Britain’s Influence Abroad Considerably Weakened by Crisis in Domestic Economy

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26399, 1 March 1947, Page 7

Britain’s Influence Abroad Considerably Weakened by Crisis in Domestic Economy

Rec. 9.30 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 28. Mr Bevin will no doubt seek to do in Moscow the same patient, determined work he has done elsewhere, but the tact must be faced that he goes to this conference with weaker hands than to the last, says The Times in a leader. A crisis in Britain s domestic economy cannot but embarrass British foreign policy.

The degree of real and permanent decline in British strength implied in the domestic events of the last three weeks is no doubt being greatly over-estimated abroad, The Times adds, but the evidence.is here for all to see, and, to undo the harm done, equally convincing evidence in rebuttal must speedily be made available. The article goes on to say that it is not the renunciation of power in areas of former supremacy which shows the real weakness. These measures are the natural culmination of policies embarked on long ago, but permanent weakness at the heart itself would mark indeed a real decline of British influence in the world.

British foreign policy can only be strong and effective if Britain is so herself. Not until she convincingly reasserts her real strength will it be certain that a foreign policy itself has not become, as time passes, one of the luxuries Britain must do without.