Frank Talking By Eden In Policy Speech

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27985, 4 June 1956, Page 11

Frank Talking By Eden In Policy Speech

(Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, June 3. An indication that the British Government believes the threat from the Soviet is now in the economic and not the military field and an ■ uncomprising warning that Britain was determined to stay in Cyprus were two of the main points made by the Prime Minister (Sir Anthony Eden) in a speech at Norwich. British newspapers say it was a major policy speech and one of the frankest he has made since he became ' Prime Minister. “So far as I can judge the future, the more immediate threat to our I country’s existence is competition in the export markets rather than world war.” said Sir Anthony Eden. He underlined how seriously the Government regards the initial warnings of the Communist trade offensive and continued: “It would be a mistake to take the view that the present Soviet Government cannot modify the policies of its predecessors. There have been indications they are doing so and we are prepared to take this into account. There is some relief from anxiety, but there is also in this a challenge to us all on the economic front A nation can die slowly from strangulation of its trade as it can be j struck down swiftly on the battlefield.” Referring to automation, he said: “The other day the president of the Electrical Trades Union was reported as saying: ‘Who wants to work anyhow? We don’t cere if they sack the

1 lot of you so long as they pay you t the same wages as when you are work- » ing.’ ' “That is surely disastrous nonsense," said Sir Anthony Eden. “What a doc- ' trine for 50.000.000 people on a small . island whose livelihood depends on their own hands and brains. • “Automation gives us a chance to do ■ better work and produce more. No- . body should doubt that foreign countries are only too ready to take advantage of these new techniques, new machines and new scientific discoveries. Our keenest competitors do not regard automation as their enemy, but ■ j as their ally and we must learn to do the same. We just cannot afford to be left behind.” On Cyprus and Greece, Sir Anthony ; Eden said: “It certainly is contrary to the whole spirit of NATO that one of its members should seek by radio propaganda of the foulest character : directed from its capital. Athens, month after month to stir up terrorist ac ' tivity in the territory of another. There can be no confidence, still less friend : ship, while that continues. Sir John f Harding has been subjected to most scurrilous attacks by the Greek press I and radio and so have our troops. « “Britain’s industrial life and that of ' Western Europe depend on oil sup • plies from the Middle East,” he added ■ “If ever our oil resources were in i peril, we should be compelled to deI I fend them. The facilities we need in Cyprus are part of that defence. We cannot therefore accept any doubt : about their availability. The standard ■ of living of every single pegson in 1 Britain would not then be doubled in 25 years, would be quartered in i ! very much shorter time. I

“I want everyone, including our friends, to heed—there can be no question of this country yielding over any essential element in the defence of its legitimate and vital interests. Examples of this are the Persian Gulf. Cyprus, and Aden. No Cyprus, no certain facilities to protect our supply of oil, no oil—unemployment and hunger in Britain. It’s as simple as that today.” On the terrorists Sir Anthony Eden said: “A few days ago some pistols and a mask were found in the buildings of the bishopric of Paphos. Ballistic tests proved one of th#»se pistols was used to shoot a Greek civilian and a Turkish policeman. How can anyone defend an attitude in which leading priests not only refuse to condemn violence, but aid and abet it? “The Greek wireless talks about British troops ‘desecrating’ Greek churches. The only desecration of a church that there has been was on Palm Sunday when Eoka terrorists entered a church during a service and shot to death a Greek Cypriot; but no bishop in Cyprus has had one word to say against this dastardly deed.”

Sir Anthony Eden that the Government would continue to strive for a solution in Cyprus. Its proposals for constitutional progress still stood.