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Greymouth Evening Star, 8 October 1948, Page 4

Britain’s Foreign Secretary Mr Ernest Bevin hits straight from the shoulder; he does not wrap himself in a cloud of diplomatic generalities. At the meeting of the United Nations he asks Mr Vyshinsky the direct question: “If it is true that, nothwithstanding what he says on this platform, it is a Marxist and Leninist conception that there can be no final agreement with non-Com-munist States?” And again, “His country is a sealed book—let him tell us the facts about the armed forces of the Soviet Union.” This is the proper language for such a crisis. The delicate and subtle play for position so common in normal diplomacy is swept aside. Straight questions demand straight, answers—so far they have not received them. Mi’ Bevin was’highly appreciated by Mr Churchill, who brought him into the Coalition during the war. The new Foreign Secretary has proved himself a strong, clear-headed man. He graduated in the hard university of life, became self-supporting at an age when the average boy is still in the primary school. He steadily 'made his way till he became leader of the Transport and General Workers’ Union, and finally chairman of the T.U.C. His critics say he lacks intellectual polish. Never mind: he has intuitional insight—often to be noted in the practical Englishman—he has force of character, and despite his party affiliations, he carries the goodwill and confidence of all who believe in real democracy.— “Civis” in the Otago Daily Times. 4