5
The Times of India report added the following explanation: -
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"The Aides (i.e., the Soviet leaders' aides) explained that what Mr. Khrushchev meant was that the Western Powers had for several years pampered Hitler in the hope that he would attack Russia. Their plans misfired temporarily when Hitler attacked Britain and France instead.
"It was like a foolish son turning upon a foolish mother who had spoiled him during infancy' a Russian spokesman commented, quoting Lloyd George with approval.
"The plans of Western Powers finally matured, it is claimed, when Hitler attacked the Soviet Union."
UNITED KINGDOM COMMENT
On 25th November the Foreign Office spokesman commented, British and world opinion will be able to form its own judgment of Mr. Khrushchev's remark."
On 29th November when the Soviet Chargé d'Affaires called to read the Soviet Government's statement about the Foreign Office spokesman's use of the word "hypocritical," the Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign Office said that he wished to take the occasion to make a little statement himself. He said that, according to the press, Mr. Khrushchev, speaking in India, had made a statement accusing a British Government, of which the present Prime Minister was a leading member, of having launched the German attack on Russia. The Soviet Chargé d'Affaires replied that he would communicate this statement to the Soviet Government.
3. Speech by Mr. Khrushchev on 2nd December at the Shwe Dagon Pagoda in Rangoon
British Version
Daily Telegraph, December 3:-
"In the course of a conversation which ensued with U Ohn, the Burmese Ambassador to Moscow, Mr. Khrushchev commented favourably on the architecture of the Shwe Dagon. He then observed England did not exist as a country before William the Conqueror. The Burmese temples are 2,000 years old. They have nothing more than 1,000 years old, yet the English call you savages and barbarians.
We Russians are the only ones who are always
fighting against colonialism.'
Soviet Version
Despatch to Pravda by its deputy editor, Zhukov, from Rangoon, datelined 3rd December:-
66
.
Pointing to the majestic spire of the Pagoda sparkling in gold, one of the Burmese diplomats says: When we were struggling for our independence we often said--When William the Conqueror landed on the coast of England, our Pagoda was already here. England did not exist as a nation, while our people were highly civilised. This memory inspired our people to struggle.' Quite right,' Khrushchev noted, 'the heritage of one's ancestors must be honoured.'
"The Shwe Dagon' the Burmese diplomat continued, expresses not only the culture of Burma, but also the culture of South-East Asia, including that of India. When India was a great State, England as a State did not exist. To-day India is becoming again a great Power.'
re
C
Such is the course of history,' Khrushchev said. Now we are changing history,' remarked one of the Burmese. Quite, history changes,' said Khrushchev. 'It is a difficult and all-embracing process. First, a people fight for their freedom and independence with arms in hand. Then, when freedom and independence have already been won, the form of struggle changes. The people have to develop their economy and culture, and at the same time they must be ready to defend their independence. I think that the Burmese people, taught by the bitter
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