Africa needs aid. After centuries of imperialist rule, the ...
Transcript of Africa needs aid. After centuries of imperialist rule, the ...
Africa needs aid. After centuries of imperialist rule, the peoples of our continent are emerging into the sunlight of political freedom. But the legacy which they have received from imperialism is one of illiteracy, poverty and underdevelopment. Over the centuries the rich material resources of Africa, and even its human beings have been shipped away by prohtseekers in other continents. In order to make up for these losses and to overcome its economic backwardness, Africa needs aid.
THE QUESTION IS, WHO IS GOING TO GIVE THE AID? AND ON WHAT CONDITIONS? BOTH THE RUSSIANS AND THE AMERICANS HAVE PROMISED MASSIVE AID FOR AFRICA. THIS IS ALL TO THE GOOD, THIS IS THE SORT OF COMPETITION BETWEEN EAST AND WEST THAT WILL BE TO THE BENEFIT OF AFRICA. 1
At the same time, the peoples of Africa will be careful not to find that by accepting aid from one or other of the two blocs, they have tied their economy to a system which will harm their independence and impede their economic growth in the long run. |
We publish an article by the well-known Australian journalist, WILFRED BURCHETT, who describes the impact on India of aid received in that country from East and West.
ROUBLES vs DOLLARSJNDIA is an arena in which to
watch the cold war being expressed in new terms— East-West competition as to who is going to render the most effective economic aid. To one like myself, used to seeing the cold war expressed in more explosive forms in South-East Asia and elsewhere, this is a most pleasing development. To the Indians, whose country has been fairly heavily plundered by the West in the last couple of centuries, it is also very satisfactory.
India is the most fascinating place to watch this new type of struggle. It has a planned economy of sorts with an important sector of publicly- owned industries. Nehru has repeatedly stated and written his advocacy of a socialist solution for India. There is a fast-growing industrialist and commercial class which challenge this view and demand a rigid restriction of the public sector.
• SOVIET AID OBVIOUSLY GOES TO STRENGTHEN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, TO HELP BUILD UP BASIC INDUSTRIES.
• AMERICAN AID TENDS TO GO TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR OR FOR SUCH PUBLIC UTILITY PROJECTS AS APPROVED BY THE AMERICAN AID AUTHORITIES. THIS PATTERN IS TRUE ALL ALONG THE LINE, EVEN IN AGRICULTURE.
The Russians have given aid to establish big, mechanised state farms, U.S. aid is designed to transform present feudal landlords into modern capitalist farmers.
As India’s industrialisation gets under way the distinction between private and public sectors becomes more evident. Since much of the financing depends on external aid, the East-West attitudes towards industrialisation itself and public or private sectors are a very vital matter.STEEL— BUY OR MAKE?
The question of building up a steel industry is a case in ooint. India asked the U.S. to build a steel plant but was told she could not make steel economically; better buy it from the U.S. India turned to the USSR and then to Britain and West Germany.
The SOVIET UNION built a steel plant at Bhilai—which is a showpiece for the whole country—on credits at 2.5 per cent repayable in rupees over twelve years. The BRITISH built one at Durgapur on credits at about 5.5 per cent repayable in pounds within five years. The WEST GERMANS built a steel plant at Rourkela on credits at 6.3 per cent repayable in marks over four years. (This was later extended another three years.)
The British and West German
FOR IN D IAplants are regarded as dear plants with stiff conditions of repayment, but at least they are plants where Indian steel and steel products are now being turned out.
AIDING AND ABETTINGThe U.S. has provided India with
some $1,500,000,000 of economic aid and grants up to November 1959. The Soviet Union has given slightly more than a third of that amount.
Of the $1,500 million of U.S. aid, well over half has been spent on importing U.S. food grains. Another $325 million was in forms of credits under Development Loan Funds, Import-Exfwrt Bank, etc., mostly carrying interest rates of over 5 per cent and mainly to finance purchases for private sector industry.
