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"Soviet Statesman Stresses
Technological Development""
Harvard
Law Record - October 30, 1958 - Pages 1, 4
By Rosenblum
reprinted by permission
Last Friday evening, October 24, in an address co-sponsored by the Harvard Law School Forum in celebration of the 13th anniversary of the founding of United Nations, Mikhail Menshikov, Russian Ambassador to the United States, emphasized the importance of science and technology as the main factors in improving the material conditions of the peoples of the world. Speaking at the Rindge Tech Auditorium, the Soviet diplomat warned that although science and technology should be employed solely for the betterment of mankind, they are now being used to create weapons so destructive that the result could well be "the most terrible war in the history of mankind."
Ambassador Menshikov restated the principles of international law which the Russian government supports. He firmly announced these principles to be mutual respect for the sovereignty of nations, non-aggression, and non-interference in the internal affairs of one country by another.
These policies were equated by the Soviet ambassador with Russian proposals for "peaceful coexistence." Thus the Russians, Mr. Menshikov pointed out, initiated in the United Nations a resolution for the adoption of principles of peaceful coexistence as a basis for relationships among the nations of the world. He stated that these principles of peaceful coexistence are being increasingly implemented, but that in certain areas they are being ignored. The ambassador made particular reference to the crises in the Far East and the Middle East.
Speaking of the Quemoy-Matsu question, Ambassador Menshikov declared that, in Russia's view, the Chinese People's Republic is at this time dispossessed of islands which are its legitimate territory and at the same time the rightful government of China is not represented in the United Nations. "Peace and justice require that China take its place in the United Nations." Accordingly, the Soviet statesmen declared, the offshore islands should be evacuated by the Chinese Nationalists and the people of Taiwan given a chance at self-determination. The Taiwan problem, specifically, is a "domestic affair of the Chinese people" and the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries should be applied by the Great Powers, he stated.
The Soviet Representative also suggested that the Middle East crises of the past several months were created by the "use of armed forces as instruments of interference in the internal affairs of the Arab countries." He called not only for the invocation of the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of one nation by another, but also called for the elimination of foreign bases and troops from the countries of the Middle East. Mr. Menshikov stated that such actions would tend to normalize the situation in these two areas of crisis.
Peaceful Proposals
Ambassador Menshikov stated that it is unfortunate that other powers have not agreed with the Russian proposals concerning these problems, and that although the Soviet Union proposes that the other major powers renounce all use of force or threat of it, the peaceful proposals of the Soviet Union had met no response. The speaker made clear that it is the Soviet Union's position that "the split of the world into military blocks should be stopped," and that there should be cooperation among the nations of the world. He asserted that "the Soviet Union devotes all its attention to the peace and security of the peoples of the world."
Mr. Menshikov urged that the threat of nuclear conflict demands the outlawing of all nuclear weapons and stock piles and that atomic power be used for peaceful purposes only. He stressed the fact that the end of nuclear tests must be the first step towards the eventual banning of nuclear weapons. He pointed out that the Russian cessation of nuclear tests last March was unilateral; for the United States and Great Britain failed to follow suit. Although the Soviet ambassador acknowledged that the United States has announced that its tests would be suspended as of October 31, 1958, for a period of one year, he felt that this step is insufficient. He stated that the ending of nuclear tests for all time must be implemented in order to save man from the grave dangers of atomic radiation.
Surprise Attack
In line with these proposals, the Russian ambassador mentioned that the Soviet Union had taken the initiative for experts of both countries to evolve a plan which would negate the possibility of a surprise attack by either of the two countries on the other. The ambassador asserted that this would lead not only to a more peaceful relationship among the two powers, but also to a general reduction in world tension that would be beneficial to all.
Cultural exchanges were cited by Mr. Menshikov as being among various methods employed by the United States and the Soviet Union to reduce world tension. In his view, these exchanges provide a good stimulus for the peoples of these countries, and the Russian diplomat expressed hope that these cultural exchanges could be greatly broadened in the near future.
Ambassador Menshikov, speaking to a capacity audience, limited his address to approximately twenty-five minutes, after which he entertained questions from the audience as proposed to him through the moderator, Professor Mark DeWolfe Howe.
Questions Evaded
Always affable, but often evasive, the Russian ambassador avoided answering a number of questions directed to him. Among those questions which did not elicit direct answers was one concerning the execution of General Maleter, the former Hungarian defense minister and a leader in the Hungarian revolt of October, 1956, and a question concerning the banning in Russia of Nobel Prize winner Boris Pasternack's novel, Doctor Zhivago. Refusing to discuss the issue of censorship, the ambassador stated that he had not read this novel but would comment upon it when he had done so. In answer to a question concerning the Algerian problem, the ambassador stated that this question should be solved in the interest of the Algerian people primarily and then in the interest of all other people living there.
United Nations
In commenting upon what questions were to be settled by the United Nations, Ambassador Menshikov asserted that the United Nations decides to some matters by a mechanical majority, controlled by the West, and that therefore Russia must act accordingly in this world forum.
In answering a question posed concerning German re-unification, he stated that it was the Russian position that this was an internal affair of the German people which the two German governments should settle for themselves without outside supervision.
Ambassador Menshikov ended his discussion on an optimistic note by stating his belief that notwithstanding the present differences between the United States and the Soviet Union, there will be a gradual movement toward the time when, through an ever-increasing understanding of each other, both countries will mutually benefit and prosper through increasingly friendly relations.