Evening star., 1950-04-06
WOnnen's
Clubs
Future of Far East
Rests on Economic
Action, Forum Told

The future of democracy in
Asia depends on the speeding up
of its economic development and
the ability Of its leaders to bring
to its peoples the contents of free
dom, DR.. N. G. Abhyankar. food
attache of the Indian Embassy,
declared yesterday.
At the same time, H. P. Yang.
rural welfare officer with the Food
and Agricultural Organization,
painted a picture of rural, pow
erty-stricken and war-torn China
that is still mot easily swayed
by high sounding concepts and
idealogies."
Both DR.. Abhyankar and Mr..
Yang were speakers on the second
of a series Of programs on Asiatic
problems, sponsored by the United
Nations Forum at the Shoreham
Hotel. DR.. Abhyankar spoke in
place Of Nine. Pandit, the Indian
Ambassador. who was unable to
attend.
Mrs. Charles F. Brannan, wife
OF the Secretary of Agriculture
and chairman of the forum. con-
Quoted the program. and Joseph
c. Harsch, chief of the Washing
ton Bureau of the Christian
Science Monitor and former radio
commentator, acted as modera-
tor.
Referring to the general theme
of the forum talks. Communism
or Democracy in ASIA" Mr..
Harsch pointed out that one of
the ways the Communists have
gained prestige in captured coun-
tries is to rebuild destroyed
bridges. "One of the largest un-
rebuilt bridges is food.' he said,
land in Asia, you will find
countries where food shortage is
in its most acute and chonric
form"
Nine years of rationing is not
the best climate for promoting
liberal ideals" DR.. Abhyankar
maintained, pointing out that the
average Indian diet now consists
of approximately 1900 calories a
day as compared with the Ameri-
can diet of 5000 calories a day.
He said that only the assistance
of more fortunate countries"
could aid the leaders of the free
countries of Asia in giving their
peoples the food. clothing and
shelter they are looking for as the
fruits of freedom.
Mr.. Yang outlined China's
principal problem as "the struggle
to maintain life on a subsistence
basis" Further war and internal
conflict will only lead to China's
further disintegration, he said. AS
far as its changing the political
concepts of the people. he declared,
whatever happens. they will re-
main Chinese"
The Chinese farmer has learned
from experience. he said, that
campaign slogans and high sound
ing phrases will not fill his rice
bowl. China belongs to the Chinese
and only they can solve their prob
lens. Give them time, and China
will claim her legitimate place in
the family of nations"
When asked during a discussion
period what had already been done
to alleviate Asia's food problem
through the commodity credit
corporation, DR.. Abhyankar an
swered indirectly with praise for
United States aid to Europe,
Korea and Japan but frankly ad-
mitted, "I'd say Asia's problem has
been neglected"
I'VE ask sentimentally what we
should do about it" he asserted,
but the question is who's going
to foot the bill" In the final
analysis. he confined, the millions
of people not only in Asia but in
Europe who need the necessities of
life don't have the means to pay
for them in dollar exchange.
He suggested as one solution, the
United States generous offer of
supplementary food commodities