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p The Great October Socialist Revolution which abolished capitalist oppression and human exploitation over one-sixth of the globe simultaneously signified a historic turn in the destinies of the peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America. Besides bringing into being new forms of social life, it provided a powerful impetus to the anticolonialist struggle, engendered its new forms and opened up entirely new possibilities.

p The October Revolution drew the peoples of the colonial countries into the mainstream of the worldwide revolutionary movement and initiated the break-up of the colonial system. It led to the merging of the international proletarian and the national liberation movement into a single antiimperialist revolutionary stream, thus imparting tremendous strength to the ideas of national independence.

p The peoples of the oppressed countries clearly saw that the domination of the imperialists was neither immutable nor eternal. "Up to now,” Lenin wrote in 1921, "the Eastern peoples may have been like sheep before the imperialist wolf, but Soviet Russia was the first to show that, despite 322 her unparalleled military weakness, it is not so easy for the wolf to get his claws and teeth into her. This example has proved to be catching for many nations. . . .”  [322•1 

p The birth of the Soviet state was of tremendous significance for the destinies of the peoples enslaved by imperialism. Jawaharlal Nehru, who had played a prominent part in national liberation before becoming the Indian Premier, stated: "I had no doubt that the Soviet revolution had advanced human society by a great leap and had lit a bright llame which could not be smothered, and that it had laid the foundations for that ’new civilisation’ toward which the world would advance.”  [322•2  A characteristic document was presented to Y. M. Sverdlov, Chairman of the All-Russia Central Executive Committee of the Russian Federation, at the end of November 1918 by an Indian delegation which had come to revolutionary Russia and had been received by Lenin. The delegation consisted of two representatives of British-enslaved India. Its memorandum stated that the revolution in Russia had made the strongest impression on the minds of the Indian people. Despite all the exertions of Britain the slogan of self-determination had reached India.  [322•3 

p After the October Revolution the national liberation movement in the colonies began to turn into a force ever more formidable for imperialism. ”. . . What the Red Army has accomplished, its struggle, and the history of its victory,” Lenin 323 stated, "will be of colossal, epochal significance for all the peoples of the East.”  [323•1  This proposition was especially corroborated by the vital part played by the Soviet Union in the Second World War. With the formation of the world socialist system, the movement for national liberation, with the support of the USSR and other socialist states, quite rapidly demolished the colonial system of imperialism which had been built up over the centuries and in 1919 had encompassed 77.2 per cent of the territory and 69.2 per cent of the world population.

p Even before the October Revolution Lenin had formulated one of the basic principles of proletarian internationalism—the alliance of the proletariat in capitalist countries with the oppressed peoples of the colonies and dependencies. With the birth of the Soviet state international solidarity with the struggle of these peoples became a major trend of its foreign policy.

p In the Rough Outline of the Draft Programme of the Bolshevik Party, written in early 1918, Lenin defined the main trends of the Party’s international policy and stated:

p “Support of the revolutionary movement of the socialist proletariat in the advanced countries in the first instance.. ..

p “Support of the democratic and revolutionary movement in all countries in general, and especially in the colonies and dependent countries.”  [323•2 

p From the first days of the young socialist state, its foreign policy acquired paramount significance for the peoples oppressed by imperialism: it at 324 once began to exert a favourable influence on the struggle of many Eastern countries for national independence.

p The basic principles of the Soviet Government’s peace-loving, democratic policy, the principles of the Leninist policy of friendship with the Eastern peoples, were expounded in the initial documents of the Soviet state. Renunciation of annexation, proclaimed in the Decree on Peace, was directed primarily against the colonial policy of the imperialist powers.

p The Soviet Government advocated selfdetermination of the peoples, their right to arrange their life at their own discretion, without outside interference. Of great significance were the "Declaration of the Rights of the Peoples of Russia”, the address of the Soviet Government "To All the Toiling Moslems of Russia and the East" and the "Declaration of Rights of the Working and Exploited People”, proclaimed at the Third All-Russia Congress of Soviets on January 25, 1918.

p Right at the outset the foreign policy of the Soviet state was based on a complete break with the barbarous policy of bourgeois civilisation which based the prosperity of the exploiters, of the few chosen nations, on the enslavement of hundreds of millions of people in Asia, the colonies in general and in small countries. The peoples held in imperialist bondage gained a loyal friend in the first socialist state in the world, which itself had had to fight for freedom and independence, and which rendered every support to the colonial peoples striving for national liberation.

p At the same time, the diplomacy of the young Soviet Republic in its very first international steps 325 sought to draw the Eastern states and peoples into active participation in solving cardinal problems of world politics. The draft proposals of Soviet Russia to the Genoa Conference in 1922, drawn up by G. V. Chicherin and approved by Lenin, read in part: "The novelty of our international plan must consist in that black peoples, just as other colonial peoples, participate on an equal footing with European peoples in conferences and commissions and have the right to prevent interference in their internal life.”  [325•1 

p While rendering friendly assistance and support to the peoples fighting for their national independence, the Soviet Union opposed the "export of revolution" and at the same time energetically countered imperialist attempts to "export counterrevolution”.

