The Adhoc Committee of the Political Comittee

of the Asian-African Conference 1955 on ‘The Question of Peaceful Coexistance’

22-24 April 1955 in the Dwi Warna Building, Bandung, Indonesia

A. Background Issue
Pro
India, Burma, Indonesia, Egypt, People’s Republic of China belonged to the pro-peaceful co-
existance group and did not approve of the existance of military blocs, whether from the West of
rom the the East. The spokesman of this group was Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

Sceptical
Iraq, Turkey, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand were the pro-military bloc group and were sceptical
about the execution of the 5 principles of peaceful co-existance. The spokesman of this group was
Pakistan.

B. Opening Session of the Asian-African Conference

1. Presiden of the Republic of Indonesia: by video

2. Head of the Asian-African Conference, Indonesia:

Your Highness, Your Execellencies, Ladies and Gentelmen
Allow me to quote from paragraph of our joint-communique the precise owrding. Our
purposes are: 1) to promote goodwill and cooperation among the nations of Asia and Africa,
to explore and advance their mutual as well as common interests and to establish and further
friendliness and neighbourly rleations, 2) to consider socail, economic, and cultural
problems and relations of the countries represented, 3) to consider problems of specil
interest to Asian and African peoples, 4) to view the position of Asia and Africa and their
peoples in the world of today and the contribution they can make to the promotion of world
peace and cooperation. May the Almighty grant us wisdom and tolerance in our discussions.

3. Heads of Delegates Welcoming Remarks:

1. The Prime Minister of Burma U Nu: ...

2. The Prime Minister of Pakistan Mohammed Ali Bogra: Mr. Chairman, Fellow
Delegates. These seven principles are 1) Respect of the soverignty and territorial
integrity of all nations, 2) Recognition of the equality of every independent and soveirgn
nation, 3) Abstention from interference of internal affairs of one country by another, 4)
Non-aggression against the territorial integrity or political independence of any country,
5) Right of self-defence exercised singly or colletively, 6) Right of self-determination of
all peoples and abhorrence of colonial exploitation in any shape or form, and 7)
settlement of all international disputes by peaceful means, namely negotiations,
mediation, or arbitration.

3. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iraq Mohammed Fadil Jamali: The Iraqi
delegation is very happy indeed to be in this beautiful country of Indonesia and to enjoy
the hospitality and grace with which the Indonesian people and government have
received us. Our thanks must be extended to the five Colombo States that decided on
holding this Asian-African Conference, issued the invitations and did such magnificent

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 work of preparation for it. Actually the idea of holding an Asian-African Conference has
been on the minds of some of us since the days when the distinguished late Ambassador
of India, Mr. Asaf Ali, after a talk we had together, called the Asian-African group in the
United Nations for a meeting for the first time in the spring of 1947. The purposes of the
meeting was to unify the policy of the group in the United Nations.

4. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Turkey Fathin Rostu Zurlu: Mr. President,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen. The Turkish delegations along with all other
brother delegations here assembled, is fully convinced that colonialism and racialism,
the remnants of old imperialism which are already on their way out, should be made to
vanish frpm the face of the earth. May the deliberations of the Conference prove fruitful
and guide us into the right path.I pray the Almighty to protect the peace-loving countries.

5. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia Mr. Soenario: ...

6. The Prime Minister of Egypt Gamal Abdel Nasser: Mr. Chairman, Gentlemen. In this
conference, we are meeting as representatives of the Asiatic and African countries. There
is a striking similarity between the conditions prevailing in our countries, a similarity
that operates as a unifying force. We have emerged from a long periode of foreign
influence, political as well as economic. At present we are faced with such problems as
economic development, social and political reconstruction. It is not surprising therefore
that we should feel close together, a fact that finds its expression in our concepts of
world peace and international justice. This is a new landmark in the long quest for peace
and justice. Thank you.

7. The Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru: ...

8. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Philippines Carlos Pena Romulo: Mr.
Chairman, Fellow Delegate. To begin with, the very fact that we have come together
here in this manner illustrates the great new fact that the issues of freedom, equality and
growth are no longer merely national problems but world problems. We are all brothers
under the canopy of Heaven. I thank you.

9. The Prime Minister of People’s Republic of China Zhou Enlai: Mr. Chairman,
Fellow Delegates. This meeting of ours was not easily brought about. Though there are
among us many different views, they should not influence the common desires that we
all hold. Our conference ought to give expression to our common desires and thus make
itself a treasured page in the history of us by us through this conference. As His
Excellency President Sukarno of the Republic of Indonesia has rightly said, we Asians
and Africans must be united. Let us greet in advance the success of our Conference.

