REBUILDING WORLD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 224, 21 August 1945, Page 5

REBUILDING WORLD

BRITAIN'S PRIMARY AIM FOREIGN POLICY STATED (Roc. 12 30 p.m.) RUGBY, Aug. 20. Making his first big speech in the House of Commons today as Foreign Secretary, Mr_ Ernest Bevin declared that there would be much in the period aliead which they would not like. One thing, however, they must aim at resolutely, even at the beginning, and that was to prevent the substitution of one form of totalitarianism for another. Mr Bevin went on to define the primary aiin of Britain's foreign policy as the economic reconstruction of the world with the general work based on the decisions accepted at Potsdam. .Dealing with the policy to particular countries, he said of Greece: "Out objective there is setting up a stable Democratic Government." The United States and France had agreed to help in the supervising of the elections in Greece and Mr Bevin said ho proposed to invite representatives of the Dominion Governments as part of the British contingent of observers. The Regent of Greece, meanwhile, was coming "to Britain for a face to face discussion. Discussing the situation in the Balkans, he declared: "The Governments which have been set up in Bulgaria, Rumania and Hungary do not, in our view, represent the majority of the people and the impression wo have got from recent developments is that one kind of totalitarianism is being replaced '"bii another. That is not what we understand by the very much overworked word 'democracy' which appears to need definition. The form of government which has been set up as a result does not impress us as being sufficiently representative to moot the requirements of diplomatic relations." Mr Bevin said that also would be the view of the results of the coming elections in Bulgaria. ITALIAN GOVERNMENT. "With Italy," Mr Bevin added, "we want a peace treaty of fair terms and we are assuming that that country will set up a Parliamentary Government again." Mr Bevin went on to say that he was reviewing the whole of the policy towards France. "With that great country," he emphasised, "I am most anxious that we should be on the best of terms." One of the great problems that still faced the world was Poland, whose actual area would have to be settled at the peace table. Mr Bevin spoke of the talks he and Mr Attlee had had with the Poles at Potsdam, and said : "We were assured that friendly and secret elections would be held not later, it was hoped, than early next year. Wo expect, in particular, that the principal Polish Democratic parties shall be, equally with the Communist Party, allowed to take part in the election, to make their own programme and to select their own candidates and that freedom of speech and association shall be guaranteed to all." Mr Bevin said he had emphasised at Potsdam that the British people desired friendship with Poland and nothing could prevent friendly relations except a failure to carry out the assurances that had been given. Marshal Stalin had given him an assurance that the Soviet troops would be withdrawn from Poland except for small numbers needed for communications with Germany. Mr Bevin urged all Poles overseas to return to their own country, where they could render greater service than from outside. Mr Bevin spoke of the regime in Spain as being for the Spanish people to decide and declared: "It is obvious that we should take a favourable view if they changed their regime, but His Majesty's Government is not prepared to take any stops that would permit or encourage civil war in Spain." Referring briefly to the Far East he said: "W r c have now taken steps to receive the surrender of the Japanese at Hong Kong. There may still be difficulties, but they will be overcome and I am sure that, in agreement with our Chinese and American allies, our territory will bo returned to us."