'Rubber Curtain Drawn Over Japan'

Northern Advocate, 17 May 1947, Page 4

'Rubber Curtain Drawn Over Japan'

(Received Noon.) THE Foreign Affairs debat Commons today. Mr W. Fletcher (C.) said: “ over Japan—nothing so rigid 01 You can lift one corner of a ru minutes, it snaps back and yov behind.”

LONDON, May 16. ,e was continued in the House of

: A rubber curtain has been drawn r unmannerly as an iron curtain, ibber curtain but, in a very few i get only a glimpse of what is

Mr J. Paten (Lab.) said the Foreign Office had adopted a defeatist attitude over the Far East. There had been a tendency to accept future United States dominance in the Pacific and the belief that Britain will have to play a subordinate part. Mr Rees-Williams (Lab.) said American interference in China during the past 10 years, which was partly business and partly sentimental, had been reinforced by the Americans’ dread of Communism.

He said the Japanese had taken to Japan from 3ritish possessions large quantities of tin, rubber and lead which belonged to private individuals. Those goods since had been taken to the United States and no compensation had been made. There was no authority foi such action in international law or natural justice. Mr Macmillan, winding up for the Opposition, said the Foreign Secretary had their sympathy, but it would be wrong to conceal their alarm at the deterioration in the European scene. “It is impossible to resist the conclusion that Russia is persistently following a policy of procrastination. All ever Europe the massive struggle is beginning beneath the outward forms of peace and diplomacy." Britain should ask France to join the crusade to build a sense of unity among nations of Europe. The seeds of war lay in feebleness and insecurity, not in firmness. Mr Bevin. replying, said he did not minimise the difficulties and would not give up until the final break came. He had seen many eleventh hour settlements but. if he had eventually to say he could not reach a settlement the Government would have to review its policy. It had been a big handicap to have everything which was said, even in sub-committees, reported in the Press. He did not want secrecy in negotiations but . delegates could hardly think without having it headlined. The blame largely lay in the United States Press. Mr Bevin said he hoped it would be possible to conclude an early peace treaty with Japan. Britain would keep in close touch with Commonwealth Governments about this. Britain would not attempt to appease Egypt at the expense of the Sudanese. He hoped France would not’ insist on claiming a permanent enlargement of the Saar, which ho was certain would delay a quick settlement. Britain would not return the Senussi to Italian rule. Referring to suggestions that Britain was not interested in the Far East, Mr Bevin said that on the contrary, Britain had taken the initiative in organising prevention of famine in’ SouthEast Asia and the Far East and her prompt action ' in Indonesia saved millions of lives. Britain had ( a liaision mission in Japan and representatives all over China.

Mr Bevin said he was happy to endorse tributes paid to General MacArthur. When Mr Bevin made further reference to Anglo-American zone fusion arrangements Mr Eden interrupted and said Mr Bevin had given a different impression the previous day. Mr Eden said he had believed everything was now agreed. Mr Bevin explained that they had worked out the administrative side for setting up zonal agencies, but they still had to establish a bizonal economic council which would have the the force of law. General Robertson was now discussing the matter with General Clay. Details had to be worked out and then referred to Washington.