FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 November 1945, Page 5

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

MR. ATTLEE’S SPEECH DESTRUCTIVE WEAPONS ® (Rec. noon.) LONDON, Nov.' 22. “I do not believe that in a warring world there can be a set of Queensbury rules, and to attempt this would be futile,” declared Mr Attlee, ’ opening the debate on For-, eign Affairs in the Commons. He added: “In my view it is impossible to isolate the problem of the atom bomb from the use of othei’ weapons. The bomb is the latest word in destructiveness and may be the last. It brought home that if civilisation is to survive there must be no repetition of the first and second world wars. I am sure that in the United States it is fully realised there will be no division in this House about the desire for the utmost co-operation on ..world affairs with the great republic across the Atlantic. The United States Organisation is the instrument which can establish the rule of law, if all the nations are resolved to use it. The mutual confidence already established over the great areas of the world war between Britain and the Dominions and Britain and the United States is immense, and the task of statesmen is to spread such confidence throughout the world.

“If the world again lapses into war, every weapon will be used on a full scale, and atomic warfare will result in the destruction of great cities and the deaths of millions, setting civilisation back to an unimaginable extent. We-desire to promote the use of advances in scientific knowledge for peaceful and humanitarian ends. We declare our willingness to exchange fundamental knowledge with any nation that will fully reciprocate. Can it be wise when the United Nations Organisation is only just born and not yet from its cradle to broadcast to the world the methods of making such a destructive weapon? “There is not only the atomic bomb to be dealt with, but also all weapons which can be adapted for mass destruction. None of these has any legitimate place in armaments necessary for the orderly purpose of internal security or protection of any Government against lawlessness. I hope there will be a world-wide response to our declaration. This is a matter which cannot be solved by Britain, the United States and Canada. It would be a disservice to the cause at heart if we tried to do so. The atomic bomb is not something vague. It is here. I want everyone throughout the world to be personally concerned in the success of the United Nations Organisation.” Mr. Attlee said the Washington Declaration was made for the purpose of increasing confidence between nations for without such confidence no international organisation could be of any avail. “We three countries concerned in the discovery of atomic -energy have already made available to che world the basic scientific information essential for its development for peaceful purposes. We declare our readiness to make available to the whole world any further basic scientific information of this kind. I ask the House to note our DESIRE FOR RECIPROCITY We cannot tell what other- scientific discoveries may be made and used for warfare. Therefore, we ask that all should be prepared to do what we have done and what we are prepared to do. “The development of atomic energy for peaceful purposes is unlikely to be perfected for some years .Meanwhile the knowledge, methods and processes already developed can lead either to its application for industrial purposes or for destruction. A proposal has been urged in some quarters that knowledge of these processes should be broadcast to the world in the same way as fundamental scientific information has been given. I cannot think tills would be wise. In the first place, this knowledge cannot be given in formula or blueprint only. For scientists and technicians to explain everything to do with this for all nations would clearly be a matter of very great practical difficulty, and I can secno reason for singling out particular nations. In the second place the discovery can be used either for peace or war. ’Can it be wise when the. United Nations Organisation has jusr been born, to broadcast methods of making the atomic bomb? “In our view this must await the growth of confidence and the development of safeguards. Just as soon as EFFECTIVE SAFEGUARDS can be devised we propose the formation oi a commission which will deal not only with atomic energy but also with all weapons. These matters will be brought up soon when the United Nations Organisation meets. The problem cannot be solved by Britain, America and Canada alone. It is a world question, the solution of which requires not only the agreements of the Governments but also the will of the world’s people.

MR EDEN’S APPEAL.

Mr. Eden following Mr. Attlee, appealed for the closest international co-operation. “No one will deny there has been an increase in suspicion and distrust between Russia and Britain and America. We ought to ask what, the Russian attitude is to what they call the western bloc. Nothing shows more clearly the hold nationalism has on all of us, than the decision at San Francisco to retain the power of veto. I hope the nations having again looked at it, will decide retention is an anachronism in the modern world. I beg our Russian friends to believe they could make no greater contribution to the real understanding of our two countries than to allow correspondents m their territory the same full freedom as is allowed Russian correspondents here. The Russians have gone very far in making arrangements with all their neighbours, but they are preparing against possible resurgence of the German plans for domination of Europe. They are not convinced, as .some people, that the Nazi spirit is entirely dead. “Arrangements . between us and our Western neighbours are no more aimed against Russia than Russian arrangements with her neighbours are aimed against us. We want the fullest Russian participation in all world affairs on equal terms.” Mr Eden added he was convinced the future of world peace depended on an understanding between Britain, America and Russia. There will be a deep desire by Britain and America for friendship with. Russia, but, the difficulty in obtaining information from Russia and Russian-controlled territories militated against the development. Reviewing events in Persia Mr.

Eden said the Russians could remove suspicion, if firstly, they permitted free movement of Russian troops and secondly, allowed the Press greater freedom. Turning to the atomic bomb Mr. Eden declared that the discovery of atomic energy placed the world several laps ahead of its international and political development, and unless the leeway could be made up atomic power would destroy the world. He asked who was going to compose the United Nations Control Commission; had any communications gone to Russia about the outcome, of the talks. * Mr. Attlee, interposing, stated that the result of the talks had been communicated to the Russians before the declaration was made, and he added that the United Nations Organisation would itself set up the commission. Therefore, he was unable to say what its composition would be. Mr. Eden resuming said: “Every succeeding scientific discovery makes great nonsense of old-time conceptions of sovereignty. Yet it is true that national sentiment is still as strong as ever. I am still unable to see any final solution that will make the world safe for atomic power, other than that we abate present ideas of sovereignty,”