PARTY RESOLUTIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25797, 19 March 1945, Page 6

PARTY RESOLUTIONS

TRADE AND FOREIGN POLICY LONDON, Mar. 15.

“Mr Churchill’s speech gives us a peg at last on which to hang our electioneering hats,” said one Conservative member of the House of Commons summing up the party reactions to the speech. The conference carried unanimously a resolution calling on the Government to do everything in its power to foster a common Empire trade policy. The mover, a member of the House of Commons, Sir Alfred Beit, said conversations on a policy of Empire trade were urgently needed. The conference, by a large majority, carried a resolution urging the Government to retain conscription for the armed forces after the war. Mr M. A. Hooker, who is a university representative. moving the resolution, said the word “conscription” was hardly the most popular slogan for election winning, but surely it was better to lose an election than win under false colours.

Mr Basil Webb, another university representative, roused a storm of applause when he referred to Mr Herbert Morrison as “that former conscientious objector who abolished Empire Day and disbanded cadets in the schools."

A member of the House of Commons, Mr G. Nicholson, moved a resolution that the over-riding objectives of British foreign policy should be to secure international stability based on the rule of law. A member of the House .of Commons, Rear-admiral Beamish, moved an addendum to the resolution that no such policy would succeed unless backed by highly-organised and wellpaid armed forces. Mr Anthony Eden supported the addendum and the amended resolution was carried. Mr Eden said that even yet he was not suite we in Britain fully realised the sustained war effort of our own people. No country had so completely mobilised its men and women power for the common cause, and there was no country where the people had endured more than had our own. When victory was won it remained our task to build upon the foundations of the grand alliance that had come into being during the war an enduring peace. “It will not depend on us alone,” said Mr Eden. “With this war civilisation has had its last warning, and we must achieve that lasting peace this time. We think our efforts in this war entitle us to a clear voice in the peace, and we shall do our best to express it and represent the feelings of the people of this country, irrespective of power—their desire that, after this struggle the foundations of peace be truly lard, and, as far as this country is concerned, stoutly buttressed. In that task our representatives will use all their strength.”