The Gisborne Herald IN WHICH IS INCORPORATED "THE TIMES." GISBORNE, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1948. BEVIN AGAIN SAYS "NO SURRENDER”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22817, 11 December 1948, Page 4

The Gisborne Herald IN WHICH IS INCORPORATED "THE TIMES." GISBORNE, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1948. BEVIN AGAIN SAYS "NO SURRENDER”

No doubt encouraged by the success of the Berlin air lift, Mr. Bovin in his latest review of foreign affairs in the House of Commons has again reminded Russia that there will be no deviation in Britain's policy over Germany. At the same time lie was at pains to assure Russia that the door for negotiation is still open.

Mr. Bovin’s speech struck even a more confident note than his review of September 21. Then, referring to Ihe “senseless blockade.” lie said that Britain regarded its lifting as an essential condition on which any settlement must he based. He repeated this statement on Thursday with the warning that “whatever the cost to the Western Powers we must maintain our position to ensure that Soviet methods in Berlin do not succeed.” As has often been said, Berlin is the key to a European settlement. In Mr. Bovin’s own words, it is “far more significant to the world than most people realise.” The deadlock there has given stimulus to the transfer of more and more responsibilities to the German people and is responsible for measures to create a separate Western German State. The Foreign Secretary had encouraging progress to report in the preparations for this new State, and with this coupled the announcement that arrangements have been completed for the establishment of a military hoard to prevent German rearmament.

“Solid progress” in the Western Union line-up and loday's announcement that discussions are about, to open in Washington among the United States, Canada and Western European Powers for a North Atlantic pact strengthen the conviction that the world may soon see a grouping for collective security that may he suiticient.lv persuasive for more conciliation in the present, inflexible Russian attitude. The view is widely held that if the West can bring sufficient pressure to bear for a settlement of outstanding problems before Russia lias the atomic bomb, then the chances of averting a third world war are good. This is the belief of Mr. Churchill with all his vision.

Palestine is still a disturbing problem and one of the few in foreign affairs upon which the British Government and the Opposition take issue. Air. Bevin blames the United Nations for the delay in a settlement; the Opposition says the situation has been mishandled by the British Government. Mr. Bevin supports wholeheartedly the Bernadette Plan which, he claims, should he put into effect by the United Nations immediately. It is obvious that the world cannot wait forever for the parties to agree.

Comment would not he complete without reference to Mr. Churchill's tribute to British and United States co-operation in the general field of international affairs today. It is an opportunity to deprecate severely criticism, mostly ill-considered, that is heard from time to time on both sides. The future security and prosperity of the British Commonwealth and the United States are indissolubly linked and this fact cannot be repeated too often and with too much emphasis.