BRITISH FOREIGN POLICY

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25178, 8 May 1947, Page 7

BRITISH FOREIGN POLICY

BEVIN APPEALS TO

TRADE UNIONS . LONDON, May 6. “If every man and woman in this country would increase their production by 7$ per cent., not only would my task be easier but you would not have so much trouble with your wives, ahd queues could be abolished,” said the Foreign Secretary (Mr Ettiest BeVih) in a speech at a dinner celebrating the silver jubilee of the Transport and General Workers’ Union. Mr Bevin Said that he could not play his part in the foreign policy of Britain and help to rehabilitate Europe without the help of British trades unionists. His great handicap as Foreign Secretary was that Britain had no coal to export, and no credits she could give to help countries. He reminded his audience that the Labour Government was ; a social democratic Government bom _of the working men and women of Britain. They had the Government they wanted, now they must prove that they could give as well. Mr Bevin made two interesting revelations. One was that if he han had his choice he would have been Chancellor of the Exchequer and not Foreign Secretary. The other was that he opposed the 1926 strike but abided loyally by the decision.