As we see it, both Soviet Russia and the U. S. A. which are the two Super Powers are adopting a policy of co-operation and with all the strains and difficulties in the way, it seems that they are making slow but definite progress in that direction which we welcome. As we see it, they have succeeded to a certain extent, because despite many problems which we see today in West Asia, Cyprus etc., they have succeeded in avoiding any confrontation. Some people say that this detente is also another way of managing political crisis. It may be so. That is another way of looking at it, but the point is that certainly a new trend of co-operation instead of confrontation has come to stay and we welcome it, we support it.
There is also another very important factor in the international scene, and I that is the relationship of China with these two major powers. We see that there is slow but definite understanding between China and U. S. A. It may be halting, it may be sometimes ambiguous, but I see a definite trend of understanding between the USA and China on the one hand. On the other hand the relationship between China and the USSR is clouded with suspicion and mistrust. I am merely mentioning certain major facts which ultimately influence the international scene. As to how these events affect us, to that we will come a little later. But let us first of all take into consideration the major situations.
There is also another very positive factor which has come into force in the international scene today, on which was in a very detailed and eloquent manner mentioned yesterday by many hon. Members. Prof. Mukerjee and our friend Shri Dinesh Singh and many other Members from this side made mention of the new rising tide of people’s success in Asia particularly. And this is something which is very significant. I was tempted to see what Panditji thought about these new trends immediately after independence, how he saw it, because there is no doubt that the greatest contribution to the world and to India that was made by Pandit Nehru was that he made a very accurate judgement, a very precise judgement, of the new world that was emerging after the Second World War. That was much more important and it is in that view that he laid down certain basic fundamental policies for the foreign policy of this country, on the basis of which we are evolving our foreign policy. Some people say that it is weak, some people say that it is one-sided, but really speaking they have not tried to understand the real urges and the real inspiration which have been the foundations of this policy. I would like to quote a passage from the speech of Pandit Nehru which he delivered 28 years ago. It was his inaugural speech at the Asian Relations Conference in New Delhi held on 23rd March, 1947 and this is the last paragraph which I would like to read.
