the point of view of the conditions which best make for the development and consolidation of the socialist revolution which has already begun". [51•1 52 The foreign policy of the Soviet state is invariably based on this Leninist directive. Its main task is to defend the gains of the October Revolution, to frustrate the imperialist intrigues against the homeland o.f socialism and to ensure the necessary external conditions for building communist society. It was this that Lenin regarded also as the supreme internationalist duty of the Soviet Land to the world revolutionary movement.
p Our foreign policy is internationalist, because the interests of the Soviet people coincide with those of the working masses in all countries. It is infused with the spirit of solidarity with the revolutionary, progressive forces throughout the world and represents an active factor of the class struggle on the international arena.
p Many splendid examples of revolutionary internationalism are inscribed in the half-century annals of our state. We find there striking manifestations of solidarity of young Soviet Russia with the proletarians of Germany and Hungary who rose up in rebellion, numerous facts of support over many years of the struggle the Chinese people waged against the forces of imperialism and reaction. The glorious epic of the brotherhood-in-arms with revolutionary Spain is unforgettable. Our country went to the aid of the Spanish people with everything it could—from diplomatic support and economic help to the personal contribution of thousands of Soviet volunteers who to the last day, together with the Spaniards, fought at Barcelona barricades and in the Madrid sky. Throughout the ages there will shine the liberatory exploit of our people in the Great Patriotic War when the victory won at the cost of millions of lives of Soviet men and women delivered many counjj^es from fascist enslavement. It is difficult to overestimate the significance of the persistent struggle the Soviet Union has been waging in the postwar period for a just democratic peace and, above all, in defence of the independence of the new, people’s democratic states.
p The spirit of revolutionary internationalism permeates all the activities of the Homeland of the October Revolution on the world arena and we Soviet people will always be loyal to this lofty principle.
p Profound and genuine democracy is one of the primary features of the Soviet Union’s foreign policy.
p Having resolutely broken with the traditional foreign 53 policy of the exploiting classes, with the methods of secret diplomacy and the policy of collusion behind the backs of nations, the Soviet state abrogated all secret treaties concluded by tsarist Russia. On major questions affecting the destinies of mankind, our country began to address itself not only to the governments of other states, but also directly to the peoples.
p In our relations with all countries we follow the unshakable democratic principle: recognition in practice of the equality of all nations, big and small, and recognition of the equality of all races and nationalities.
p On Lenin’s initiative the Soviet state solemnly proclaimed a "complete break with the barbarous policy of the bourgeois civilisation which has built the prosperity of the exploiters belonging to a few chosen nations on the enslavement of hundreds of millions of the working people in Asia, in the colonies in general and in the small countries". [53•1
p The Soviet Republic unhesitatingly recognised the right of all peoples, including those of the former Russian Empire, to self-determination, that is, the right to decide their fate for themselves. It was the first power which approached such countries as Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey and China with an unprecedented proposal—to conclude genuinely egalitarian agreements and to establish relations resting on disinterested friendship and mutual support.
p Adhering to Lenin’s behests, the Soviet Union always was and will continue to be a tireless champion of democratic rights, freedom and independence of all peoples, a faithful ally of those who are for eradicating all forms of colonial or national oppression and for genuine equality of all nations.
p Finally, still another fundamental feature characteristic of the Soviet Union’s foreign policy is its consistent line of promoting peace, security and friendship of the peoples. Socialism knows no goal other than concern for the interests of the people, which above all presupposes the fight against war, that, as Lenin had said, greatest scourge of the people of labour.
p One of the slogans which the Party had advanced to raise the people to revolutionary action was the peace slogan. For us the fight for peace is still a task with a profound class and 54 revolutionary meaning, because to work for peace means to isolate the more bellicose, aggressive circles of the imperialist bourgeoisie, to turn public opinion against them and to thwart their anti-popular designs.
