THE NEXT WAR

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 2 October 1944, Page 3

THE NEXT WAR

GERMAN PREPARATIONS ALLIED PRECAUTIONS URGED London, Sept. 29. Replying to the war debate in the House of Commons, Mr A. Eden, Minister of Foreign AfTairs M said we should err if we read into the marked improvement in our fortunes since the House met last a signal that the main battle was won. No one could say how long the struggle would endure in the east or west. Our overriding needs remained for a maintenance of Allied unity and the delivery of blows in accordance with plans laid down at Teheran and carried through since. He was not greatly impressed by the terms "hard peace’’ or "soft peace.” The only peace was to see that neither Germany nor Japan had an opportunity of starting this business again. Mr Eden added that we were not prepared to make a negotiated peace with Germany. Many Germans recognised the inevitability of defeat in this war and were already thinking in terms of the next. Himmler was laying the foundations of a secret organisation intended to operate many years ahead in order to revive Nazidom in the future. Therefore, we must take everv precaution to prevent a recurrence of the situation that faced us today. Speaking of Bulgaria. Mr Eden said she should withdraw troops from Greece and Yugoslavia and no armistice would be signed with her unless she did. The Foreign Secretary stressed Britain’s friendly attitude towards France and also referred to the Russo-Polish agreement of 1941, stating that Britain had done her best to try to build again on the foundations we had laid then. We had also done everything in our power by military effort to aid the garrison at Warsaw. There had been some discussion about the eastern frontiers of Poland. There had been no more vexatious issue in all history than these eastern frontiers and the British Government, bound both to Poland and the Soviet, would not swerve in playing a part in trying to bring about that to which all three were pledged—the creation of a strong, sovereign and independent Poland. Mr Eden added that it was perhaps just as well that a complete solution had not been reached at the Dumbarton Oaks conference, for we had much rather that the difficulties were laced than that they should be glossed over and work not done properly. He emphasised the necessity for the closest friendship and collaboration with Britain’s neighbours in western Europe and the Powers generally, and concluded : "Let no one think that with the defeat of Germany the issue is at an end. The problem in Germany will be a continuing problem. It is the key to the foreign policy this country must pursue. The principal danger to Europe after the defeat of Germany will be the re-emergence it a military Germany.” Mr Eden added that if that crude, harsh fact were accepted our foreign policy might have a fair chance of leading our people and the Allied people and the people of the United Nations to a lasting peace.