p Bourgeois historians have long slandered Soviet foreign policy by asserting that the Soviet state continues the predatory policy of tsarism with regard to Eastern countries and peoples and is even creating some kind of a "new stage" in this policy. Thus, Current History, an American journal which lays claim to being academic, in a special issue (January 1956) alleged that in 1917- 1921 Soviet Russia intended to “incorporate” Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey "in the Soviet system and to destroy their religion as well as their political independence" and that in general the policy of the Soviet Government in the Middle East is only "the latest episode in 400 years of Russian expansion at the expense of the Muslim world".  [325•2 

326

p The slanderers naturally cannot find such proof because none exists. Let us cite an inference by the same journal as an example of the equilibristics to which they resort; it could be considered a curiosity if it were an exception, but such is the level of all the “arguments” adduced by imperialist savants. Given that in 1923 the Communist Party of Egypt had included in its programme the demand for nationalisation of the Suez Canal and that this is mentioned in a textbook of contemporary history of Eastern countries, published in Moscow in 1954, the journal comes to the conclusion that the Soviet Union was behind the Egyptian Government’s nationalisation of the canal in 1956.

p Soviet policy from the start was the opposite of the policy of tsarism and Russian imperialism: both with regard to the East and all other countries, the Soviet Government has strictly abided by the principle of non-interference in internal affairs. This is attested to by Soviet historical documents. A circular telegram sent by the People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs to Soviet diplomatic representatives abroad, dated September 10, 1920, emphasised: "The Soviet Government is sufficiently clearly aware that the revolutionary movement of the working people in each country is their own cause and their own task; the Government therefore steadfastly adheres to the view that the communist system cannot be imposed by force on another people and must be fought for solely by the working people of each country.”  [326•1 

p The young Soviet state proved in action that in 327 working for and achieving good relations with Eastern peoples it has always been prompted by genuine unselfishness and good will. The Soviet Government has graphically demonstrated to the world that relations of equality and friendship are possible between strong and weak states.

p Lenin repeatedly pointed to the need for joint action of the Soviet state and Eastern countries in the struggle against imperialism. He emphasised that Soviet policy rallied imperialism-oppressed states round the Land of the Soviets. These Leninist ideas were reflected in the instructions of the People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs to the Soviet Ambassador in Afghanistan of June 3, 1921. "At present, when the Eastern peoples, being economically backward, painfully feel foreign economic oppression, socialist Soviet Russia is a natural friend for them. . . . Our policy in the East is not aggressive. It is a policy of peace and friendship.”  [327•1 

p The aims of the Soviet Government in establishing relations with all Eastern neighbours were outlined in a note of the Soviet diplomatic representative in Persia (Iran): "The entire Eastern policy of Russia will remain diametrically opposed to the Eastern policy of the imperialist powers and will strive for the independent economic and political development of the Eastern peoples and will render them every support. The Soviet people and Government see their role and their mission in being the natural and disinterested friends and allies of the peoples fighting for their full independent, economic and political freedom.”  [327•2 

328

p The Soviet Republic heartily welcomed the liberation struggle of the Turks. G. V. Chicherin, People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the RSFSR, wrote in a letter to Mustapha Kemal Pasha (Kemal Atatiirk), Chairman of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey: "The Soviet Government is following with the liveliest interest the heroic struggle of the Turkish people for their independence and sovereignty....”  [328•1 

p In its first years the Soviet Republic rendered the colonial and dependent peoples all possible material as well as moral support. The 8th AllRussia Congress of Soviets adopted a decision on December 5, 1919, stating: "The Congress . . . conveys its warm greetings to all classes, peoples and races fighting against brazen imperialist brutality and exploitation and expresses the complete readiness of the Russian workers and peasants to render them both moral and material support.”  [328•2 

p Soviet renunciation of all debts, payments and concessions which tsarist Russia had had in Asia was of essential material help to the Asian coun-, tries. For Iran it meant a gain of more than 500 million gold rubles.

p In 1921 and 1922 the Soviet state gave the Turkish Government financial assistance amounting to 10 million gold rubles. At that time Soviet Russia began to render Eastern peoples help in training local personnel: in March 1922, the 329 Soviet Government informed the Government of Turkey that it was offering 100 places to Turkish citizens in Russian higher educational establishments and that subsequently the number of places for Turkish students would be increased. Shortly afterwards, it offered 100 places to Iranian citizens wishing to obtain a higher education in the RSFSR.

p Soviet Russia rendered all-round assistance to Mongolia which, after the popular revolution of 1921, became the first Eastern country to win full political independence and, moreover, was able swiftly to advance economically and culturally, having chosen the socialist path of development.

p There are many documents in which the peoples and governments of Eastern countries voice their appreciation and high appraisal of Soviet Russia’s efforts to ensure their independence, sovereignty and equality, expressing their gratitude to the Soviet Government. We shall confine ourselves to three countries which, according to Current History, Soviet Russia wanted to incorporate in its system.