These purchases now have to be made in the considerably more expensive American market. The remaining $350 million has been split up into more than twenty items ranging from imports to fertilisers, to malaria control and Community Development, and represent no investment whatsoever in major industrial projects.
All this, of course, is the background to Khruschov’s taunts during his visit to India of “doles” being handed out by the West instead of real economic aid. Western observers comforted
themselevs that Indians were “horrified” at such remarks but I did not find a single Indian who had anything to do with the country’s economy who was horrified.
PANNING THE PLANNINGIndians who have to do with econo
mic planning are disturbed about the trend in Western, especially American, official attitudes to India’s industrialisation programme in general and in particular the growing development of public sector industries.
During the second five-year plan, there was a slight retreat from the announced targets which was hailed with some glee in the West. Two members of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development visited India and at the end of July 1958 produced a report which laid down conditions for future credits. Some are difficult for any independent country to swallow.
After critically discussing progress during the second five-year plan, the report states that “the government would be well advised to avoid assuming new responsibilities, especially so far as investment in industry and mining is concerned."
The report recommends that “su’̂ ject to achieving appropriate understandings with the Indian
U P M Y A L L E YA STIR has been created in the
local press about what is described as “cracks in the apartheid wall.” It arose out of the startling discovery (Ha! Ha!) that Coloureds are slipping into White bios and cafes and are having themselves a good time with the posh atmosphere, plush seats and high-class service. The impression created by these goings-on is that the old colour-bar is being broken.
This old man, he say nix.I say everybody, no matter what
colour, has a right to go in anywhere, and to hell with the colour- bar. But I am not impressed by “try for whites’’ tip-toeing into barred places. They’re not breaking apartheid; they’re just slipping over the border in disguise.
If we feel like moving in on the apartheid places let us think about what the Negroes in the U.S. are doing—marching into a cinema or restaurant and demanding to be served.
# Then we will be asserting our rights as South Africans.
★A NOTHER of my ha’pennies in
the plate goes towards the current hullabaloo about “Tell Laura I Love Her.” Man, the way this numfber comes blaring out at me every time 1 turn on the radio makes me hate every girl named Laura.
According to this disc a lovesick teen-ager (aren’t they alt?) takes his car to the races in order to win 1̂ 000 bucks so he can get married fast. He goes hell-for- leather and wrecks the jaloppy, and dying, says “Tell Laura I Love Her.” Laura mourns his death in the chapel. (Choir of angels ond organ music in the background.)
This theme, said the British Safety Council, is nauseating and will foster a “glorious death cult" among our kids.
But, of course, the record people are all for it.
I feel my hand going up in favour of the British Safety Council. Down with songs that remind us of the graveyard.
# But my youngster still likes Tom Dooley.
T Otion?
copy Mr. K: Is this theAmerican culture and civilisa-
AYTHICH reminds me that some * * Yankees are belly-aching
over the large doses of Castro oil they have to swallow now that Cuba’s big-boy is in New York. Incidentally, he has moved to the Negro quarter, Harlem.
• VIVA FIDEL!ALEX LA GUMA.
government on its economic and financial policies” and certain other provisos, the Bank would be prepared to “continue its participation in financing India’s development programme.”
But “the point has now been reached where the country should concentrate on consolidating the investment already in progress before embarking on large, new undertakings,” and the authors comment hopefully that “present indications are that investment (in the third five-year plan) will have to be on a much less ambitious scale than under the second plan.”
Indian planners have thought otherwise. I was present in Parliament when Nehru announced that investments in the third five-year plan would be substantially higher than in the second witn development outlay running at seven to four in favour of the public sector.
Steel production is to be more than trebled, despite a series of inspired stories in the Engli>h- language Press that India had no use for such a “huge" amount of steel, with steel a glut on the world markets.AMERICAN INVESTORS
To overcome alleged Congressional objections to U.S. government financing of state-operated concerns, U.S. private investors are now being officially encouraged to invest in Indian nrivate industry.
SOVIET AIDThe Soviet Union has already pro
mised a $375 million contribution to the third five-year plan and quite specific projects have already been mentioned. In terms of existing heavy indu >try in India, this amounts to a very sizable contribution.
