TNAG-0566-FCO40-699-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-change-in-Chinese-leadership-1976 — Page 22

CONFIDENTIAL

*

THE SOVIET ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE NON-ALIGNED SUMMIT CONFERENCE (COLOMBO 16-19 AUGUST)

1.

Coverage of the Non-Aligned Summit Conference in the Soviet press has shown that the Russians were not enthusiastic about some of the speeches made during the Conference or about parts of the Political and Economic Declarations which emerged at its conclusion. The reasons for this deserve examination for the light they throw on areas where Soviet foreign policies are not best served. by the aspirations of the Non-Aligned, and also for the evidence which Soviet reactions provide of Soviet vulnerability to Third World criticism.

2.

In the months preceding the Conference, Soviet comment both in public and in private implied that they hoped the Conference would -

a.

keep to a minimum discussion of the New International Economic Order (NIEO) and in particular avoid criticism of the Soviet aid performance.

b.

emphasise "anti-imperialism" and "anti-colonialism", and interpret this exclusively as justification for continuing confrontation between the developing world and the developed West.

C. endorse Soviet foreign policy positions, and if possible reflect support for moves consistent with Soviet ideas for some kind of collective security system in Asia; and avoid highly specific concentration on proposals which could develop in a way that could harm Soviet interests, eg proposals for an Indian Ocean "zone of peace".

d.

serve to counter Chinese influence in the non-aligned movement, and deflect the inevitable Chinese accusations of Soviet "hegemonistic" policies.

On a more parochial but important point, the Russians sought to prevent Romania becoming a member of the non-aligned movement and were probably quietly pleased that her attendance at the Conference was confined to "guest" status.

3. The problems usually caused for the Russians by discussions about the NIEO are twofold. On the one hand their record in overseas aid and trade is abysmal in comparison with the West, a fact which the Third World are coming increasingly to recognise and criticise in public. This was evident earlier this year, both at the Group of 77 Meeting in Manila in February and also at the IV Session of UNCTAD in Nairobi in May. On the other hand, the Russians cannot help but recognise that economic problems are the central issue confronting the developing countries and doubtless sense that it does not be fit the role of a super- power not to be involved in a substantial and influential way in intemational

/economic

CONFIDENTIAL