p Amanullah Khan, the Emir of Afghanistan, in his message to the Soviet Government of April 7, 1919, called Lenin and his colleagues "friends of mankind”. "You . . . undertook the honourable and lofty task of caring for the peace and welfare of people and proclaimed the principle of freedom and equal rights of the countries and peoples of the world.”  [329•1 

p In a note of January 30, 1918, the Charge d’Affairs of Persia informed the Soviet Government that he is "authorised to extend to the 330 Government of the Russian Republic, on behalf of the Persian people as represented by their Government, gratitude for the act of justice displayed to Persia.”  [330•1  This "act of justice" was the Soviet abrogation of the Anglo-Russian agreement of 1907, under which Persia had been divided into "spheres of influence”, and of other international agreements infringing Persia’s independence. "It is impossible to convey the impression made on the Persians by this news,” the Soviet diplomatic agent in Tehran wrote on January 31, 1918. "Tehran is literally overwhelmed by an outburst of universal rejoicing. I do not have a free minute because of the endless number of delegations and individuals who come to greet me.”  [330•2 

p “I am boundlessly grateful to you for the farsighted policy which the Soviet Republic, upon your lofty initiative, has begun to apply in the East and throughout the world,"  [330•3  Mustapha Kemal Pasha wrote in a telegram to Lenin on December 18, 1920. In 1927 Y. Z. Surits, Plenipotentiary Representative of the USSR in Turkey, informing the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs about a reception on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the October Revolution, wrote that Kemal had come to the reception even though he was sick and against his doctors’ orders not to leave the house, because, as he put it, he had wanted at all costs to celebrate the anniversary. Kemal, Surits wrote, "asked me to inform you that as long as he is alive, as long as he heads the 331 state, alliance with the Soviet Republics will be a keystone of Turkish foreign policy.”  [331•1 

p As the Soviet Union developed its economy, science, technology and culture, the truth of its achievements reached the peoples of the colonial world and made an ever greater impression on them. In his book The Discovery of India, Jawaharlal Nehru wrote: ”. .. we had the example of the Soviet Union, which in two brief decades full of war and civil strife, and in the face of what appeared to be insurmountable difficulties, had made tremendous progress. Some were attracted to communism, others were not, but all were fascinated by the advance of the Soviet Union in education and culture and medical care and physical fitness and in the solution of the problem of nationalities—by the amazing and prodigious effort to create a new world out of the dregs of the old.... If others could do it, why not we?”  [331•2 

p By its example, by rapid progress in all spheres of the economy and culture the USSR exerted a great influence on the national liberation struggle. Even then, the Soviet Union tried to find the resources to help the Eastern countries fighting against imperialism and which had turned to it for material support. As soon as industrialisation commenced, the Soviet Union gave disinterested assistance to Turkey, granting it in 1932 an interest-free credit of $8 million for a term of 20 years, with repayment in Turkish currency. Turkey used this credit for buying industrial equipment and building two textile mills in 332 Kaysery and Nazilli which to this day form the core of the country’s textile industry.

p The volume of this assistance, particularly judged on present standards, was certainly small. Much as it wanted, the Soviet Union for many years could not assign considerable resources for material support to less-developed countries, because the big and intricate tasks of economic construction and the need swiftly to turn the backward land into an advanced industrial state demanded of the Soviet people the mobilisation of all forces and all internal material resources.

p Moreover, in the 1920s and 1930s most of the Eastern countries were colonies and semi-colonies and were unable to appeal for, or accept, Soviet assistance.

p During the Second World War, the Soviet Union invariably stressed that it upheld the sovereign rights of all peoples, the right of nations to self-determination. "In its entire national policy which underlies the state system of the Soviet Union”, it was pointed out, for example, in the Declaration of the Soviet Government at the Inter-Allied Conference in London in September 1941, "the USSR proceeds from the principle based on recognition of the sovereignty and equality of the nations. Acting on this principle, the Soviet Union upholds the right of each people to state independence and the territorial inviolability of its country, the right to establish a social system and choose a form of government it considers expedient and necessary in order to ensure the economic and cultural progress of its country.”  [332•1  Mobilising all resources for 333 accomplishing the immediate vital task—liberation from the nazi invaders and the defeat of fascism—the Soviet Union throughout the war never deviated from its fundamental position on the colonial and national questions.

p The victory over fascism, to which the Soviet Union decisively contributed, the formation of the world socialist system, the powerful advance of the national liberation struggle in Asia, Africa and Latin America brought about the break-up of imperialism’s colonial system, on the ruins of which more than 70 new sovereign states arose. These factors encouraged the rapid growth of economic co-operation between the socialist countries and newly-independent states.

p A major reason for the unprecedented success of the national liberation struggle is the help socialist countries render the anti-colonial forces. "The world socialist system is the decisive force in the anti-imperialist struggle,” it was stressed in the Statement of the International Meeting of Communist and Workers’ Parties held in 1969. "Each liberation struggle receives indispensable aid from the world socialist system, above all from the Soviet Union.”  [333•1 

p The Eastern countries have emerged onto the international arena at a time when two powerful groups of states, capitalist and socialist, have arisen, namely, a group of highly developed capitalist states, yesterday’s rulers of the colonies, and a group of developed socialist states, which pursue a fundamentally different policy from the 334 capitalist countries. It is a policy of rendering the young developing states every assistance and support in the struggle for genuine independence, for the opportunity to choose their way of development without outside imperialist interference. Moreover, simultaneously socialist countries demonstrate the advantages of the way they themselves are following. The national liberation movements and the young developing states see in the socialist countries their natural ally in the anti-imperialist struggle. The USSR has always supported the just struggle for national liberation both in peaceful forms and in the form of armed struggle when the peoples are forced to it by the colonialists. The USSR has more than once compelled the imperialists to abandon encroachments on the independence of newly-free peoples. It helps to reinforce the defences of young national states. Socialist countries, above all the Soviet Union, have deprived imperialism of the monopoly of arms production; their military support has been of essential importance for the success of the national liberation movements. Soviet military might offers young countries a shield against imperialist aggression.

