SOUTH-EAST ASIAN FORUM

New Zealand Listener, Volume 30, Issue 774, 21 May 1954, Page 19

SOUTH-EAST ASIAN FORUM

Sir-The stimulating trans-Tasman forum on Indo-China and South-East Asia has just concluded. Fairly wide differences of opinion were revealed by the speakers, ranging from respect for "the genuine nationalist aspirations of the South-East Asian peoples," of L. R. Palmer, to detestation of the "yoke of Communist slavery," by R. W. Robson. As. one who has many valued Asian friends on both sides of the bamboo curtain I was continually struck, however, by the common note of patronage, unconscious, I hope, and believe in most cases, used by all speakers. Even Messrs. Wood and Palmer, despite their openmindedness and humanitarianism, could have given offence to any educated Asian by their tacit assumption of Western moral superiority. Now while few Europeans have any inhibitions about expressing’ their opinions about Asian peoples and institutions, most Asians are far too polite to volunteer their opinion of the Europeans. However, their private opinions are far from flattering. No educated Asian will for a moment concede any superiority to the West except in the twin respects of military organisation and scientific knowhow. A little honest historical self-criticism will show that in this he is absolutely right. Europe has dominated Asia for over a century, not because of any superiority in morals, philosophy or the finer elegancies of life, but because of a sudden and comparatively recent revolution in the techniques of war and industrial production. Three centuries ago the Asian States provided a more secure, a more cultured and altogether a more splendid picture than did any European kingdom. Even in matters of public health, education and living standards there was precious

little difference. Some Asian lands were far ahead of many Western ones even here. The kingdoms of Viet-Nam, Laos and Khmer had an ancient culture, a highly philosophical religion, a beauti- ‘ ful tradition of art and architecture, and a settled civilised way of life when Europeans were still struggling to get back to the forgotten civilised ways of Greece and Rome. Educated Asiang well realise this. It is up to us to show Shem that we are not mere barbarian parvenus upon the historical scene, inflated by a sense of our recently-acquired importance and moral superiority. Self-con-scious patronage, whether it takes the form of napalm bombs and flying boxcars or of grudging technicological handouts will not win us friends and influence the people who are busy making the new Asia.

H. W.

YOUREN

(Napier).