INMO0-CHINESE BORDER DISPUTE
By A. J. Singh
NEW DELHI, Jan. 1.-= The unilateral declaration of a cease-fire by the Chinese People's Republic, followed by withdrawal of troops from some parts of the occupied territory, has eased the nightmarish tension. The proposal of the Colombo conference of neutral powers can serve as @ face-saving device for the Indian rovernment to start negotiations. This gives the forces of the left a breathine space.
Contrary to general expectations, the Nehru government has come around to the idea of exploring a negotiated settlement of the border dispute ~- though not formally as yet.
Although the imperialists rushed military aid to India, it is obvious that long-term military assistance is dependent on Nehru agreeing to give up his prasent nonalignment policy in addition to reaching a settlement with Pakistan over the Kashmir issue,
The Indian government, despite the heat from the PYPHt-wing “£3 not prepared. to succumb: te these.,"pressure.taghicss"
Mhe bourgeoisie atone atage;sqripusry gonsigered the possibfiaty of ousting Nebru, cugueisiis abbey derper fetise Hinigter’ ighné°oMenon was thade ‘4 scapegoat farnshe imisig)..mglitar Teve 3e suffered bythe Indian ‘armed forces tin: the. orth ial fs tier Area: seeenhae MAvanee? of the Chinese forces’ there. would,.b ve contain? meantia cbapu ia: Iadia , inviting massive intervention by the erican’ imperialists avai. possibly triggering off a world war.
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But Nehru's position has been considerably strengthened since the Chinese cease-fire. fis nonalignment policy has been salvaged also by the overt political support extended by the Beviet® Union and Khrushchev's pateucescal statement that the Soviet‘ commitments with regard’ to the controversial MIG deal, economic aid, etc., would be kept. Moscow's pressure undoubtedly influenced Peking in ordering the troops to withdraw.
That Nehru won a victory, maybe temporary, over his richt-wing opponents, is evident from the declaration he made to some ericannewspapers recently, suggesting that Nenon would be soon rejoining the Indian cabinet. (Characteristically enough, he modified his stand ~ later when he wes attacked from the richt.)
This does not mean that the government will stop using the emergency measures against the working class and revolutionary forces in the name of boosting war efforts. Negotiations with the Chinese will not alter this. e attitude of utter surrender adopted by the Communist. party of India (CPI) and also the failure of smaller Marxist and left. groupe to rise above Pere UC ewose Seenvarasy pressure has emboldened the bourgeoisie in its offensives against the masses. The government banned strikes. All central trade-union organizations bowed to the decree by agreeinc, to a complete moratorium on strike struggles. Even normal tradeeunion activities have been: abandoned pending settle-~ ment of the emergency.
Coupled with this is a general witch-hunt. More than 400 CPI leaders, known for their left leanings, have beon rounced up and detained under the Defence of India Act all over the country.
The tragedy of the left movement is that it appears to hove lost its powers of resistance. This is the outcome ‘of the class- collaborationist line of the CPI for the past decade and more.
Petty-bourgeois socialist parties like the Praja Socialist party (PSP) and the Socialist party (SP) have been spearheading the witchhunt against the Communists for their alleged “extra-territorial loyalties."
Another aocty spechadh: was the right-win leadership of the CP itself using the irect palice protection ‘éxtended to it by the government to ficht and isolate the so-called -“*pro-Pekinc" left-wing faction through disciplinary action and other means.
The Khrushchevite leadership of the OPI is utilizing the "legal" ‘status. given to it by the government to isolate the left wing and take control of party units sven ii left strongholds like Bengal, end Punjad. In.ites efforts to suppress criticiem, the Dangeite leader ship (5.A,Denge ig chairman of the CPZ) 8:80 far as to provoke arrests ;of lef¢,elenents. Those who' evade arrest.are forced to surrender to the: police under threat of expelsion.
On the Indian political scene these ars some things to wateh: The rightist reaction centered around the Swatantre. party end Jan Gangh considerably strengthened by dovelopments, is seeking to oust Nehru preparatory to a military coup. They banlt on suppert from formor anny generals now associated with the’ "defense" apoaratus of the rovernnent. The lehru wing is, of course, putting up a fight. But the reactionaries know that in the absence of an effective revolutionary leadership, any mass resistance to a military coup can be suporessed. These parties incessantly demand the banning of the CPI,
In the wake of the hysterical chauvinistic propaganda, the PSP end the SP have come closer. A serious attempt is under way to merge these two petty-bourgeois parties on the basis of an essentially anti-Communist | program. In Utter Pradesh the two have already merged.
The crisis created by the India-China border conflict has exposed the onganizational weakness of the Marxist left in general and the ideological confusion prevailing in its ranks. Fortunately the present lull offers an opportunity for clarification and regroupment.
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Editeur responsable: Pierre Frank, 64 rue de Richelieu, Paris a
Supplément de “Quatriéme Internationale."