p Socialist foreign policy and diplomacy have played, and continue to play a tremendous part in defending the national interests of developing countries internationally. They have tirelessly upheld by every available means the rights of oppressed peoples, resolutely working for the complete and final abolition of colonialism. Since Afro-Asian countries won political independence, socialist diplomacy, acting on the principle that fraternal alliance with the ex-colonial peoples is one of the cornerstones of the international policy 335 of socialist states, has been constantly rendering them help in the struggle against the neocolonialist intrigues of the imperialist powers and for the consolidation of their international positions.

p It is thanks to this policy that favourable conditions have emerged for the successful advance of young Afro-Asian states along the path of national regeneration and the winning of economic independence. Without such support they would be unable to withstand the onslaught of the imperialist powers, above all the neo-colonialist aspirations of the United States which is ruthlessly suppressing the national liberation movements in several areas.

p Today, joint socialist action in support of the national liberation movement acquires inestimable significance not only for the newly-free countries, but for the entire world revolutionary process. The joint action of fraternal countries here, too, is fully based on the principles of socialist solidarity with the peoples who were, and are being oppressed, which fully precludes any great-power, racial and religious prejudices. Violation of these principles inevitably weakens the anti-imperialist front and disunites the revolutionary and national liberation forces.

p The Communist and Workers’ Parties of socialist countries attach great importance to the development of truly equal and mutually beneficial relations with ex-colonies and are seeking to consolidate the fraternal ties established with many of them.

p The level of political, economic and cultural relations between socialist and young developing states is not and cannot be the same in all cases. 336 This is due to many reasons connected with the history and national traditions of various countries, the level of their socio-economic and political development and also with the degree of economic dependence on, and the political influence of, colonial powers in formerly dependent countries or their consequences and the scale of the national liberation revolution.

p The main trend of socialist foreign policy and diplomacy with regard to young national states is to develop relations of friendship and co- operation, to render them every moral and material assistance in the struggle against imperialism and colonialism, to contribute in all ways to the winning and consolidating of their economic and political independence.

p The existence of a powerful socialist community, its assistance to Afro-Asian and Latin American peoples and its anti-colonialist, antiimperialist policy have contributed, and are contributing, to the intensification of the national liberation movement, to the acceleration of the final break-up of imperialism’s colonial system, and to the preservation and strengthening of the independence of states which have embarked on the road of independent development. If in the postwar period the imperialist powers have been compelled to recognise the independence of many Afro-Asian states without resorting to open armed struggle, this proves above all that the former colonial masters have had to reckon with the impact exerted by the world socialist system on the changes taking place in the Third World.

p The birth of the world socialist system and the disintegration of imperialism’s colonial system are two sides of the single, though multifarious world 337 revolutionary process. A powerful worldwide front against colonialism has emerged in our epoch based on the alliance of the forces of socialism and national liberation revolutions. "The GPSU,” it is pointed out in the Programme of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, "considers fraternal alliance with the peoples who have thrown off colonial or semi-colonial tyranny to be a cornerstone of its international policy. This alliance is based on the common vital interests of world socialism and the world national liberation movement. The GPSU regards it as its internationalist duty to assist the peoples who have set out to win and strengthen their national independence, all peoples who are fighting for the complete abolition of the colonial system.”  [337•1 

p The socialist states have become a powerful ally and bulwark for the peoples of the developing countries in their struggle against the imperialist pirates. The economic, diplomatic and, when necessary, military assistance of the world socialist system is a guarantee that the freedom fighters or those who have already won independence will not be overpowered even by the concerted effort of the colonialists. The world socialist community is protecting the newly-free countries from intervention, and this enables all of them, irrespective of their level of socio-economic development, boldly to choose the road of social progress.

p The determined stand taken by the Soviet Union and other socialist states during the AngloFranco-Israeli intervention in Egypt in 1956 338 prevented its triggering off a big colonial war spearheaded against the freedom and independence both of the Egyptian and of many other newly-independent peoples. A similar situation arose in the autumn of 1957 when the imperialists tried to unleash an aggressive war against the Syrian people, in the summer of 1958 when American forces invaded the Lebanon and British forces invaded Jordan, and in the summer of 1967 when Israel launched aggression against the United Arab Republic, Syria and Jordan.

p The impact of socialism on the national liberation movement is of major significance for the entire trend of development of newly-independent countries. It is hardly surprising, then, that most young sovereign states should adhere to the nonalignment policy and actively oppose imperialism. The main task facing their peoples is to achieve economic independence by strengthening their political independence. The record shows that the biggest results in building an independent economy have been attained by countries which pursue an active anti-imperialist policy, balk attempts to inveigle them into imperialist military blocs and firmly adhere to the principles of peace and lasting international security.

