The Reminiscences of Zafrulla Khan — Page 215
199 REMINISCENCES OF SIR MUHAMMAD ZAFRULLA KHAN sharpness of the reaction, for instance, in Pakistan. " I had been told the same thing by Jonkheer Von Karnebeck, the Dutch Minister in Karachi. He said, "After all, even if we have done wrong, it is the people of Indonesia who are affected by it, not the people of Pakistan. " My reply had been, "Jonkheer, that is the mistake you people go on making all the time. You do not seem to realize that if any of you do that kind of thing to any of us, our reactions are exactly the same as if you had done it to us. Once you realize that, it may be easier to work out solutions. " There is nothing artificial about that; it is our blood. We are all one, and we are all race-blind and colour-blind. It does not make any difference what a person's colour is or what his race is. Blood is not the line which divides humanity; indeed there are no lines. We are all human beings, and we cannot see why one section should continue to dominate over another section. Why the West cannot understand this is very surprising to us. As I have said, these problems were already there. But when more and more of the lately dominated peoples came in and they became conscious that while they were free, their brethren were not, naturally more and more emphasis was laid upon that aspect. During the 15th and 16th Sessions, certain resolutions were adopted to step up the pace of decolonization still more. That question is not merely one of the problems before the United Nations, but holds the forefront of the stage at the United Nations. The next in order, and of almost equal importance, is the question of economic development of the underdeveloped countries. Political freedom is a very desirable objective in itself: it is not merely a means to an end, it is one of the ends. But it is only one of the ends. In its turn, it becomes a means towards the attainment of greater welfare, higher prosperity of the people concerned so that human life should become more worthwhile for them. The maintenance of international peace and security also is a means to the same end. It is now being more and more sharply recognized that the common man should now enter upon his inheritance of a fuller, richer and happier life. The emphasis has been mounting in that direction. We are all very keenly interested in the maintenance of international peace, because if peace is not maintained, none of these ideals can be progressed towards; everything would go by the board. But we want it recognized more and more, that even the maintenance of international