ASIL DAVIDSON’S article on the Congo (WEEK, February 10, 1965) is a very cogent plea for rational judgment of the press ballyhoo about “bloodthirsty rebels”, of which so much has been heard in recent weeks. With this, no socialist would disagree. But when he appeals for an initiative to reassure the Americans that a withdrawal by them will not lead to “a hostile Congo” he treads on dangerous ground. The Americans and Belgians have no right in Congo, whether or not the people of that territory choose a government which is hostile to imperialism. It is not surprising that the Congo liberation movement has been troubled with grave problems of leadership: the intervention of American and Belgian interests has been calculated to disorientate and neutralise all but the firmest nationalist leaders. Basil Davidson is entirely right to say that a solution to Congo’s problems may not be produced by the “personalities now on stage”: but the main reason for the instability of so many Congo politicians is precisely the effect of foreign bribery and intimidation. Only a total and unconditional withdrawal of imperialism from the Congo should satisfy Africans and socialists everywhere. I am_ sure Basil Davidson would entirely support such a withdrawal: but the form of his advice to the British Government is to conciliatory. Britain should unconditionally recognise the right of all nations to self-determination. The fact that imperialist hangovers still linger oppressively in the cabinet does not mean that anything is to be gained by soft words on the matter. F. GREEN, London, SW2
Mass Arrests in Malaysia
HE Malaysian authorities made
mass arrests of those who took part in the February 13th anti- Malaysia demonstration. Between February 13th and 14th the authorities arrested three hundred and forty-five persons. Among those arrested were Chairman of the Malayan People’s Socialist Front, Inche Hasnu Hadi; General Secretary Tajuddin Bin Kahar, Deputy- General Secretary Tan Kai Hwee, and former MP and General Secretary of the Transport Workers’ Union, V. David. On February 13th, the day of the Kuala Lumpur demonstration, two hundred demonstrated in Malacca
from Hsinhua
city against Malaysia.
The Singapore Socialist Front
issued a statement on February r4th
strongly condemning the Rahman
Government for suppressing the
peaceful rally and demonstration.
“The Malaysia regime,” the state-
ment said, “is suffocating democracy,
robbing the people of their rights and
imposing military dictatorship.”
However, it would not be able to
suppress the people’s opposition nor
save the anti-people’s regime from
collapsing. The statement called
upon the Malayan people to carry on
their struggle against Malaysia and
dictatorship and for Liberty and
Liberation.
Spain stops Cuba trade
PAIN has now bowed to American pressure and agreed that Spanish ships of more than 1,000 gross will no longer trade with Cuba. The American Maritime Administration’s two-weekly blacklist of ships forbidden to carry U.S. Government cargoes on the grounds that they have traded with Cuba, states that “the Spanish Government has pledged that no Spanish ship shall trade with Cuba.” It also shows that the five Spanish ships previously on the blacklist as Cuban traders have now been removed. When Congress in 1963 cut off foreign aid to countries trading with Cuba (including France and the U.K.) Spain was made the subject of a special dispensation and aid has continued primarily because the strategic value of the network of