p The formation of a large group of young sovereign Afro-Asian states is a major feature of the present international situation. The number of countries pursuing a policy of non-alignment and seeking to protect themselves from the danger fraught in participation in aggressive military blocs is steadily growing. Dozens of Afro-Asian countries, with a population comprising one-third of mankind, have declared their unwillingness to join military-political groups and have 339 proclaimed non-alignment the basis of their foreign policy.

p The non-alignment policy is a new development in international relations. For young sovereign Afro-Asian states it stems not from temporary or time-serving considerations, but from the very nature of states whose peoples have liberated themselves from centuries-old imperialist oppression. Afro-Asian neutralism is dictated primarily by internal reasons; it emanates from the objective need to preserve and strengthen peace as a major prerequisite for successfully accomplishing economic, cultural and social tasks.

p Since their interests in the struggle for peace and against imperialism objectively coincide, the socialist states are striving to arrange and extend co-operation with non-aligned countries on all major international issues. Displaying great tact for the interests of Afro-Asian states, socialist countries reflect their wishes in proposals and statements in international organisations and conferences. The world socialist community is invariably ready to accept proposals from developing countries which meet the interests of peace and security. Many Afro-Asian countries side with the socialist states on basic international issues of our time.

p The countries of the world socialist system and the young Afro-Asian national states are energetically working to prevent a world nuclear war, to safeguard lasting peace throughout the world. They are convinced that general and complete disarmament and the solution of other urgent contemporary problems would be decisive for establishing enduring peace.

p A solution to the disarmament problem would 340 make it possible to shift the vast resources now spent for military purposes to peaceful constructive needs. This would create favourable conditions for raising the living standards of the peoples of all states, especially those which have recently won political independence. In a report on the economic and social consequences of disarmament, prepared in late 1961 and early 1962 by a group of experts from different countries for the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, it was calculated that if countries with a less developed economy were given half of the resources released as a result of disarmament for productive capital investment, and, alongside this, the general influx of capital from the more developed countries would rise approximately to $15,000 million annually (only a little more than 1 per cent of their gross national product—a tiny fraction as compared with their present expenditure on military purposes) the growth rate of the per capita income in newly-free countries would treble. If one-fifth of the resources spent for military purposes by member states of military-political groups were given as aid for the economic development of these countries, it would amount to $20,000 million annually or $500,000 million in 25 years. According to available estimates, this sum, together with the internal reserves and accumulation sources, would be sufficient to enable all the less-developed countries to eliminate their economic backwardness within 20-25 years, that is, within the lifetime of the present generation.

p The socialist and non-aligned states act in a united front to put a stop to all nuclear weapon tests, rightly considering that this measure would 341 lessen international tension and facilitate solution of the problem of complete and general disarmament. They resolutely oppose the further proliferation of nuclear weapons and fight for their prohibition.

p The socialist and neutral states hold similar positions on important issues such as withdrawal of armed forces stationed abroad. They hold that the presence of foreign troops not only increases mistrust between countries and infringes the national interests of states on whose territory they are stationed, but also is fraught with a serious danger of military conflicts.

p The peace-loving foreign policy of young sovereign Afro-Asian states has great popular support. Their energetic actions in defence of peace often paralyse the pressure exerted by aggressive Western forces and their agents on these countries. The report "US Foreign Policy. Ideology and Foreign Affairs”, mentioned earlier, admits that it is very unlikely that any policy deviating from non-alignment could secure similar support within any country.

p This, of course, does not mean that the imperialists have given up their attempts to enmesh one or another neutralist state in the web of their aggressive policy. They exert much effort to disrupt the policy of non-participation in military alliances and are trying to swerve the newly- independent states from their path, to distort the essential meaning of the processes of social and political development underway in the world. Utilising new forms of colonialism, particularly “aid” to economically less developed countries, the ruling circles of the imperialist powers are 342 trying to preserve key positions in their economy and to re-enslave their peoples.

p Many of the newly-independent countries have entered a new stage—the stage of struggle for economic independence against the neo-colonialist attempts of the imperialists to regain lost positions and obstruct social progress.

p Imperialism does not stand on ceremony, and often resorts to armed force to interfere in the internal affairs of the liberated countries. Lately the imperialists have stepped up subversive activities, especially against the governments of countries where deep-going social reconstruction is under way.

p As they fight for their independence the peoples of young independent states become increasingly convinced that only by strengthening friendly ties with the Soviet Union and other socialist states, by creating a united front of all anti-imperialist forces, will they be able to cope with the intricate problems confronting them.

p The common approach of socialist and neutral states to the evaluation and methods of settling many world issues has ensured the adoption of a number of important international decisions meeting the interests of the nations, the interests of peace and progress. For example, such an approach to problems of colonialism enabled the 15th session of the UN General Assembly to adopt in December 1960 a Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. The adoption of the Declaration, the draft of which was submitted by the delegations of 43 Afro-Asian countries and incorporated a number of fundamental propositions of the Soviet draft, was a grand victory for the foreign policy 343 of the USSR and the other socialist states, a victory for the foreign policy of independent Asian, African and Latin American states, a victory for all peace-loving and freedom-loving forces.

