REARMING BY WEST

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26832, 10 September 1952, Page 9

REARMING BY WEST

INESCAPABLE, SAYS MR EDEN

(Rec. 7 p.m.)“ LONDON, September 6. The British Foreign Secretary (Mr R. A. Eden) said tonight that Western rearmament was inescapable. “We canhot forget that ktfga powerful forces would miss rio opportunity to destroy us if they could. They would deprive us of freedom and wipe out the Christian, democratic basis of our civilisation. We cannot expect our friends and allies to respect us or carry us alon« if we do not pull our full weight,” ne said. Mr Eden, who was addressing a political meeting at Huddersfield, said: “We want peace. If others want peace too they can have it.” “A settlement on a united Germany must, be negotiated with an all-Ger-man government freely elected by Germans. We are anxious to discuss free elections with the Russians at any time, but they put it last instead of first on the programme. Speaking on Korea, Mr Eden Said: “It may be we could have an armistice if we force tens of thousands of Chinese and Kofean prisoners back across the frontier at bayofiCt point, but we cannot do this. I do not despair of a settlement”