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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 14, No. 3. April 5, 1951
I.U.S. Congress—Prague 1950—Partisan Peace
I.U.S. Congress—Prague 1950—Partisan Peace
"As I understand it the reason why the Council of NZUSA wished to be represented was that this was the first meeting since the foundation of IUS of its highest governing body, the Congress, and the Association wanted every effort made to persuade IUS to cut down its partisan political activity and spend more energy on the practical side of student affairs and thus enable the Western Unions to co-operate fully with it once again. The IUS would then become a fully representative international student organisation.
At the Congress every effort was made to put across this point of view, but with absolutely no effect. If anything we can expect in the future that IUS will intensify its political activities and continue its present comparative inactivity in most fields of practical work. There was no evdence whatsoever to justify any change towards a closer association with IUS of NZUSA's present policy."
Organisation
Organisation was excellent and and unlimited amount of money appeared to have been spent on providing every necessary facility from transport to speech translations. The only English newspaper available was the Daily Worker and special permission is required in Czechoslovakia for any others. (P 1 & 2).
The chairmanship was "deplorable" and "elementary standing orders were adopted but not adhered to and there was none of the impartiality we have learned to expect." A demonstration against a Danish delegate who reasonably stated that they could not accept the Stockholm Peace Appeal was led by the chairman. An objection requesting impartiality only resulted in the Sassing of a congratulatory motion favour of the chairman. (P 3).
The Atmosphere
The atmosphere of the whole Congress was very emotional and rhythmic clapping, long demonstrations and cries of Sta-lin! Mao Tse Tung! or Hands Off Korea! were very common. These 5, 10 or 30 minute outbursts were taken as endorsements of the matter under discussion and those who did not join in were presumed to oppose even if this was not the case. "For instance, if one sat as one invariably did) while the Congress paraded round the hall with some delegate shoulder high chanting 'Long Live Peace,' it was accepted that one wanted war." Even making allowance for the European mind the atmosphere was more that of a revival meeting. (P 4, 5).
Executive Report
The report considers the Executive Report and reprints in full the section dealing with "The IUS—a Detachment of the People's Movement for Peace" as the key section of the report. Two quotations convey the tone of this section:
"In the post war period two forces have merged—forces of peace and progress supported by every honest and peace-loving person in the world, and the forces of war and reaction directed by a small group of imperialists from Wall Street who in their frantic drive for profits and world domination are trying to drag the world into a new and more horrible bloodshed." . . . "On the other hand the reverse is true in the countries engaged in peaceful reconstruction . . . the aim of the Soviet Union Government is to ensure steady improvement in the Living conditions of the people . . . In their worldwide preparations for war the U.S. warmongers need to fasciae their own and other countries and have found among existing fascist organisations their best allies."
Other sections of the report: National Independence, for example, all emphasise the IUS in the fight for peace and the necessity for concentration on the Stockholm Appeal.
Twelve delegations, all from the West, found the Report unacceptable, and all the rest accepted it without reservation. (P 5, 6, 7, 8, 9).
The First Two Days
These were important because of the Korean resolution and the Statement by the British National Union of Students.
Lt. Col. Kan Puk introduced the Korean resolution as the leader of the Korean delegation. He was given a tumultuous reception lasting 15 minutes and led by the delegation from the United States. He then moved this resolution:
"We solemnly condemn these criminals who have committed such inhuman crimes against the Korean people and students. We demand the withdrawal of all U.S. troops and the rescinding of the illegal decision of the Security Council. Hands off Korea! Long Live the Korean people and their success in their fight for peace and national independence!" It was overwhelmingly adopted.
During the next day Algerian, Nigerian and Guadaloup students addressed the Congress and stressed the backwardness of colonial areas. The Chinese delegation arrived and was welcomed with a demonstration.
Mr. Stanley Jenkins, of the British National Union, then spoke and presented the British report. For this report he was censured by the Congress and slandered by the speakers. "We are not here to listen to words of imperialism," declared the mover of the censure motion, a Roumanian delegate. (P 10, 11, 12).
The British Statement
This may be taken as the Western delegates' reply to the Eexecutive report, but it was opposed by many independent groups of progressives. It dealt with:
Problems of Colonial Students
Problems existed and no one was complacent about them, but the Executive Report did not mention gains which have been made, new universities in Malaya and Jamaica for example. It was considered that advances as well as defects should have been reported. Admittedly, drastic changes were necessary.
