I, therefore, have an easy task, because as far as the basic features of foreign policy are concerned they are not doubted. What are the basic features of our foreign policy? First and foremost is that we pursue an independent foreign policy based on non-alignment; a basic urge emanating from our foreign policy is the ceaseless search for world peace and co-operation - I will explain it further again; we believe in friendship towards all and malic towards none; we have been in the vanguard of the struggle against colonialism, imperialism and racism; we have been active in our support for liberation movement whether in our bilateral relations or in multi-lateral forums. Our approach has always been one of constructive co-operation and not of confrontation or conflict. It is, therefore, very heartening to have reaffirmation of the broad consensus in support of this approach in the course of the debate.
With these introductory remarks would now emphasise two or three very’ important aspects. I would not go into every detail for last 25-30 years but undertake a ‘tour de horizon’ as they call it. If we have to see the present status of the war and peace problem, as it is called, at the world level, it is better to review the international situation as it is today.
In order to do that one will have to take a synoptic view of the international situation as it has evolved since World War II in terms of its political problems, economic problems and technological development, because what is happening today, has something to do with progress and developments in these three basic areas.
My friend, Shri Dinesh Singh, referred to the problem of detente at Helsinki and possibly would be drifting towards the valley. This is a very picturesque assessment. I can tell you that maybe it is a drift towards a valley but a valley perhaps at a higher level.
Shri Indrajit Gupta (Alipore) : Higher than the peak !
Shri Y B. Chavan : Yes. I will tell you why. This is so because we believe as a nation that detente is in the interest of humanity; detente is in the interest of the world and detente is in the interest of the developing countries. May be what you say is right, in a way, because under the pressure of electioneering that is taking place in most of the western world, detente seems to have become a rather unfashionable word. If not a dirty word. It has come to this stage. But detente is not just an accident. That is why I say it is much better to see the developments, the policies, the international situation, as they have evolved in the last 25-30 years.
In the economic field, what we have seen is that both the socialist world and the western world have made tremendous progress in their industrial strength and industrial power. Particularly, the western world, has seen unprecedented growth of trade. I think, at no time in the history of the world this has happened. The volume of the trade and the rate at which the trade has grown in the last 25-30 years is completely unprecedented. The unfortunate part of it is that the lion’s share of it, more than lion’s share of it, has gone to the big powers, the western powers. But the fact remains that this has happened, and this has created the problem. Division and inequality among the nations has widened with this growing trade, growing economic strength, and growing industrial power. Their concentration in the hands of a very few countries has certainly created conditions for further exploitation, though we have become free countries and independent countries. This is one aspect of the economic situation.