There are no such American projects at all.
# Credits are on the usual basis of 2.5 per cent, payable in rupees, in twelve annual instalments from the dates the credits are drawn upon.
# Repayments are taken in goods within the framework of trade agreements. A similar system is used by Rumania, Czechoslovakia and other socialist bloc countries which have given aid.
Both Deputy Minister of Finance, Mrs. Tarakeshwari Sinha, and Mr. Baliram, whom I interviewed about general economic prospects, stressed the big advantages of the Soviet type aid which hefps build un the key economic sectors without any drain on India’s sorely depleted foreign exchange reserves. GERMAN INTERESTS
An illustration of a different attitude was the statement by F. H. Ulrich, general manager of the West German Deutsche Bank, following a visit to India in February of this year. He had come to decide about West German credits but told the Press that if India wanted
“to raise a loan on the We>i German market, you will have to pay a very high rate of interest.”
He mentioned 8 per bent as “nor- Continued in next column
Mr. Loub Joffe.
Served With Banning Notice
In HospitalJOHANNESBURG.
Two Special Branch detectives invaded a ward in the General Hospital here to serve a banning notice on Mr. Louis C. Joffe, who has been ill in hospital since his release from detention at the end of August. The notices were served on Mr. Joffe in a general ward. One bans him from all gatherings for a further five year period, starting from September 9 this year.
The second is an order from the Minister of Justice under the Suppression of Communism Act prohibiting Mr. Joffe from taking part in the activity of 28 organisations. Twenty-three of the 28 bodies are African trade unions.
Mr. Joffe, the notice informs him, is also banned from the activities of the Federation of South African Women.
Continued from previous column mal” and the “lowest rate of 7 per cent for special cases.” No doubt Ulrich was softening up the ground for a visit by Foreign Minister von Brentano a week or so later.
Von Brentano hinted that West German credits could be had on much better terms providing India promised never to recognise the East German government and, as a token, would withdraw its Trade Mission from East Germany. He was told that India would like West German credits —but not at the price of political conditions.
MR. K’s HATThe extent and manner of Soviet
aid represents a real challenge to the West—but a peaceful one in which the world in general and the under-developed countries in particular stand to gain.
With his recent offers of $625 million worth of aid to India and Indonesia, Khnischov threw his hat into the ring in a big way. He invites the West to match him and promises to make the pace so hot that it will be impossible to carry out that scale of massive, real economic aid and maintain existing a r m s burdens.
At the same time he is saying to the under-developed nations: “Backour plan for general disarmament. You see, we cut back our armed forces by one-third and were able immediately to treble our aid to India and Indonesia. The more our arms expenditure is reduced, the more we are going to be able to hand out to you countries."
THE WF^T HAD BETTER NOT UNDERFiiTIMATE THE ELOQUENCE OF THIS ARGU- MENT. THE INDIANS CERTAINLY DO NOT.
Chief Sabata Dalindyebo covertly reads New Age at Bishop Limba’s reception.
Another Chief Shot In Tronshei
(Continued from page 1) clothing. The trader reported the matter to the R.A.D. Commissioner
In the morning armed police accompanied the ^mmissioner *o evacuate the chief and his family to an unknown destination. He has now been away from his home for more than four months and the Jaji location is without a headman. A similar situation prevails in two other locations in the Peddie district
When the B.A.D. Commissioner appealed to the people to allow the C hief to come back the people’s spokesmen replied that they never drove him away. The police who took him away should bring him back.
LIKE LEPERSIn various other parts of the
Transkei chiefs have deserted their homes, and in some cases the Government has had to find accommodation for them in areas which are regarded as white.
One of the most ridiculous cases is that of stooge Zulu, who was transferred from the Tsomo district to be a district Bantu Authority -n the Butterworth district.
The attitude of the people was so hostile to him that the B.A.U. Commissioner had to find accommodation for him and his family at the Ndabakazi railway station miles away from the people whose chief he is supposed to be- He lives there in isolation like a leper.