Other Practival Activities
Farm camps, travel schemes and the International Summer University attracted 2,800 students, but no East European students attended—except those from Jugoslavia. Correspondence concerning a Summer University under IUS auspices revealed IUS hostility to the scheme.
Deteriorating Relations with IUS
With all countries relations had improved except with those who are members of IUS. This is not the fault of the Union but the IUS has seen fit to make an attack upon the Executive of the Union.
Political Activity
An international students' organisation claiming to be representative must concern itself with student problems and not strain the loyalty of its members whose political views differ widely.
Partisan Nature of IUS
Publications
Some sincerely believe that a student organisation cannot avoid political activity but the sincerity of those in IUS is questionable when that activity is examined. There is evidence to support the suggestion that this activity is not impartial. "When the report speaks of Western Germany becoming a military base, we would expect it to express far more concern at the state of affairs in Eastern Germany, where the people's police are organised on military lines, officered by such men as Major-Gens. Wiz and Weech, who both held important positions in the Wehrmacht under the Nazis."
"If the IUS reported fairly the views of all its members there might be some excuse for trying to settle matters which statemen have failed to settle, but if it merely repeats the Soviet case while suppressing those of other countries we can and do justly claim that the IUS is partisan. The Peace Campaign.
"It is selective treatment which has brought the activities of the Partisans of Peace into disrepute . . . All of us want peace." They (the Partisans of Peace) are not against [unclear: ar] in any part of the world if it is fought for communist aims. The National Union of Students has mandated its delegates to support the Stockholm Appeal only if it were amended to ban all weapons.
The IUS could play a leading part in the campaign for peace by the breaking down of barriers to understanding.
Membership
We are concerned at the increasingly unrepresentative character of IUS membership. Two organisations numbering 1050 students, for example speak in the name of 25,000 Dutch students.
Conclusion
The British Report concluded by endorsing the IUS aims: Peace, National Independence and Democratic Education. It was clear, however, that respect for the IUS had declined, only nine Unions out of 246 in Britain having paid their subscriptions and this should cause IUS some concern.
Could not students join together to work for peace rather than fight for it. (P 12-18).
Comment on the Declared Aims of the Congress
Peace: "Real Peace," said the Czech Minister of Education, "can never be brought about except by communism—peace means the struggle against capitalism and imperialism." This fairly summed up the general attitude which was not for peace as peace but for a Communist peace.
National Independence: This also has a distinct meaning and I think the majority of delegates would have agreed that it was not possible outside a people's democracy.
Democratic Education: It is difficult to define what is meant here, but it is clear that the ideal state of democracy is only found in communist countries. (P 23, 24).
The Actual Aims
This was to consolidate the IUS poltical position with students from colonial and dependent lands and drive home to them that Communism offers them their only chance of realising their aspirations. It was clearly effective. (P 25).
Keeping the Door Open
This is an argument often used by those who wish to remain affiliated with IUS—the desirability of keeping the door open between East and West. There is no real contact between Western representatives and rank and file Czech students. "I can understand their view that it is reason for remaining in IUS but looking at it perspectively I cannot see that it is a sufficient reason." (P 36).
The Colonial Problem
Of considerable interest is the section on the Colonial Problem for it is clear that not enough is being done to educate colonial students. Living conditions are very bad and something could be done to improve the position. Salient will devote some articles to this problem during this year. Students are advised to read this report and that of Matthews, both of which are available in the Executive Room.
Conclusions and Recommendations
The report makes a number of recommendations which can be summed up by saying that Mr. Miller considers the present NZUSA policy a sound one and that affiliation would serve no useful purpose. Other matters dealt with include the expulsion of Jugoslavia, Student Unity, Czech press comments, and World Student Relief. (P 38).
The article published on this page is a summary of some portions of a report on the IUS Congress held at Prague in 1950, Salient has already published two sections of another report on the same Congress and a third section of a summary of that report also appears in this issue.
The report on this page was written by Mr. R. Miller, the observer on behalf of the New Zealand University Students' Association, while the other was written by observers on behalf of the Association of Victoria.
Both reports are available for reading in the Executive Room, and since their views differ students should read both. We hope to publish further articles on the colonial student problem during the year. For that reason sections from the Miller report have been omitted.