p The Soviet Union and other socialist countries are energetically working to consolidate the prestige and enhance the role of independent Afro-Asian states internationally. The Soviet Government has made many proposals on the enlistment of these states in the work of numerous international conferences and on the reorganisation of the United Nations Secretariat, taking into account the interests of these countries.

p The economic sphere is now the focal point of the struggle of young sovereign Afro-Asian states for genuine independence and progress. The signal socialist economic achievements are of tremendous significance for these countries, indicating to them a reliable way for deliverance from backwardness and poverty.

p The further development of the former colonies is a question that is being settled in the course of the struggle for economic independence. The imperialist states, resorting to methods of neocolonialism and implanting new forms of exploitation, expose themselves before the peoples of the newly-free countries who increasingly favour the non-capitalist path of development. Their striving to eliminate economic backwardness is displayed in the policy of nationalisation, the building up and development of a national industry, in agrarian reforms and encouragement of the growth of the state economic sector.

p Ft is natural that in coping with tasks of economic advance the new sovereign countries should 344 rely primarily on their own resources. But they lack financial and material resources and skilled personnel to move very fast, so they have to lean heavily on industrially developed states for scientific and technological know-how. Although outside assistance is not the main source of their economic growth, it does exert quite a considerable impact on it—accelerating or impeding it, depending on who offers the aid and for what purpose.

p “Aid" from the imperialist powers to countries with a backward economy is designed to keep these countries economically dependent upon the monopoly capital of the former metropolitan states. This “aid” is accompanied, as a rule, by overt or concealed political, economic and military strings which endanger the national sovereignty of the recipients.

p Socialist aid is of an entirely different nature. Relations between socialist states and ex-colonies are based on principles devoid of any selfish motives. The assistance is highly efficacious and is aimed at the early achievement of economic independence, being based on full equality and carrying no political, military or other strings incompatible with the national interests and dignity of the developing countries.

p The socialist states see their international duty in helping the peoples of less developed countries to reinforce their national independence and to put an end to the age-old lag in their economic and cultural development. The socialist peoples who had themselves once suffered imperialist oppression and exploitation regard with sympathy and understanding the striving of the newlyindependent nations rapidly to attain economic and cultural progress. Such economic and 345 technical co-operation is therefore a logical continuation of the fraternal support the socialist states have always given to the anti-imperialist movement.

p Mutually beneficial and equal economic and technical co-operation of socialist countries with young independent states is favourably affecting the economic growth of the countries involved. It relieves the developing countries of dependence on the imperialist powers, enables them to avoid new enslavement and accelerates the internal processes which lead to the highroad of social development, to socialism.

p Proceeding from the principles of proletarian internationalism, the Soviet Union and other socialist countries consider such co-operation important and necessary for peace and peaceful coexistence of states belonging to different socioeconomic systems.

p The socialist states promote the building up of an independent national economy in the former colonies through economic and technical cooperation and the strengthening of equal and mutually beneficial trade relations.

p The growth of Soviet economic might furnishes the necessary material basis for extending assistance to developing countries, and as a result of the great industrial progress made by other socialist countries, they too can assign resources for such assistance. They support in every way the industrialisation of young independent states and provide them with up-to-date equipment, yet they do not demand any part in the capital or share holdings of the jointly-built enterprises. Rather, they hand them over to the client country and seek no right of control over its economy.

p The friendly, equal nature of such economic 346 co-operation precludes from the relations any hint of charity which insults national dignity.

p The disinterested assistance of socialist countries enables the young states to refuse the fettering terms dictated by the Western monopolies when they grant “aid” and creates formidable obstacles to imperialism’s economic and political expansion. The extensive socialist assistance programme has undermined imperialism’s monopoly of credit, delivery of modern industrial equipment and the rendering of scientific and technical assistance to less developed countries. Imperialist powers are today forced to reckon with the fact that young national states can turn for economic assistance to the socialist countries and that it will be rendered to them on advantageous terms. That is why the imperialist powers in their economic relations with excolonies and dependencies are compelled to make certain concessions and offer more acceptable terms.

p Socialist economic and technical assistance represents friendly support to the peoples of national states and not to certain privileged groups. Differences in social systems, in the state and political order and in ideology do not prevent socialist states from energetically promoting economic co-operation with newly-independent countries.

p Socialist states are giving them effective help in building heavy industrial enterprises and other important industrial projects. Six hundred industrial enterprises and other projects are being built with Soviet assistance in a total of 35 Asian, African and Latin American countries. They include iron and steel works, engineering and 347 metal-working and chemical enterprises, oil refineries, electric power stations, building materials plants, and factories of the light and food industries. Among them are the Bhilai iron and steel works and the Anklesvar oilfields in India, a river port and modern bakery in Afghanistan, the Aswan Dam and cotton spinning mills in the United Arab Republic, and a sea port in Yemen.

p Geological prospecting with the help of Soviet specialists has brought to light large resources of oil and gas in India (in Cambay, Anklesvar, Rudrasagar, Kalol, Vavel and other places), one of the world’s biggest deposits of sulphur in Iraq, industrial reserves of coal in the United Arab Republic, iron ore, phosphates and rock salt in Syria, gas in Afghanistan, cement raw material in Mali and Ghana and diamonds in Guinea.