p The record of our state’s existence is one of persistent, unceasing struggle against the aggressive policy of the imperialists and for safeguarding the peoples against the calamities of war. A few hours after the victory of the Revolution the new workers’ and peasants’ government issued the Lenin Decree on Peace in which it proposed to the governments and peoples of all countries to conclude a just peace without annexations or contributions. In 1919, a Congress of Soviets adopted Lenin’s resolution which proclaimed that the "Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic wishes to live in peace with all peoples and devote all its forces to internal development". [54•1 In 1922, in Genoa at the first international conference to which Soviet Russia received access, our country tabled a comprehensive programme of peaceful co-operation and disarmament.
p During the years when the threat of fascist aggression loomed over the world, the Soviet Union persistently worked for a system of collective security which could have bridled the aggressors and prevented a second world war. When the appearance of nuclear weapons and rockets had made the prevention of a new war a particularly urgent issue, the USSR proposed a concrete plan for general and complete disarmament under strict international control.
p The banner of peace and friendship between peoples raised aloft by the Soviet Union is winning for socialism the sympathy and support of millions on all continents. People throughout the world see that in its foreign policy the Soviet Union is consistently implementing the new principles that were proclaimed by our great Revolution. (Applause.)
p Comrades, such are the principal features of our foreign policy course. It was shaped under the leadership of Lenin and further developed by the Party in its subsequent decisions. This Leninist course forms the permanent and principled foundation of the foreign policy of the Soviet Union. (Applause.)
p The Party considers it of tremendous significance that the 55 foreign policy of the USSR should be consistent and resolute, that it should be firm in defending the interests of the Soviet people and of the great communist cause and irreconcilable towards aggressors while remaining flexible and realistic. Alongside major issues of the country’s development, foreign policy issues are always in the focus of attention of the Politbureau of the CC CPSU and the Soviet Government. They are regularly discussed at Central Committee plenums, at Party congresses and at the sessions of the USSR Supreme Soviet.
p The 23rd Congress of the CPSU has charted the main directions and tasks of our foreign policy for the next few years, and we are undeviatingly adhering to the Congress decisions in our practical activity on the international arena.
p Taking into account the enormous historical role played by the world system of socialism in the destiny of mankind, our Party and Government deem it their duty to do everything to strengthen the might and unity of the great community of. socialist states.
p We are firmly steering the course aimed at furthering political co-operation with the fraternal socialist countries, maintaining still closer and more systematic contacts with the leaders of the Communist Parties and Governments of the fraternal countries, co-ordinating our policies and developing diverse forms of ties and exchanges between our peoples.
p In recent years the Soviet Union concluded new treaties of friendship, co-operation and mutual assistance with the German Democratic Republic, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Mongolia, Bulgaria and Hungary. We highly treasure these charters of fraternal friendship whose rich content mirrors the new, higher stage which we have reached in our relations.
p Jointly with the leadership of the fraternal Parties and countries, the Central Committee of our Party and the Soviet Government unceasingly work to further the fruitful economic co-operation of the socialist states on a bilateral and multilateral basis taking into consideration the great significance of the long-term division of labour and the attainment of scientific and technical progress.
p The co-operation of the socialist countries in strengthening their defences is extremely important in present-day conditions, and we are devoting unremitting attention to 56 this matter. This, above all, concerns relations with the countries of the Warsaw Treaty Organisation which is a powerful instrument of the political and defensive co- operation of the socialist countries.
p Our friendship with the fraternal socialist countries is strengthening and blossoming. (Applause.} It is becoming still more profound and multisided and is turning into an indispensable requirement for the peoples of our countries. Permit me to assure you, comrades, that the Central Committee of the Party and the Soviet Government will continue to do everything in their power to consolidate, develop and defend the gains of world socialism. (Prolonged applause.)
p The fight of the Soviet state for the democratic rights of the peoples, for the complete eradication of all forms of colonial and national oppression is also acquiring new forms in present-day conditions. On the initiative of the Soviet Union and with the active support of other socialist states the UNO by majority vote adopted the Declaration on Granting Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and then the Declaration on the Impermissibility of Interference into the Internal Affairs of States, and on Protecting Independence and Sovereignty.
