BRITISH FOREIGN POLICY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20793, 12 August 1929, Page 9

BRITISH FOREIGN POLICY

REVIEW BY DR DALTON. MAKING WORLD PEACE SECURE. | ... ' ; FRIENDLY OFFER TO EGYPT. (British Official Wireless.) (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) ' RUGBY, August 9. Dr Dalton (Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs),' speaking at the IndependenULabour Party’s meeting at Welwyn, reviewed the foreign polic of the Government. He said that in the sphere of foreign' policy the Government was pushing forward vigorously along a wide front. He believed that it had a vast majority of the electors behind it in the steps that it Was taking to make international no-operation a reality and international peace secure.

In regard to Egypt, Dr Dalton said that Mr Arthur Henderson (Foreign Secretary) ■ had. made a friendly offer to the Egyptian people of real international independence, with the prospect of full membership on equal terms with the rest of the world of the League of Nations. He had made it a condition that parliamentary government in Egypt should be restored. There was, moreover, to be no change in-the existing olecto.pl law. His Majesty’s Government had no preference for one Egyptian politician or Egyptian party over another, nor did it intend to interfere in the interna] politics of Egypt. It had made its offer in advance to the chosen representatives of the Egyptian people. This was a chance to make an enduring settlement, which if left might never recur. The defence of the Suez CanaL would be no worse secured; indeed, it would be better secured if our troops and aerodromes were, concentrated in the canal zone rather than scattered all-over Egypt.

.The Government was pressing forward ■with- the establishing of more effective machinery than that W’hjch now existed for the peaceful settlement of all international disputes, whatever their charac ter might bo. AS' regarded justifiable disputes, it was lipped that tne Prime Minister would be able himself to sign the optional clause at the forthcoming Assembly ,of the. League of Nations. Nomjustifiablc disputes should bo dealt with by some such procedure as that suggested in the general Act, to the principlel of which the Labour Party was firmly committed, and the details of which the Government was now examining. It was determined to close every gap in the.international structure through which war might again- develop. Dr Dalton said he hoped when Parliament reassembled in the autumn that the Government 1 would be able to secure authority tor a resumption of full diplomatic relations with Russia. It was now awaiting a further communication from Moscow. If the Russians were prepared to discuss procedure for a settlement of outstanding questions and to indicate a desire to .settle such questions in a spirit of common sense and goodwill, the Government would be prepared to do its part. The Government had already lifted the embargo on export credits for Russian trade.

The Prime Minister was taking special charge of the Anglo-American disarmament discussions, which had made good progress. This country had already reduced its nojal programme, and the Americans had made a reciprocal gesture which was warmly welcomed here. At The Hague Conference Mr Henderson was seeking total and complete evacuation of the Rhineland, a develop- ' which would create a ncty 'atmos-.; PhcTe’ ifi’ Europe) ami a real sense that the Great War had passed iuto history. As compared with evacuation .the substitution of French for British troops in the occupied territory, would be a very poor second best. . None the less, Mr Henffefsou had emphasised that Hritain ■was under no pledge to remain if 1 no agreement or simultaneous action could be reached.

As regarded the ■..nancial question nrider discussion at The Hague, Britain had' a‘_ very' strong case, and her claims for adjustment Were so small in proportion to the total sums at issue that be hoped a settlement would not be difficult. He was very glad that an effort was to be made by the British representatives to bring ; to an end, the system of deliveries in-kind which had bad so-evil an effect oh the mining community. Britain, too) had its devastated districts, largely as a result of past policies, which he trusted would now be reversed. CONTROL OF SUEZ CANAL. : GREATER AND MORE PERMANENT. LONDON,- August 9. -Rising from Mr Bruce’s comments on the Egyptian Treaty it ! s authoritatively' stated-that both the Foreign and Colonial Offices arc convinced that the treaty is specially advantageous to Australia and J?ew Zealand because it ensures both greater and more permanent control of the canal than was possible previously in the Sense that British troops will be entitled to establish a line of military protection approximately 25 miles west of the. canal. ; The Imperial authorities contend that the. resolutions of the 1926 Imperial Conference. regarding consultation with the dominions have been meticulously carried out. Mr Bruce and Sir Joseph War! were fully informed step by step of every actual- or .prospective development, and will continue to be fully informed.—Australian Press Association.