His only neighbours are largely the Nationalist supporting Afrikaner railway workers who despise him and will have nothing to do with him at all.
SABATA CHASED OUT OF P.E.
Opposition to Bantu Authorities is not confined to the reserves. Last week popular demonstrations in the townships against Bantu Authorities forced Chief Sabata Dalinyebo and his retinue to cut short their visit to Port Elizabeth.
When Sabata arrived on the Friday, it was announced he would be in Port Elizabeth for a week. Erom Monday September 19 he was to be taken on a conducted tour »f the city and the townships.
A reception in his honour was arranged for .Sunday morning outside Bishop Limba’s church, where a varied programme of speeches.
money collections and singing had been organised. Bishop Limba, who was the chief’s host, had organised his followers from as far afield Graaff-Reinet, East London and the Eastern Cape to give an impression that the Tembus welcomed Sabata.
But even his own church members stayed away, for the whole crowd, including those who had come to oppose, numbered only 300.
PLACARDSDenronstrators bearing anti-
Sabata placards stood outside the premises, while a team of youth inside took up positions amongst the bearded followers of the bishop and continually heckled and shouted slogans against Bantu Authorities.
The heckling became so yicious at one stage that two youths were ejected from the yard by Bishop Limba’s strongmen. A fight was narrowly avoided when these men wanted to manhandle one of the youths after a bench had been broken.
A New Age seller created an embarrassing situation for the chief when he presented Sabata with a copy of New Age. The amused crowd watched the chief perusing the paper which he seemed to finger with trembling hands. Across the front page screaming headlines said: “Lift Ban on ANC.”
According to the programme, the Chief Magistrate, the District Commandant of Police, the Manager of Native Affairs and Mr. Adolf Schauder were to have turned up at the ceremony, but not one of them put in an appearance.
That night Sabata packed his bags and left Port Elizabeth, but he is due to nay a return visit to Port Elizabeth on October 28 to instal his “ambassador” in the township.
FOOTNOTE: New Age learnsthat the purpose of Sabata’s visit was to discuss with Bishop Limba arrangements for the establishment of the Headquarters of the Church in Sabata’s area. The Bishop’s sect is not recognised by the Government and is threatened with closure. It would appear the only way *o avoid this is to come to a deal with the DRC which is reported to be angling for the absorption of the 2.000 African unrecognised splinter churches.
TVL. COLODBEDS FORM NEW MOVEMENTBid For Unity To Fight Apartheid
JOHANNESBURG.
^ H E S.A. Coloured People’s Congress was among the
Reef Coloured organisations that came together in conference earlier this month to set up a broad committee to win closer co-operation between existing Coloured bodies.
Thirtyone Coloured bodies — civic, and residential, sporting, church and teachers’ organisations— met at this conference. About 50 bodies had been represented at an earlier conference.
The name of the new body is still in the melting pot. Some like the “Association for the Advancement of Coloured People” but both name and constitution will be the business of the next Coloured conference, now being planned by the elected continuation committee of 15.
THE AIMSSeven sets of aims have been
agreed to. The movement will
WHITES AFRAID TO OPPOSE GROUP
AREAS
BARKLEY WEST.An Anglican priest told the Group
Areas Board hearing here last week that the majo’-ity of Whites in the town were opposed to Group Areas but were afraid to come forward and say so. Party political pressure was holding them back, he said.
The priest is Father Presley, who told the Board that he believed there should be no interference with people’s livelihoo'd. He was against the entire philosophy behind the Group Areas Act.
The group areas proposal for Biirklev West is to declare the whole area White, to move the Coloured population to a site about one mile out of town, and let the Indians remain- - but under permit. The Indian community opposed the group a^ea nlans in principle.
Several Whites gave evidence against the removal scheme, among them a White woman who "had lived in the town for 60 years and said: “There is no ill feeling or friction between the groups.”
