RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24820, 9 March 1946, Page 7

RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA

ANXIETY EXPRESSED IN LORDS FOREIGN AFFAIRS DEBATE

LONDON, March 7. All Britain would approve of Mr Churchill’s plan for British and American co-operation, but the next move should come from the United States, said Lord Samuei, opening the debate on foreign affairs in the House of Lords. He added that Britain should not give the impression that she was attempting to establish a form of hegemony in world affairs. The United Nations’ controversies arose from the “unhappy state” of Bri-tish-Russian relations, he said. Britain was not attempting to build up a western bloc against Russia, as Russia seemed to believe. “Russia suffers from one of the ’ greatest difficulties that can affect a nation—maintaining a censorship of new’S and a government-directed press," he declared. “A country living under such a system is like a man who is compelled to wear bandages over his eyes. He is alarmed at a touch. Russia’s policy of deliberate isolation is fatal for international relations.” Russia had adopted the discredited methods of early nineteenth century diplomacy. in replying to what it considered an objectionable action with a more objectionable one. “Dangerously Aggressive” Altrincham said that it was deplorable that the Russian desire for a dangerously aggressive 1* seemed that their maxim that there was no security anywnere except through the propagation o' Communism. He was sure that the mission people were opposed to aggression and that their leaders were anxious to avoid it. Lord Altrincham added that the Dominions should be fully consulted about decisions on the Far East and not merely informed when decisions nad been reached. c+P 16 Secretary of State for Air (Lord reolying for the Govem□■n?. s ?* d that he was saying nothing th?* ..Mr Churchill’s speech except f aaT j e Government’s policy was u ’ *l°* u P° n groups, but upon the Nations Organisation and world unity. cj, n .. t ] ie Pacific, the Atlantic, and oouth America the United States was S™ ln £^ sure of freedom from aggres- < ° n - Was Russia’s justifiable demand ecure borders the whole aim of u-sian nolicy’’ Britain wanted tnuaftL u^ ders tandine with Russia who. a mazim? victory, naturallv a of gi a nt strength. There hniD a ’ T new elements of friction was dp alm« with a Governin w h°se members were her friend” aark es t days and stood bv her ’nen she had few friends in the world “Sense of Anxiety” wSiL Lord Chancellor (Lord Jowitt) tn nJ?/ HP lhe debate, said: “It is idle nf »J e J end that there is not with all a sense of anxiety, perhaps even. anntk re^°^lng . Th 6 consequences of cvpnr r ? ar be so terrible, and . natron will lose so much more ion ♦il* can ga * n - that there is no natwar if? ,s goine to provoke another mni-v- v rate, so long as the me-, l ast war prevails ” cord Jowitt added that the Govern FrfU?ni?^ comed the suggestion of the trv Government that they should b7tw^n ri S e -? bout a tripartite alliance tS? Bntam. France, and Russia, a Pretend that I do not feel in? ?f horror at what has been go-* centhH” ’2 Geheral Franco’s Spain retrial. \ sa ’-d- “Some of the recent rials were perfect terrorism.” The ti nr , en 2 11 }® nt having expressed detesta nnt n . of . General Franco’s regime, did re t° bo embroiled in Sohn : sh s2SL an ? ? ld not desir * anothe* . W . ar - The Government ? hat lt could to enable the into conditions of