The Press TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 1951. Britain's Foreign Minister

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26369, 13 March 1951, Page 6

The Press TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 1951. Britain's Foreign Minister

Sympathy with Mr Ernest Bevin, whose strength has been taxed by years of hard work and tremendous responsibility, has not prevented expressions of deep concern that Britain’s foreign policy was in the hands of an ailing man at a time when its direction called for the utmost energy and skill. For some time it has been regrettably apparent that illness was taking toll of Mr Bevin’s power to carry the heavy load of the Foreign Secretaryship. Growing and influential pressure for Mr Bevin’s replacement, therefore, was understandable, and now that it has come, Mr Bevin’s resignation does not surprise. When the Labour Government took office in 1945, the appointed Foreign Secretary was the antithesis of the highlyeducated type of man, well versed in foreign affairs, other governments had appointed to this traditionally and historically important high office. Mr Bevin’s formal education was limited and his practical experience was mainly in the field of industrial labour relations—as a trade union organiser and secretary and later, during the recent war, as Minister of Labour. It says much, therefore, for Mr Bevin’s inherent qualities and his developed ability that even political opponents felt that from the very considerable talent made available to the Labour Party by the 1945 General Election, no better choice for the Foreign Secretaryship could have been made. Mr Bevin has not disappointed expectations and hopes. It must remain for the historian to assess fully Mr Bevin’s regime at the Foreign Office. On the short view there appear to be some weak spots—Palestine is an instance—and examples bf haziness—in the last year lack of clarity and firmness in policy have been freely commented upon. But on balance the short view shows Mr Bevin as an able, sincere, patient, and in one important respect at least, a strong administrator of Britain’s foreign affairs over a period of great international tension and difficulties. It was a period which raised many unprecedented problems and in which Britain’s foreign policy had to be adjusted to new alignments and strengths in international affairs.

Mr Bevin . showed a rugged strength, which will stand to his lasting credit, in his insistence that the nation’s interests were stronger than party interests. As the “ Economist ” said recently, a Foreign Secretary, and most particularly a Labour Foreign Secretary, needs to be a man who is very clear in his own mind about the principles of his policy, and who has the character and the authority in his party to stand like a rock against the waves of sentiment and fright that may rage against him from his own party followers. From time to time Mr Bevin met strong criticism from sections of his party; but he was strong enough himself and in his party to refuse to allow clamour to shift him from principles of his policy. It is to be hoped that less onerous duties will allow Mr Bevin’s energies to be conserved, but ill permit his experience and influence to continue to be felt in Britain’s affairs.

Hi, successor, Mr Morrison, is a most able and experienced administrator and politician. As a senior member of the Cabinet he has had the opportunity to study and follow closely the evolution of foreign policy under Mr Bevin. He has Mr Bevin’s advantage of high standing in the party; but it is Mr Morrison’s particular relationship with the membership of the party that has aroused some doubts about his fitting easily into the role of Foreign Secretary. Mr Morrison is given more credit than anybody for holding together the Labour Party in Parliament and for adroitly managing its affairs. There is said to be no ear in either party quite so keenly attuned to the faintest rumour of internal dissension. But excellent qualities in a party manager are not necessarily advantageous, and may be a positive handicap, to a Foreign Secretary. No doubt Mr Attlee faced great difficulties in replacing Mr Bevin. Quite likely it was appreciation of these difficulties that delayed Mr Bevin’s resignation. Senior Ministers would probably not again tolerate the promotion over their heads of another relatively junior Minister, as when Sir Stafford Cripps resigned. Mr Morrison’s readiness to take the office has saved Mr Attlee from the need to make a difficult choice and, possibly, saved Britain from a Foreign Minister who would less than adequately sustain the world prestige that Mr Bevin built for the Labour Government’s Foreign Minister.