C. The Adhoc Committee

1. The Prime Minister of Burma U Nu: In the present situation in the world, with all the different
interest becoming more critical and with all the types of conventional and nuclear weapoms, we
could do not other than take an attitude of living in tolerance and mutual respect. Especially with
regard to differencs o f opinion, differences of ideology, and fifferences of political system.
Therefore, we must all have the courage to live in peace with one another, whilst upholding and
respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of one another, non-intervention and non-

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agression, whilst developing cooperation for the shake of equality and common benefit. The
alternative to co-existance, if it can be called an alternative, is no existance!

2. The Prime Minister of Pakistan Mohammed Ali Bogra: Peaceful Co-Existance is an effect,
not a cause. It can follow only when certain prerequisites of international conduct are universally
fullfilled. Amongst other things, that we must all be prepared with some system of defence against
aggression. If not, peace could never be maintained.

3. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iraq Mohammed Fadil Jamali: To co-exist togetther with
concept of communism, whic always, at any time and in any place whatsoever, conducted
inflitration and subversion both through propaganda and also through psychology ideological war.
Communisme has its own interpretation of all kinds of terms. They possesed their own jargon. For
instance, their definition of democracy and people was very different from ours. Therefore, before
we can live together in peace with other ideas there must be an ideological disarmament. The
formulation of the 5 principles of peaceful co-existance as being very vague. They were nly
slogans.

4. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Turkey Fathin Rostu Zurlu: Turkey could not remain
silen about what the countries of Eastern Europe had gone thorugh. When America and Wstern
Europe were demobilising and conducting large sclae development in keeping with the Marshal
Plan, Eastern Europe became the prey of communist expansion. This was the reason why Turkey
joined the military pact of NATO, which it regarded as asystem of defence that is defensive and not
aggresive. NATO is the foremost defensive organization of the world. And, it is very naive to
believe that world peace can be maintained without a system of collective defense like NATO. We
should not become too drugged by such word as co-existance which were only of phsycological
value alone.

5. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia Mr. Soenario: Indonesia was of the opinion that
the principle of peaceful co-existance was extremely important in view of the fact that the nations of
Asia-Africa needed peace. Peace that is not based upon a balance of military power, as is conducted
by the big powers. Such balances only give rise to concern, worry, and also to fear everywhere.
They also grow into cold wars that could explode into a Third World War. It was precisely in order
to prevent such disaster that Indonesia considered the five principles of peaceful co-existance to be
essential. I recalled previous international conventions that also upheld these principles, both
bilateral and multilateral conventions. As with the Montevideo Convention of September 1933, the
Non-Intervention Protocol of Buenos Aires in December 1936, the Bogota Charter of 1948, and the
United Nations Charter itslef and the planned Declaration of the rights and obligations of states in
all kinds of non-aggression treaties recognised by the UN.

6. The Prime Minister of Egypt Gamal Abdel Nasser: I basically agreed to the concept of
peaceful co-existance. Certainly, it was the general opinion that peaceful co-existance was primarily
the bussines of the big powers. Whereas it also involved the relations between the big powers and
the medium and small countries. What was important that the big powers stop thier games of power
politics, and recognise the right of other countries to conduct their own foreign policies freely,
without being disturbed by intervention and interference from outside.

7. The Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru: We cannot allow the world to be divided up
by these two military blocs that are mutually preparing for war. We must jointly build up an
unaligned area, a zone that does not bind itself to either of the military blocs. The countries that
bind themselves to those military blocs will lose their identity. I admit that India has made mistakes.

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Every country makes mistakes. We too are going to make mistakes. But we are going to build up
again, to crawl back again after we have fallen due to those mistakes. Nevertheless, I wish to say
that our mistakes will not have very great influence. Very different with the mistakes of the great
powers. Certainly, the big powers have done service in building civilised culture. On the other hand,
they have also built very great military power, And the greatness of theirs often give rise to false
and misleading measures and values. Especially if they think about settling all the problems in this
world according to military measurements. And have the ambition to dominate the world military
also. This is danger.

8. The Prime Minister of Pakistan Mohammed Ali Bogra: Just for a brief explanation. That is, to
explain that if Pakistan puts in the right of defense collectively as recognised in Article 51 of the
UN Charter that does not mean in any way whatsoever that Pakistan wishes to have its membership
in the military pact of SEATO justified, as was said by Prime Minister Nehru. No, not at all!
Pakistan is an independence and sovereign country, and all its act are its own responsibility. It
rquires justification only from its own people. It does not need it from outsiders. Including from the
Prime Minister of India.

9. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Philippines Carlos Pena Romulo: Let me say to
Premier Nehru in conclusion: the empires of yesterday on which it used to be said the sun never set
are departing one by one from Asia. What we fear now is the new empire of communism on which
we know the sun never rises. May your India, Sir, never be caught by the encircling gloom!