p Today, too, our militant union with peoples which still have to carry on an armed struggle against the colonialists constitutes an important element of our line in international affairs. Now that the colonial system of imperialism has practically disintegrated a new task has come to the fore, that of developing co-operation with states that have already cast off the colonial yoke and are fighting to strengthen their independence and for social progress.
p Today we have good relations, which are based on mutual trust and respect, with the young national states. The extent and the concrete forms of these friendly relations depend on the general political course which a particular state pursues. We have closer economic and political ties, closer relations with countries which in their development are heading towards socialism.
p The countries that have freed themselves from colonialism regard the Soviet Union as their sincere and selfless friend. They are well aware that the policy of the USSR and even the very existence of our socialist power is an important factor in safeguarding their independence from imperialist encroachments. (Applause.)
57p The Soviet Union is, as is known, rendering the newly free countries extensive friendly assistance in developing their independent national economy. Factories and mills, power-station dams, hospitals and institutes built with Soviet assistance and co-operation have risen in the jungles and in the arid deserts of many Asian and African countries. Each of these projects is a monument of friendship and co- operation between the Soviet Union and the countries that have discarded the colonialist yoke.
p An important source of our strength on the international arena is the union with the national liberation movement and with the anti-imperialist forces throughout the world. By marching in step and supporting each other, it is easier for us to find solutions to many international problems, including the problems of consolidating peace.
p Comrades, in its struggle to thwart the threat of a new world war our Party and the Soviet Government are taking into account the specific features of the present-day international situation.
p The war in Vietnam, the US intervention in Laos, the Middle East developments, the reactionary coups engineered by the imperialists in some Asian, African, European and Latin American countries, the demands to remake European frontiers and for access to nuclear weapons stubbornly made by West German revanchists, and their absurd and insolent claim to speak on behalf of the "whole of Germany”, as they say, show that imperialism has not changed its aggressive nature. It remains the embodiment of the worst reaction, bloody violence and aggression, and presents a serious threat to peace and security of all peoples, and we cannot, nor do we have the right, to forget this.
p It is all the more necessary to be vigilant with regard to imperialist provocations and gambles considering that in present-day conditions a world nuclear and rocket war could kill hundreds of millions of people, destroy whole countries and contaminate the earth’s surface and its atmosphere. The Communists cannot but draw the most serious political conclusions from this. The struggle to prevent a new world war has now become an important condition for solving problems of the construction of socialism and communism and the development of the entire world revolutionary process.
p Those who want to save mankind from a world nuclear and rocket war must struggle against the aggressive intrigues 58 and sorties of the imperialists with redoubled energy. It is necessary to counter the imperialist actions with a united front of anti-imperialist forces.
p The imperialists do not achieve their goals where the aggressors are firmly rebuffed by the freedom fighters. This is exemplified by the events in Vietnam.
p In an effort to suppress the national liberation struggle of the South Vietnamese population, prevent a democratic unification of the country, hinder the construction of socialism in the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and intimidate the fighters for national emancipation and progress in other countries, the American imperialists have thrown their armed forces against the South Vietnamese patriots and then directly attacked the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
p The crimes of the US military in Vietnam bring back to memory the atrocities of the fascist brutes. The killing of tens of thousands of peaceful inhabitants, the methodical destruction of towns and villages, the reduction of schools and hospitals to ruins and the destruction of crops, all this marks the disgraceful path of the US interventionists on Vietnamese soil. The murderers, under the guise of defenders of the so-called free world, have not forced and never will force the Vietnamese people to their knees (stormy, prolonged applause) nor intimidate the fighters for freedom and independence. (Applause.} The peoples of the whole world, including millions of Americans, are branding the sanguinary aggression against Vietnam with shame. The intervention in Vietnam is increasingly undermining the international prestige of the United States.
p Neither the half million American soldiers in the jungles of South-East Asia, nor the powerful navy, nor heavy bombers, nor the army of the Saigon puppets, nor the regiments dispatched by the obedient satellites of the USA can win the day for the aggressors.