p Other socialist countries are also rendering considerable assistance to developing states. For example, Czechoslovakia has built more than 150 industrial enterprises and other projects in Asian, African and Latin American countries since the war, and delivered complete plant for 550 enterprises in the chemical, power, footwear, cement, sugar and other industries. Altogether, member states of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance are assisting 50 Asian, African and Latin American countries in building about 2,000 industrial enterprises and other projects, with priority accorded to heavy industry. In Africa alone more than 700 enterprises and other projects are under construction with the help of CMEA members: 126 enterprises have been built or are under construction with the participation of Czechoslovakia. The German Democratic 348 Republic has assisted the United Arab Republic in erecting several textile mills.

p By the mid-1960s, 26,000 Soviet experts had been sent to developing countries to assist in designing and building industrial enterprises.

p Credit designated for the development of key sectors of the economy is one of the major forms of socialist assistance to newly-free countries.

p The Soviet Union has given developing countries credit totalling about 5,000 million rubles. It is a rule that the credit is furnished on easy terms—at an annual interest rate of 2.5-3 per cent and with repayment over 12-15 years. In some cases the terms are even more favourable.

p Czechoslovak credit to Asian, African and Latin American states amounts to about 300 million rubles, Polish 160 million and Rumanian to 70 million rubles. The German Democratic Republic is crediting various development projects in the United Arab Republic and Brazil, and Hungary, in Indonesia and Brazil.

p Socialist credit covers a considerable part of capital investment and foreign currency receipts for economic development: in Afghanistan, for example, Soviet assistance accounted for more than one-third of all investment under the first five-year plan (1956-1961), and in India about 12 per cent of state investment in industry under the third five-year plan (1961/62-1965/66).

p Socialist credit radically differs from that of the imperialist powers, representing friendly assistance, not the export of capital. It helps to build up an independent national economy in the former colonies and dependencies, while the capitalist powers offer credit to enmesh these countries in new economic and political dependence.

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p Socialist credit is designated for essential development in economically backward countries, primarily for the state sector which is the strongest foundation of genuine independence. On the other hand, the imperialist credit policy is designed mainly to strengthen the dominating positions of foreign monopoly capital and to support the local big bourgeoisie and the upper landowner crust which prevent deep-going economic and social changes.

p The terms for the repayment of socialist credit are not burdensome: the credit, as a rule, goes into building enterprises which within 12 years receive an income enabling them not only to redeem the credit and pay interest but to obtain considerable additional resources. Many credit agreements specifically stipulate that repayment shall begin one year after delivery of complete plant for a project, which actually lengthens the repayment term.

p Socialist credit is mainly repaid with the traditional exports of recipient countries, chiefly raw materials (rubber, cotton, wool, cocoa beans, fruit, coffee, spices). This method of repayment is economically advantageous to the developing countries insofar as guaranteed deliveries of traditional export goods stimulate development of the export sectors, raise employment and living standards.

p Socialist states give extensive scientific and technical assistance, providing specialists and modern technical documentation which enable the newly-independent countries to introduce the latest scientific and technological achievements and industrial know-how, and also to accelerate 350 the training of national specialists and skilled workers.

p Research and development work, delivery of equipment and materials, training of national personnel for enterprises built with socialist assistance—these are some of the forms of socialist help to peoples who have recently won political independence. They especially appreciate the fact that projects built with socialist assistance become valuable centres for training local personnel. This is particularly important because the lack of scientists, technicians, and skilled workers is one of the handicaps inherited by young national states.

p The Soviet Union greatly assists in training national personnel for work at the newly-built enterprises: more than 5,000 Indian technicians and skilled workers were trained during the construction of the Bhilai iron and steel works; more than 8,000 foremen and workers at the building of the Aswan Dam in the United Arab Republic; in Afghanistan about 30,000 people have been trained in different trades. Altogether, the number of specialists and skilled workers trained in Afro-Asian countries with Soviet assistance exceeds 100,000, while many thousands of specialists study and undergo practical training in the USSR. Soviet educational establishments play a big part in training national personnel: some 30,000 foreign workers have learned industrial and agricultural trades in the USSR and 10,000 undergraduates and postgraduates from almost 100 Asian, African and Latin American countries are studying at Soviet universities and colleges. There are about 4,000 African students alone from 42 countries in the USSR. More than 3,000 students are enrolled in the Patrice Lumumba 351 Friendship University in Moscow. Instruction and practical training are free and all students receive scholarships.

p Scientific and technical co-operation of other socialist states with developing countries is also steadily extending.

p Between 1962 and 1969 the volume of economic, scientific and technical assistance rendered by the Soviet Union and other socialist countries to more than 60 countries increased by 390 per cent. Deliveries of machinery and equipment to developing countries between 1955 and 1968 grew from 15.3 to 430.2 million rubles and made up 34 per cent of total Soviet exports in 1970.

p In furnishing extensive economic and technical assistance, the socialist states hold that such help can serve only as an additional stimulus to economic growth and that sound economic and social development is possible primarily through the maximum use of internal resources. That is why the main trend in socialist assistance to young independent countries is the utmost strengthening of mutually beneficial and equal trade ties on maximally favourable conditions without any discrimination and interference in internal affairs.

