FOREIGN POLICY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 122, 25 May 1945, Page 6

FOREIGN POLICY

LABOUR'S OBJECTIVES ; , LONDON, May 23. , The foreign policy of the British Labour Party aims at the welding to- • gether of Britain, America, and* Russia to prevent aggression. It also provides for universal, orderly, but sufficient ; distribution of food. • This policy was laid down by Mr. Ernest Bevin, Minister' of Labour in the National Government, whose speech on the subject at today's session of the Labour Party conference .was unanimously, accepted as the party's policy... •:■'.• •• Mr. Bevin said that' Empire preference must be maintained while other countries used tariffs against. Britain. Also, another, National .Service Act must be introduced until it could be ,s6en how the new world security . organisation/would-turn out. , Outlining the foreign policy, he said: : "Our insurance premium, for which ' -we have to pay in commitments, must -ibe Britain. America, and Russia. These three must be welded together into a • great power to prevent aggression. But this requires patience and toleration arid an attempt to understand the other man's, point of view." •• Mr. Bevin declared that the prime '.- cause of depressions, unemployment, and malnutrition was speculation and financial manipulation by middlemen in the production and distribution of :f6od. A powerful British Labour was essential to ensure the-success of the policy laid down by the United Nations conference at Hot . Springs, where a resolution designed to reduce hunger and suffering among • the poor of the world was adopted and. where it'was decided to establish a ■ permanent organisation to work towards the goal of freedom from want. BULK PURCHASE AND GUARANTEED PRICES. Labour stood for the universal and ■■ orderly but sufficient distribution of foodj and preventing the middleman from gambling on the world markets; he said. If the industrial army of Britain was to maintain a decent, standard of life they must be just to the peasants, and the primary producers of the ■world. Britain must plan for bulk purchase, which she had done during 'the war. Britain must aim at the . establishment of a minimum wheat 'price, which was.most vital to foreign policy. The farmer must have a guaranteed" price, not only nationally but ' internationally. For that reason Britain must return to the almost forgotten policy of import boards. Labour's policy was*.to, maintain decent agricultural standards, of pay in Britain; to make home agriculture efficient; to . buy from overseas, put their own produce with it and average the price, and maintain a decent standard' at both ends. ■■•■.. ""....•''• International combines which limited production and , caused scarcities must be fought. Empire preference must^ be retained so long as other countries used tariffs against them, but if there.. was a lowering of tariffs throughout the world the problem would have to be reconsidered with the Dominions. Empire" preference :was useless if private enterprise threw it away. .:' • . 'Mr.. Bevin declared, that something must be devised as a balancing factor in international exchange, to prevent wild fluctuations, which were disastrous to employment. COLLECTIVE SECURITY. Declaring that Labour stood for collective security, Mr. Bevin said: "It is ■'no use shouting about international police forces if you are not going to supply the policemen." Full employ- . ment, he said, would mean very little voluntary enlistment for the services, and Britain therefore must - extend National Service at least till she knew. • how the ■ world organisation would turn out. , . The Labour Government would try to settle the Indian problem by adding more and more responsibility to the Indian Government year by year, and would close the India Office and transfer its business to the Dominions Office. "We are anxious to create a situation in all States in Europe, east or west, in which free democratic elections can be held," he said. "We pledge ourselves never to use these small States to play off against the ; bigger States in order -to get advantages. There is.a fear at the back of some people's, minds, that we will use the eastern -States" as a springboard against Russia, and "there may be lurking fears that Russia will use them against us. It will be Labour's aim to remove the lack-of confidence which is the basis of these fears. We have no ■bad record to live down. We have never . sent a director of the Bank of England to deal with Russia's enemies." Mr. Bevin concluded with references to France and Italy. "France is going Left, and the Left understands the Left," he said.