p Displaying heroism which evokes the admiration of the whole world and overcoming tremendous difficulties, the Vietnamese people are repulsing the hordes of the interventionists and dealing them blow after blow. In doing so they have the support of progressive peace-loving forces throughout the world and primarily the constant extensive assistance of the Soviet Union and other socialist states. Weapons, munitions, food, clothes, transport facilities and equipment are all concrete manifestations of the solidarity 59 of the socialist countries which are helping the Vietnamese people in their heroic struggle.
p The military successes of the Vietnamese people could have been still more significant if not for the stand of Mao Tse-tung’s group which hampers co-ordinated assistance to Vietnam from all socialist countries, including China. We regret that the Peking leaders have taken this line. For its part, the Soviet Union is fully resolved to render every assistance and support to the fraternal Vietnamese people who are fighting for their just cause. (Prolonged applause.} This assistance will continue until the American imperialists stop their shameful and criminal venture and get out of Vietnam. (Stormy applause.}
p The people of Vietnam are fighting for a just cause, and they will win. There can be no doubt about it. (Prolonged applause.}
p The actions of the USA, Britain and the FRG which are encouraging the aggression of their puppets, the Israeli rulers against the neighbouring Arab states, have once again disclosed the predatory nature of the imperialist policy and have aroused the indignation of all progressive forces in the world and the just indignation of the multi-million Arab people. At the same time the Arab people had one more occasion to see for themselves that the Soviet Union and other socialist states are their true friends and a reliable bulwark of their independence.
p The Soviet Union is honestly fulfilling its duty by doing a great deal to bridle the aggressive imperialist forces and strengthen peace. There is no doubt that the vigilance of peoples with regard to imperialist intrigues and the joint efforts of all peace-loving states will reliably safeguard the cause of peace.
p We have helped and will help those who are fighting against imperialist interference into the affairs of the peoples, and those who have become the victims of imperialist aggression. This assistance may have the most diverse forms: political, diplomatic, economic or military, depending on circumstances, but its content will be always the same—to rebuff the aggressors, defend the peoples’ right to independent development, defend the peace and security of the peoples and in this way to defend the interests of socialism. (Prolonged applause?)
p Comrades, being well aware of the aggressive nature of 60 imperialism, our Party considers it essential that the peaceful policy of the Soviet Union should be supported by its indomitable defensive might. This is also made imperative by the interests of the Soviet people and the interests of ensuring universal peace.
p Therefore the strengthening of our glorious Armed Forces is a constant concern of the Central Committee, the Soviet Government and the whole people. (Applause.)
p We realise that the might of the Soviet socialist state has been and remains the chief bulwark of peace in the world, the principal obstacle standing in the way of the imperialist war-mongers. Lenin had pointed out that the creation of a socialist army, inspired with the ideas of struggle for the emancipation of the working people, will make the Soviet land invincible. Today, looking back on the road we have covered, we can say with pride that we have solved the task set by Lenin. (Stormy, prolonged applause.) Our glorious army is fulfilling its duty to the people and the Revolution with honour. (Stormy applause.)
p The Soviet Army is a mighty, formidable and invincible force. It has the best weaponry in the world. Its men, from soldiers to marshals, from sailors to admirals, have an excellent knowledge of military science and of the superb military equipment entrusted to them, they are people boundlessly loyal to our Party and to the communist cause. (Prolonged applause.)
p We take into account the lessons of the past and are doing everything so that no one should catch us unawares. And the Soviet people will not flinch if someone will be mad enough to make an attempt on the security of the Soviet Union and of our allies. (Stormy, prolonged applause.) This attempt, wherever it might come from—the north or the south, the west or the east—will encounter the all- conquering might of our Armed Forces. (Applause.) No shields and no distances are too great for this might. Let it be known to all that in a clash with any aggressors the Soviet Union will win a victory that will be worthy of our great people, of the land of the October Revolution. (Stormy, prolonged applause.)
p On our great holiday we send warm greetings to the defenders of our Homeland, its sky and seas, and also to the talented designers and makers of the formidable weapons with which our soldiers are armed. (Applause.) Honour and 61 glory to the heroic Armed Forces of the Soviet Union—the reliable guard of the gains of the Great October Socialist Revolution, of our socialist gains! (Stormy applause.)
