TNAG-0925-FCO40-1143-Commonwealth-Parliamentary-Association-(CPA)-annual-conferen-1980 — Page 45

Twenty-fifth Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference

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Tobago had been using its increased wealth as a result of higher oil prices to give bilateral financial assistance to neighbouring Caribbean countries.

A panellist observed that economic assistance to developing countries simply for the e of it was not necessarily a good thing. Some developed countries had learned to their cost of the need for adequate planning, and if developing countries were not to make similar mistakes it was important that they use the information and practical experience available from other countries. It was observed also that in some cases only a very small proportion of the aid given had become available to the nations to which it had been directed. Grain shipments had gone astray, and machinery had become unusable because of the lack of parts or technical knowledge. Substantial errors in the allocation of resources and capital investment often resulted from overcentralised bureaucracy and top-heavy administration.

The development of some countries was being hindered, not by excessive population, but by geographic size. The population of Tanzania was widely scattered, and a larger population might well reduce the cost of development per capita. The collective ownership of land, and the investment of multinational company profits within the country of origin rather than elsewhere, were both advocated as aids to development.

A panellist felt that the development needs of smaller countries would be better served by the creation of distribution and warehousing systems, rather than massive schemes. It was important to do away with the preconceived notion of metropolitan area trading with metropolitan area.

Attention was drawn also to the drift of professional people from the underdeveloped countries to the developed countries. The fact was emphasised, however, that many students who received education overseas were committed to return to their countries.

PANEL E

INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

Panel members: Mr Leo Abse, MP, United Kingdom (Chairman)

Hon. Howard Cooke, MLA, Jamaica

Hon. Patrick D. Lawlor, MP, Ontario

Before discussion opened the chairman thanked the Secretary-General for conveying to the Speaker the profound regrets and deep sympathy of delegates over the air tragedy in the Antarctic.

Terrorism, the purpose behind which was defined as propaganda by deeds, was no new phenomenon. It had increased tenfold over the past 10 years, and loomed as one of the great concerns of the international community.

International terrorism endangered innocent lives, and millions of people were forced to flee when their countries were the victims of subversive action by large nations seeking to change ideological positions.

In contrast to the United Nations—in which one group seemed to justify terrorism and another paid lip service to its removal-the Commonwealth had to be united in seeking some solution.

Areas for discussion were defined as the psychological base that was part of the cause of terrorism; types of terrorism and its various manifestations; and solutions, which thus far were international conventions that had been rather abortive or had not been implemented. Terrorism in the modern world was carried out with great deliberation, but its form had been magnified, in the view of one panellist, by the world press coverage given when an incident occurred.

In discussion on the international aspects of terrorism, with emphasis on international response in combating it, concern was expressed about a double standard among nations. The United Nations recognised the problem on the one hand, and on the other turned a blind eye to it. After the second world war, Western nations had not handed over all war criminals in compliance with agreements. Some governments did not want to hand over terrorists in case other governments were offended.

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