Significant and inevitable fallout of the western influence on the nationalist intelligentsia was a growing interest in and contact with the dominant international currents and events. Gradually, the nationalist thinkers came to realize that colonialism and imperialism had an international character and much wider implications. With the development and crystallization of an anti-imperialist nationalist ideology, there emerged a nationalist foreign policy perspective so as to align with other similar forces gloablly. The evolution of this policy perspective can be traced under these broad phases:

1880 to FIRST WORLD WAR

Anti-imperialism and pan-Asian feeling

After 1878, the British undertook a number of expansionist expeditions which were opposed by the nationalists. These expeditions included-

*    the Second Afghan War (1878-80)

*    in 1882, the dispatch of troops by England to suppress the nationalist uprising by Col. Arabi in Egypt.

*    in 1885, annexation of Burma.

*    in 1903, invasion of Tibet under Curzon.

*    during the 1890s, a number of annexations were made in the north-west to stop the Russian advance.

         The nationalists supported the resistance to these adventures by the British.

In place of an aggressive imperialism, the nationalists advocated a policy of peace. C. Sankaran Nair, the Congress President in 1897, said, “Our true policy is a peaceful policy.” So, the emerging themes during 1880-1914 were-

1.   solidarity with other colonies fighting for freedom, such as Ireland, Egypt, Turkey, Ethiopia, Sudan, Burma and Afghanistan.

2.   Pan-Asian feeling reflected in-

*    condemnation of annexation of Burma in 1885.

*    inspiration from Japan as an example of industrial development.

*    condemnation of the participation of Japan in the international suppression of the Boxer Rebellion in China (1895).

*    condemnation of the imperialist efforts to divide china.

*    defeat of the Czarist Russia by Japan exploded the myth of European superiority.

*          Congress support for Burma’s freedom.

World war-I

The nationalists supported the British Indian Government in the belief that Britain would apply the same principles of democracy for which they were supposed to be fighting. After the conclusion of the war, the Congress insisted on being represented at the Peace Conference. In 1920, the Congress urged the people not to join the army to fight in the west. In 1925, the Congress condemned the dispatch of Indian army to suppress the Chinese nationalist army under Sun-Yat-Sen.

1920s AND 1930s-IDENTIFYING WITH THE SOCIALISTS

In 1926 and 1927, Nehru was in Europe where he came in contact with the socialist and other leftist leaders. Earlier, Dababhai Naroji attended the Hague session of the International Socialist Congress. He was a close friend of H.M. Hyndman, the famous socialist. Lajpat Rai also made contacts with the American Socialists during his USA visit from 1914 to 1918. Gandhi had close relations with Tolstoy and Romain Rolland. In 1927, Nehru attended the Congress of Oppressed Nationalists at Brussels on behalf of the Indian National Congress. The conference was organized by political exiles and revolutionaries from Asia, Africa and Latin America, suffering from political and economic imperialism. Nehru was one of the honorary Presidents along with Einstein, Madam Sun-Yat-Sen, Rolland and George Lansbury. Nehru came to understand the international character of US imperialism during his European experience. Nehru was also nominated to the Executive Council of the League against Imperialism. The Congress also decided to open a Foreign Department to be in touch with the other people’s movements. In 1927, Nehru also visited the Soviet Union and was very impressed by the achievements of the infant socialist state. He saw Russia as a bulwark against imperialism.

After 1936-anti fascism

The 1930s saw the rise of Fascism in Europe and the struggle against it. The Nationalists saw Imperialism and Fascism as organs of capitalism. They lent support to the struggles against Fascism in other parts of the world in Ethiopia, Spain, China, and Czechoslovakia. In 1939, at the Tripuri session, the Congress dissociated itself from the British policy of appeasement which supported Fascism in Europe.

In 1937, the Japanese attack on China was condemned by the nationalists. Congress also sent a Medical Mission under Dr. Atal to China.

On the Palestine issue, the Congress lent support to the Palestinians. It expressed sympathy with the Jews, but urged that the Palestinians not be displaced and that the issue should be settled by direct dealing between the Jews and the Arabs without western intervention. It also opposed the partition of Palestine.

After independence

India opted to pursue an independent foreign policy without being involved in the cold war polemics and bloc politics of the day. Soon, India emerged as a leading proponent of the non-aligned foreign policy.