p Our might is great, but we never use it to attain selfish ends. The colossal might of the world’s first state to be building communism serves the just cause of struggle against aggression and oppression, for freedom, democracy and peace. The growth of this might and the increasing influence of the USSR on world developments accord with the vital interests of the masses in all countries.
p Our foreign policy is socialist and consistently revolutionary in its entire content. But Marxists-Leninists have always understood that socialism cannot be implanted by one country into another by military force, that it is a product of the internal development of a given society. They firmly believe in the righteousness of their cause, in the advantages of the socialist system and are convinced that there is no need to resort to wars between states for it to be victorious.
p Lenin said that in foreign policy it is necessary to take into account both the plans of the imperialist adventurers and the stand of the sober-minded sections of the bourgeoisie. We remember these instructions and today, when the Soviet Union has attained unprecedented might, it continues to advocate renunciation of attempts to settle issues in relations between the two social systems by means of war. We call upon the governments of bourgeois countries to heed the voice of the peoples who want peace and stable security. (Prolonged applause.)
p The Soviet Union deems it its duty to do everything in its power to translate these aspirations into life. That is why it is fighting and will continue to fight with unabated energy for general and complete disarmament. We also consider useful such partial steps in this direction as the agreements on banning nuclear weapons’ tests, on nuclear non-proliferation or on banning the use of nuclear weapons.
p We attach great significance to the United Nations and together with other freedom-loving and peaceable states we will work to turn it into an efficient organ of international co-operation in the interests of defending peace and the rights of peoples. Jointly with its allies the USSR will continue to work persistently for a stable peace in Europe, and to struggle against everything that threatens the security of 62 the European peoples, and will support mutually advantageous co-operation of states with different social systems on the basis of the principles of peaceful coexistence.
p The fight of the Soviet Union for peace and friendship between peoples has completely dispelled the false legend about "the aggressiveness of Moscow" and "the communist threat" with whose help international reaction headed by the US imperialists had misled the peoples and knocked together NATO, SEATO and other aggressive military blocs. By creating these blocs they intended to encircle us, and thus prevent the consolidation of the world socialist system and the development of the national liberation revolution of the oppressed peoples.
p But things turned out not as Washington and other capitals of the capitalist countries had calculated. The positions of socialism and its allies are strengthening from day to day. The aggressive imperialist forces have found themselves in growing isolation and their blocs are showing signs of cracking up. The peoples and even some bourgeois governments are more and more overtly evincing their desire to cast off the fetters that had been imposed on them, and to dissociate themselves from the dangerous adventuristic policy of the organisers and leaders of the imperialist blocs. A factor contributing to this is, undoubtedly, the influence of the principled and consistent peaceful foreign policy of the Soviet Union.
p Comrades, looking back at the 50 years covered by the Soviet socialist power we say with confidence that our Leninist foreign policy has solved and is solving successfully all problems before it.
p In the first years after the October Revolution our correct course in international affairs helped us to frustrate the plans of the enemies who strove to crush the young and the then still weak Soviet state. It helped the Soviet people to build socialism in conditions when our country was encircled by a hostile capitalist world. It enabled us to foil attempts to establish against us a united front of world imperialism in the Second World War and in this way helped the Soviet people to achieve their historic victory. The fact that for the third decade the Soviet people are living in peace and are dedicating their efforts to the construction of communism means that our country’s defences are reliable and that the Communist Party and the Soviet Government are, as before, 63 successfully effectuating their foreign policy. (Prolonged applause.)
Our foreign policy is approved and supported by all Soviet people, by all champions of freedom, progress and peace. This policy will continue to follow the path it has followed for 50 years, the path bequeathed by Lenin, charted by the Party and tested in the course of history. The Soviet Union is fighting for the happiness of all peoples in alliance with all that is progressive, honest and rational in the world; and we are therefore confident that the cause for which the land of the October Revolution is fighting on the international arena will be victorious. (Prolonged applause.)