Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-11-04
PORTRAIT OF A NEGOTIATOR
Tolerance Is First to u Thant

ical philosophy. Soon after be-
coming secretary general last fall,
he was asked on an American tel
evision program to discuss the
neutrality of that job He said
countries could be neutral but
men find it difficult to be neutral.
when I say an individual can
not be neutral I am thinking in
terms Of the context in which he
cannot be neutral" said Thant.
"For instance, If you ask me
whether I would prefer the John
Birch Society or the Transfers
Union, I will tell you / am neu-
trail, because they are the only
two alternatives before me.
"Of course, I have no intention
to disparage these organizations,
but the fact is even II / am eligi-
BILE to be a member of one of
these organizations do not want
to join them. So I am neutral.
But If you ask me whether pre-
fer New York to London or Lon
don to New York, I cannot be
neutral. I must have some prefer
ence.
But If you ask me whether I
prefer Islam to Christianity or
Christianity to Islam, must be
neutral because I am q Buddhist
and, Of course, I cannot take one
side or the other.
But on important issues, on
cold war issues, for instance,
like disarmament, unification of
Korea, the cessation of tests, or
the Congo or unfication or divi-
sion Of Germany, I am sure no
knowledgeable person can be neu-
trail. He must have his own views
one way or another.
But whoever occupies the Of
flee of the secretary general must
be impartial, but not necessarily
neutral"
HegeIion Dioleetic
More recently q Thant told q
press conference:
%. I believe very strongly in
the Hegelian concept of Thesis,
Anti-thesis and Synthesis, and I
also believe that unmistakable
forces are at work towards syn
thesis ). If we may recall a little
history. I am sure you will agree
with me that religious tolerance
200 or so years ago was regarded
not only as a sin but colossal
crime. But it is no longer re-
garded not only as q sin but a
colossal crime. But it is no longer
regarded as such in the Goth Gen.
tury.
". Now, of course, political
tolerance or tolerance of political
ideologies is still regarded, If not
as a sin, as some sort of crime.
I believe strongly that this atti-
tude is also a passing phase. I
believe in the march of humanity
towards a synthesis.
I am a firm believer in
parliamentary democracy; I be-
lieve very strongly that (it) is the
only type of society which is con-
genial to the growth Of human
freedom, human happiness and
human genius. I believe in human
dignity :. +. in freedom Of express
sion, thought, conscience, associa-
ton and the freedom to choose
your own lawmakers. I believe in
these freedoms but this belief :.
does not shut me off from the
knowledge that there are hun
dreds of millions of people who
believe otherwise.
ITO give a religious analogy =.
I believe that Buddhism is su-
perior to other religions but this
conviction does not blind me to
the fact that there are hundreds
Of millions of people who believe
otherwise. understand this, and
because Of this understanding I
believe in peaceful co-existence.
Whether we like it or not, I
believe communism is going to
stay . /. capitalism is going to
stay :. parliamentary democracy
is going to stay. AS Buddhism,
Christianity, Islam. Hinduism and
all other religions are existing
peacefully in amity, I believe a
day will come when these different
societies, communist societies,
capitalist societies, socialist socie-
ties or any other type of societies
are going to exist peacefully. I
believe in these things"