WELL RECEIVED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25287, 22 August 1945, Page 7

WELL RECEIVED

BEVIN'S REVIEW

CONFIDENCE FELT

("JOVERNMENT INTENTIONS (Kecd. 8.30 p.m.) RUGBY, Aiigr. 20 There is a general endorsement in the British press today of the main lines of Mr Bevin's first speech as Foreign Secretary. The Times emphasises the fact that Mr Bevin asserted "that the basis of the Government's policy was in keeping with that worked out by the Coalition, resting principally on co-operation by the three Great Powers, who have been the main artificers of victory." The newspaper adds that he carried perhaps one step further a shift of emphasis which has been increasingly apparent for many years when he roundly assorted that "His Majesty's Government regards the economic restoration of the world as the primary object of foreign policy." Production Before Politics The Times endorses Mr Bevin's argument that a general return to civilian life and the restoration of peacetime production must precede attempts to restore political systems to their normal working order, and considers this nowhere more important than in Germany. As an instance of the magnitude of the task of the Control Commission, it quotes Mr Bevin's words about displaced persons. "Doubts have turned mainly on two points." says the newspaper, "whether sufficient authority has been given to the Control Commission and its organs to secure the execution of its decisions, and whether sufficiently concrete plans have been framed for the economic control and reconstruction of Germany. "Jn prospect of the economic chaos which overhangs all Europe in the coming winter, Germany occupies a central place, in part because of the large role her production must play in European economy, in part because of the direct responsibility assumed there by the occupying Governments." "Doubtless," savs the Times, "Mr Bevin will give details of his policy." Focus on South-east Europe ' Almost all newspapers give considerable space in their leadfers to the Foreign Secretary's references to Southeastern Europe. The Daily Herald says: "His forthdenunciation of the Governments of Hungary, Bungaria and Rumania shows the world precisely where Britain henceforth stands.' Many unwelcome things may indeed happen in Europe during the birthpangs of reconstruction, but the knowledge now exists that this country is now back on its honourable basis of democratic principle, that 'playing ball' with the so-called 'right people' in other lands is over, that our future will lean inexorably on the side of freedom and justice for ordinary people everywhere." The Daily Telegraph, after quoting Mr Bevin's blunt reference to Bulgaria. Rumania and Hungary, mentions America's dissatisfaction with Balkan tendencies, as made plain by Mr Byrnes, the United States Secretary of State. Greece's Unique Position "The one country in the Balkan Peninsula for which we are directly responsible, Greece," it adds, "is the only one where people have been offered a real choice of Government and Constitution. "As for Spain and the 'bitter cry from the outer left' that the British Government should take action against Franco's regime, Mr Bevin answered with devastating commonsense. He is, like every former Foreign Secretary, satisfied that intervention by a foreign Power in the internal affairs of Spain would have the opposite effect to that desired." The newspaper adds that the sentence must have sounded to Mr Eden like the echo of one of his own from ten years back. Absence of Radical Change The News Chronicle says Mr Bevin's first statement will be scrutinised anxiously all over the world. It draws comfort from the absence of any indication of radical change in foreign policy. "None the less," says the News Chronicle, "the speech as a whole makes an important contribution to our outlook on foreign affairs. This is because Mr Bevin emphasises what is in fact fundamental—the economic unity of the post-war world. His appointment to the Foreign Office symbolises the fact that "diplomacy" as once understood is dead. From now on, foreign policy, if it is to serve the common ends of humanity, must imply the integration of economic capacities and requirements side by side with the pursuit of political order conforming to the world's needs. Mr Bevin's approach is informed by this conception. Security Necessary for Trade "The basis of economic expansion is security, for without security trade cannot flourish and poverty is engendered, which leads to further wars. The present war has left all combatants exhausted. Their duty now is to build up all their resources—not for themselves alone, but to make possible a thriving, contented world." The Manchester Guardian considers that everything rests on the Allies maintaining the magnificent unity with which thoy won the war. "But this unity must not be based on unreal compromises and sham arrangements," it adds. "Frankness of speech is called for again. There is a new spirit entering international language. Mr Churchill, Mr Eden and Mr Bevin have all breathed it. The American Note on Bulgaria is another sign. It springs from a belief that we 'must, face our difficulties openly and boldly. Question of Russia "If Russia has not been able so far to see eye to eye with us on some questions, we shall still not get anywhere with her unless she understands where the possibilities of divergence lie and how strongly the British and American peoples feel. That is why it is a gain that the British point of view should be put fort brightly by a Labour spokesman. Foreign opinion can dismiss the illusion that there is profit to he made bv playing off the British political parties against one another." The newspaper concludes by saying that the occasion might have justified a pjissiifg word about our political intentions jn our liberated territories in the Far Fast, it was not enough, it adds, to reler only to the return of Hongkong and the restoration of British interests. Still, it was onlv a beginning, and Mr Bevin has amply shown that he has the courage and principle his office needs.

REPATRIATION PLANS PRISONERS OK JAPANESE MISSION FROM AUSTRALIA (Recti. 7.30 p.m.) CANBERRA, Aup. 21 At a conference at General MacArthur's headquarters in Manila yesterday American an Australian Red Cross and Army officials worked out plans for the repatriation of Australian, Canadian. United Kingdom and Indian prisoners of war in the Far East. A ship with 1200 people aboard will leave Australia in the next 24 hours to assist in the return of Australian prisoners in Japanese bauds. Announcing this, the Minister of the Army, .Mr Fordo, said this reception group would go to Singapore and some to the Philippines. A message from .Manila reports that Australian ships have been requisitioned to repatriate Australian prisoners of war from Japan. Most of the prisoners and civilian internees are expected t-o be steaming home not more than a month after they reach the Philippines from Japan, -