In Nofthern Tangayika, tho third meeting of the Afro-Asian Peoples' Solidarity Conforence is current ly being held. Speakors from many countries spoke encouragingly on developments in the world revolutionary scene, according to reports currently to hand, The Algerian delogates Ben Habyles, had this to say at the plenary session of the confornnee: “Independent Algeria regards as its fundamental objective, the giving of unconditional support in all forms to the African Peoples' struggle for independence, for this struggle is inseparable from our own".
The delegate from Tanganyika African National Union said that his organisation stood for: "Complete eradication of colonialism and its remnants. Political independence, without economic independence is not enough." The Mozambique delOgate condemned NATO for supplying arms to Portugal which were being used against the Mozambique poople.
Despite the agreement by tho Conference participants that no dispute between Afro-Asian countries should b» brought up, the Indian dolegate referred to the SinO-Soviet border dispute and disparaged China by refepring to “agrossion", This was later criticised by the Nepal delegate (Nopal has concluded a border dispute with China with no difficulty), and had this sombre note to sound: "Nepals development is much handicapped by a neighbouring country who likes to blackmail her for ulterior purposes".
Many countries and organisations were represented at the Conference including the Soviet Union, Japan, India, Nepal, Korea, China, iraq, Morocco, ilgeria, Tunisia, Yemen, Sierre Leone, Palestine, Omam, Kenya, Northern Rhod— esia, Rwanda, Mongolia and Liberia. The total number of dele gates is likely to reach four or five hundred with representation from over 60 countries. When the second conference was held in Conakry in 1960, only 10 of the 59 count-— ries hid eohkieved independence, but now 33 African countries have achieved indepenaence covering 87% of the total population.
Below is a translation of a letter received from Algeria.
ALGIERS, 1447 27th Jan 1963.
Dear Friend,
At the end of a short journey in Jurope in December, during which I have had the opportunity of meeting various circles, I have returned confirmed in the belief of the extreme importance of the idea of a Buropean Conference for Aid to Algeria.
I have suggested this project to Prosident Ben Bella, who wants +o support it as a very useful and necessary thing,
; The conference should take place in Algiers in April or May 1963. A GovernMont Commission has already been set up to organise the welcome and the stay here of the participants. I myself am a member of it.
The conference would bring together important representatives of the scientific, technical, financial, intellectual, Trade Union and political world of Western Burope, (Germany, ngland, Austria, Belgium, Spain,France, Holland; the Scandinavian Countries, Portugal and Switzerland), who want to give technical, cultural, financial and humanitarim aid to the new Algeria.
As you are aware the needs of Algeria in this field are immense,
It appears to me very necessary that these various Zuropeans who are able to understand the need for considerable, systematic, and sustained aid to the new Algeria, and to the newly liberated countries of the "Third—World"(Translation notes the underdeveloped third of the world, especially, Afro-Asia), should be able through this conference to bring about a form of co-operation for aid to Algeria which will be a model in this respect for the rest of Africa.
The reverberations of such a conference, the first of its kind, would initially be very considerable in Africa, tut equally so in the whole Third—World. There is here the very condiderable possibility of co-operation between the left and liberal wing of Burope, and the Colonial Revolution, which would become lasting and systematic, extending itself to the whole of Africa. The holding of the Conference will open up immense possibilities for encouraging the widest Zuropean circles to interest themselves in an active and constructive manner in the Revolution of the Colonial countries and the liborated countries of the Third—-World.
We are convinced that all the aspects and implications of such a project being realised will not be missed by you and that you will not economise your efforts in bringing about the suceess of the Conference.
Concretely, in our opinion it is necessary to proceed thus: to create in your country, a National Committee as representative as possible, having a core of active people who would bring about as large a representation as possible at the Conference from your country. Hach National Committee must be responsible for covering the return travelling expenses of of its national delegation to the conference. On the other hand, the stay of the dolegates in Algeria would be takencare of by our own Commission.
The National Committee would be in liaison with a Buropean Com mittee which would sponsor the organisation of thse conference, and this committee would be composed of as representative a basis as possible from important personalities in the scientific, technical, Trades Union, and political fields. In each country it is necessary to contact likely por sonalitios in order to obtain their support as soon as possible for such a European Committee.
The conference would last three or four days, but the stay in Algeria of the participants could be oxtended by one or two weeks amwording to their wishes, in order that thoy or some of them at least could examine on the spot the problems of providong financial, humanitarian and cultural aid to Algeria, to hold conferences, and visit the country. All the expenses would be covered by our Commission here and the best facilities would be offerea to make their stay as useful and agreable as possible,
As to the dato of the conference, April or May is envisaged at the latest, and the precise arrangements will be left to the European Committoo who will be charged with the responsibility of organising a precise agenda and form of the conference, in consultation with our Commission here, Knowing that you will commence immediate work in the spirit of this letter, we send our fraternal greetings, M. PABLO