BLOEMFONTEIN PRAYER MEETING
BLOEMFONTEIN.A parents’ prayer meeting on the
theme of child delinquency was held at Kafferfontein Koppies on September 11 at 7 a.m. Prayers were conducted by Mr. D. Losabc. Present were Mr. I. Phale, of ward 8, the Rev. Radime, the Rev. Muja, the Rev. Mosepele, Evangelist Maruking. Evangelist Krela and Mr. J. B. Sesing of ward 3. The ceremony was attended by about 8,000 people.
PuWishwt by Real Printinc and Publishing Co. (Pty.) Ltd.. 8 Barrack Street, Cape Town and printed by Pioneer Press (Pty.) Ltd., Shelley Road, Salt River. This newspaper i- a member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations. New Age offices;
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# Strive for the right to be elected to Parliament and all governing bodies;
# strive for the removal of the colour bar in industry and the right of all workers to organise in free unions;
# strive for free, compulsory education for all;
# strive for the removal of restrictions based on race in regard to land and property;
# strive for the removal of the social colour bar;
# strive for the removal of the colour bar in sport;
# co-operate with any organisation carrying out these aims, without
identifying itself with any political party as such.
The new body is asking all coloured bodies to affiliate to it so that it will be recognised as the mouthpiece of the IJoloured people in the Transvaal.
PROGRESSIVES WINMain debate at the conference
was between spokesmen of the more cautious group (chief advocate Mr. George Carr) and the more progressive group (headed by Mr. Z. Gamiet.) The latter group pressed for — and won — a clearer and more emphatic set of aims for the new movement.
Though the new movement is a Coloured one it calls for rights for ‘air — not only for the Coloured people.
DETAINEES EXPOSE JAIL CONDITIONS
Official Enquiry At The FortJOHANNESBURG.
l^ E D Cross officiah and members of South Africa’s Medical
Association are studying the memorandum by former White detainees on the scandal of dangerous medical and hygienic conditions at the Johannesburg Fort.
An official probe into the charges made by the detainees is believed to*bc going on in the Fort itself.
Johannesburg Councillors serving on the Health and General Purposes Committees have also had the memorandum up for discussion.
The question is: will the Fort scandal be stopped before the next serious outbreak of tyfAoid or some similar epidemic?
The Fort is outside the control of the Johannesburg City Council though any outbreak of disease there would menace the entire city. It is up to the Union Health and Prison authorities to move.
CHARGF^Here are some of the charges
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made by the White men detainees locked up in the Fort for the first months of the Emergency:
# Jail doctors prescribe pills without examining the prisoners on the sick parade.
# Though the jail regulations lay down that the doctor should insoect the food, this is not done.
# African prisoners reporting sick are forced to strip and stand naked in the cold waiting their turn.
# Prisoners locked up at night have no access to doctors. Nor has the warder in charge of them. The alarm bell was out of order and one night a detainee who fell seriously ill was given no medical attention until the morning.
DEMANDSAttached to the memorandum on
medical conditions that has been sent to medical and health bodies and officials throughout the Union are the detainees’ demands to »he Fort Commanding Officer on the rotten hygiene standards in this jail, delivered to him the night one in three of the detainees went down in an outbreak of diarrhoea.
In prison life, say the detainees, it is not possible to confine disease or infecti^ to any single section. Unless .standards of hygiene throughout the whole prison are maintained at the highest possible level, no changes in our special conditions can meet the situation.
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Phone 22-3834 20% Reduction to Africans
Unless otherwise stated, F. Cameson, of 8 Barrack ,St., Cape Town, is responsible for all political matter in this issue. Cape Town news from A. la Guma, 6 Barrack St. Johannesburg news from R. First. 102 Proaress Buildings, 154 Commissioner St. Port Elizabeth news by Govan Mbeki, Court Cliambers, 129 Adilerley .St. Durban news by M. P. Naicker, 602 Lodson House, 118 Grey St.
Collection Number: AG2887
Collection Name: Publications, New Age, 1954-1962
PUBLISHER: Publisher: Historical Papers Research Archive, University of the Witwatersrand Location: Johannesburg ©2016
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