A Page From History: India’s Foreign Policy

Defence and Security are the most important consideration concerning the governance of a country. Home affairs may be likened to the internal economy of the ship. It is the purpose and object of foreign policy to keep the ship afloat. India must defend itself against the malignance of ideologues and pacifists.
National Security
The essence of foreign policy is to create conditions of national security by suitable adjustment of our relationship with other foreign powers.
The purpose of a foreign policy is not so much to promote freedom, justice, civilization, democracy or any such thing. Foreign Office is not the centre of international philanthropy.
Division of India has profoundly affected our position and importance in international affairs. Since the north-west border areas are now situated within ‘Pakistan’, it will be ‘Pakistan’ that will receive consideration from the Anglo-American bloc.
It must not be forgotten that Jinnah has not accepted ‘this’ partition, as a final settlement of what he calls the Muslim claims in India. In his speech at the Session of the All India Muslim League in Karachi in December, convened to decide upon the bifurcation of the League, Jinnah is reported to have said to the leaders of the Muslims in the Indian Union “If Jews can live in Palestine, why not you in India? Live there even as Jews if necessary. This ‘Pakistan’ is not the end of our struggle”.
The characters of the leadership that wields power in ‘Pakistan’ is a factor to reckon with; it must be considered in determining our policies.
‘Pakistan’s’ Problems
‘Pakistan’s’ internal problems are no doubt great, in due course of time, they will diminish, as British technicians and American dollars pour in, to give ‘Pakistan’ legs whereon to stand; and the strength of ‘Pakistan’ will grow.
Pakistan’s’ conduct of foreign affairs should have left no doubt in our minds that its entire foreign policy is directed towards achieving one end: to form a solid bloc against us in the international domain and at the same time to create internal troubles for us in India. This explains the rape of Kashmir and the intransigence of the Muslim Lord of Hyderabad and Jinnah’s prototype Razvi—another curse of the people now got over. It therefore behoves us to frustrate these dangerous moves of ‘Pakistan’, and to determine and to vigorously pursue policies designed to restrain and to check the relative growth of ‘Pakistan’.
US Foreign Policy
America is today financing rearmament plans in Turkey; it is supporting Greece and Italy; it is controlling the economies and the Governments of Western Europe with the aid of Marshall Plan. In the east, it is propping up Japan, in China, it is lavishly squandering money and armament to support the Kuomintang.
All these policies are directed towards one end: prevention of Russian expansion.
Now remains ‘Pakistan’. American and British interest there is obvious. America will woo and ‘Pak’ will flirt!
Despite ‘Pakistan’s’ relative strength being less than ours, the Anglo-American support may tilt the balance to India’s disadvantage.
The essential conditions of a sound foreign policy for India are therefore:

1. To remain within the British Commonwealth of Nations for the present, so as to avoid in the event of a conflict with ‘Pakistan,’ the possibility of having to face a ‘Pak’-Anglo-American combination.
2. Not to take sides, as far as possible, in matters which do not both directly and immediately concern us and in which the Big Powers are involved on both sides.
3. Not to promote intimate association with any country or power with whom community of interests is lacking.

Hostile Muslim Bloc

1. To prevent the formation, with all the resources of power and diplomacy, of a hostile Muslim bloc on our west. Whatever the justie of the Arab cause in Palestine, it was impolitic to champion the Arab cause. It is foolish to expect that thereby we would gain respect and consideration in any country of the Middle East.
2. To guard against definite leanings towards the Soviet side.
3. Armed strength and readiness to fight, upon every just cause—just in relation to the cause of our own Motherland, just because it is vital to our own security, present and future.

–Hoondraj M Kripalani