10. The Prime Minister of People’s Republic of China Zhou Enlai: The term peaceful co-
existance was considered redolent of communisme. I would have no objection to changing it. For
instance with the term from the UN Charter that affirms the principal of live together in peace. We
need collective peace for the sake of fostering international cooperation. Such collective peace was
in no way intended to oppose countries outside Asia-Africa. No! On the contrary, collective peace
in Asia-Africa was intended as the first step to expand world peace and to prevent warfare. As the
communist state. China opposes the formation of military blocs, because military blocs sharpen the
world crisi. And tends towards war. China did not approve of NATO and SEATO. We on our part
respect the way of life as well as the political and economic systems chosen by other people. For
instance, we respect the way of life and political and economic systems chosen by the American
people. As to the relations between China and the United States, the Chinese people do not want to
have war with the United States. We are willing to settle international disputes by peaceful means.
If those of you here would like to facilitate the settlement of disputes between the United States and
China by peaceful means, it would be the most beneficial to the relaxation of tensions of world war.

D. Conclusion

1. The Prime Minister of Egypt: We should accept the right of collective self-defense in military
blocs, provided this was not used for the interests of the big powers. Respect for the right of each
nations to defend itself singly or collectively, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations.
Abstention from the use of arrangements of collective defense to serve the particular interest of any
of the big powers. Abstention by any country from exerting pressures on other countries.

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E. Closing Session

Heads of Delegates Closing Remarks:

1. The Prime Minister of Burma U Nu: Mr. Chairman and Fellow Delegates. In conclusion, I
should like to say that it has been an honour and a privillege for me to many of the
distinguished leaders of Asia and Africa at this conference. In bidding you farewell, my
Fellow Delegates, I wish each and every one of you safe and speedy return to your homes.

2. The Prime Minister of Pakistan Mohammed Ali Bogra: Mr. President, Delegates, Your
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen. Finally in our declaration on world peace and
cooperation, we have ventured to set out principles, the observation of which is essential if
peace is to be maintained and international cooperation and well being promoted. Mr.
President, this in short, is our answer to your question. We all commend it in all humiliaty to
the consideration and support of all peoples and all nations of the world.

3. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iraq Mohammed Fadil Jamali: It is natural that we
should hold different points of view because we have different backgrounds, different
problems; we have different philosophics and different ideologies. It is futile to ignore
differences and disagreements. The important thing is to come together, to discuss and know
out point of agreement and act on them, and to discover highly controversial issues like
Taiwan and other such issues and discussing them. May Allah lead us into the path of
brotherhood, hapiness, and peace fro all mankind.

4. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Turkey Fathin Rostu Zurlu: Mr. President, Fellow
Delegates. In summing up, the contribution of the conference to the cause of peace and
security has been of considerable importance. Our common affirmation of our love of peace,
freedom and independence will resound with vigour over the entire world. May our actions
and practices bring additional strength to this momentous message which we ae conveying
to the world. Thank you!

5. The Prime Minister of Egypt Gamal Abdel Nasser: Mr. President, Fellow Delegates. May
I also take this opportunity to thank once more the Five Sponsoring Governments for their
appreciative efforts in taking the initiative of convening this conference.

6. The Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru: Mr. President. So, Sir, I trust that the
achievement that we have had in this conference has left. I am sure it has, a powerful
impress on the minds of all who are here. I hope that we’ll be worthy of the peoples faith
abide our destiny.

7. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Philippines Carlos Pena Romulo: To the host
countries, the Colombo Powers, the Philippine Delegation desires to extend its thanks. Their
concpetion of this project is one of the great achievements and contributions of our time.
Tomorrow, the Philippine Delegation returns to the Philippines. We return with strong and
important memories. Those memories will grow in vitality with the years. I bid you farewell
in our Filipino language: Paalam sainyon lahat! God be with you.

8. The Prime Minister of People’s Republic of China Zhou Enlai: I want to point out
further that the Declaration on the Promotion of World Peace and Co-Operation adopted by
the Conference will help to facilitate the relaxation of international tension, and, first of all,

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 the tension in the Far East. It is our view the the full implementation of agreements on the
restoration of peace in Indochina should be guaranteed by the parties concerned. Finally, I
hope that the contacts among the Asian and African Continent and the friendly intercourse
between our peoples will become more frequent from now on. I wish all the delegates good
health and bon voyage on tehir return journey. Goodbye!

9. The Prime Minister of Indonesia Ali Sastroamidjojo: There have been many friendships
formed during these days, many useful contracts have been made. We now know amongst
ourselves that we want to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as
good neighbours as they only sure and real basis on which mankind can prosper. May we
continue on the way we have taken together and may the Bandung Conference stays as a
beacon guiding the future progress of Asia and Africa!

F. Final Communique

Attachement Available

G. References

1. Minutes of Meeting of the Asian-African Conference, 1955

2. The Milestone on My Journey, Ali Sastroamidjojo, 1976
3. The Bandung Connection, Roeslan Abdulgani, 1980