FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26176, 12 June 1946, Page 5

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

THE SOCIALIST FAITH PROMOTION OF PEACE (Rec. 1.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 11. “We are carrying out in foreign affairs our party policy,” said Mr Attlee. “We bring to foreign affairs, as to home affairs, the touchstone of bur Socialist faith. We are seeking to promote world peace - by collective security.” _ Mr Attlee said the British Labour movement was never narrow or insular. It always recognised the cause of the workers throughout the world was one. We have always realised that you cannot build up a little safety zone for yourselves and leave misery in the rest of the world.” The Government resolved to carry out the great responsibilities which fell on Britain as one of the victors in the war, and it was seeking to promote world peace by collective security. “We support democracy and freedom everywhere. We know a political world settlement is not enough. We

must base peace on economic prosperity and social justice. We do not seek to force our ideas on other countries. We have to live and work with States of diverse characters. We believe in co-operation between people of different outlook, 'and do not intend to attempt to force dull uniformity on the world. We ask for others the freedom we ask for ourselves. We do more than proclaim this freedom; we seek to put. it into effect, as witness India.”

If the Indians decided to “go outside,” Britain would stretch out the hand of freedom to them.

Dealing with Labour's atitude towards the Colonial Empire, Mr Attlee said: “ I hear a few voices which mumble old shibboleths about Imperialism. lam bound to say that they seem to me to be rather secondhand noises.” After paying a tribute to the Parliamentary Labour Party as “ the ablest as well as the largest and youngest we have ever had,” Mr Attlee added: “This, after all, is only the beginning, but I can say after this experience of Government that I reaffirm my faith in democratic Socialism.”