p In contrast to the imperialist powers, the socialist states do not impose on the Third World countries goods that are not needed, but deliver those required for economic development and satisfaction of vital needs. Exports from socialist states to developing countries consist mainly of equipment, machines, tools and precision instruments, ferrous and non-ferrous metals and other goods for production purposes. Equipment accounts for about 25 per cent of the exports of socialist states to developing countries and its 352 share continues to grow. Because the imperialist powers are interested in keeping them as their agrarian raw-material appendages, they often refuse to supply them with industrial plant.

p Socialist states sell equipment to developing countries on deferred payment and terms advantageous to the latter. Meanwhile, these countries gain additional possibilities for the sale of export goods, which ensures the receipt of money needed to pay for the equipment and, in a number of cases, helps to maintain the prices of the goods they sell to developed capitalist states. Raw materials make up two-thirds of the exports of developing countries to socialist states.

p In view of the limited gold and foreignexchange reserves of young national states, socialist countries agree to payments and settlements on trade contracts in national currencies.

p As a result trade between socialist and developing countries has swiftly expanded. While in the mid-1950s the Soviet Union traded only with 17 Asian and African countries, in 1968 it engaged in commerce with most of them and had trade agreements with 45 Afro-Asian countries.

p Trade of GMEA members with African countries is increasing swiftly: the share of developing countries in the foreign commerce of CMEA members rose more than 2.5 times between 1950 and 1969 and exceeded 10 per cent of the total. During the same period trade of developing countries with industrial capitalist states rose only by about 40 per cent.

p In addition to industrial equipment, GMEA countries export large quantities of farm machinery to newly-independent states.

p Economic co-operation of the USSR with 353 developing countries was extended in the past fiveyear period (1966-1970). Goods exchange increased and its composition changed in accordance with the shifts in the economy of the newly-free countries. Trade was expanded above all by deliveries of machinery and other manufactured goods needed for building up an independent national economy in these countries. The Soviet Union is assisting them in the development of agriculture and construction, the establishment of scientific institutes and designing organisations, and the creation of modern means of transport and communication, in geological prospecting and training of specialists and skilled workers.

p The high assessment of the national economic programme adopted at the 23rd CPSU Congress by progressive forces of developing countries is understandable. Addressing the Congress S.A. Dange, Chairman of the National Council of the Communist Party of India, stressed the importance of friendly and disinterested socialist assistance for the national regeneration of India and the building up of her independent economy. "That is why every five-year plan of the Soviet Union and other socialist countries, every success in carrying out the plans of building communism is of direct help to India and all developing democratic countries in the world.”  [353•1  Pieter Keuneman, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ceylon, stated at the Congress that fulfilment of the five-year plan and the successes of communist construction will enable 354 the Soviet Union to extend its all-round assistance to the peoples of the developing states in their struggle against imperialism and neo-colonialism, will teach them how to combine political stimuli with the proper management of the economy for further developing the national liberation revolution, and convince them that the non-capitalist path of development is the most advantageous to them.  [354•1 

p The significance of assistance by socialist states to developing countries goes far beyond the bounds of its direct results: regeneration of the economy, stabilisation of foreign trade and finances and the rise in people’s living standards. This help is also of great importance because it substantially strengthens the international positions of young national states. It lends them strength in the struggle against imperialism and for complete independence. It destroys the argument of those who try to dictate and impose fettering terms on them. The existence of the world socialist system and its readiness to give the developing countries every assistance favourably affect their position in the world economy.

p “The new way of life in countries that have thrown off the colonial yoke,” it is pointed out in the Resolution of the 23rd CPSU Congress, "is taking shape in ferocious clashes with the treacherous imperialist enemies and reactionary domestic forces which depend on imperialism for support in their efforts to guide the young states along the capitalist path. However, the peoples are more and more coming to associate the 355 consummation of the national liberation revolution, the elimination of their age-old backwardness and the improvement of their living conditions, with the non-capitalist path of development. Some young states have already embarked on this path, and the Soviet Union bases its relations with them on complete equality, friendship and mutual support.”  [355•1 

p An equal co-operation and friendship between socialist states and developing countries grow stronger, the ruling circles of the leading imperialist powers are increasingly forced to consider the socialist assistance to economically less developed countries. Consolidation of the economic might of the socialist community and further development of all-round co-operation between socialist and young independent states are compelling the capitalist powers, contrary to the intentions of the monopolies, increasingly to make concessions to Afro-Asian countries.

p Today when there is a world socialist system which has become the bulwark for the independent national development of the newly-free peoples, young national states have the possibility of choosing new ways. A number of independent states have chosen the non-capitalist path of development and their governments are carrying out socio-economic and political measures of a socialist nature.

p By giving the developing countries extensive help, the socialist states are making an important contribution to the consolidation of peace and spreading of equal international co-operation. 356

This assistance, which is an expression of the proletarian solidarity of the working people of socialist countries with Asian, African and Latin American peoples, helps them in winning economic independence, and facilitates mankind’s advance along the road of peace and social progress.