UNITY OF GERMANY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26558, 5 September 1947, Page 5

UNITY OF GERMANY

MR BEVIN’S PLANS ULTIMATE COLLECTIVE SECURITY LONDON, Sept. 3. “ Nobody can accuse me of saying heated things or evoking antagonism," said the Foreign Minister, Mr Ernest Bevin, addressing the T.U.C. Congress at Southport, “ but I am not going to hold back what I believe to be the truth. I am not going to use diplomatic language to cloud my voice. ‘‘l believe the Foreign Ministers’ meeting in London in November is almost the last chance of seeing whether we can get economic unity of Germany and a reconstructed Europe.” Mr Bevin said he had not had one single vote of credit in the House of Commons to assist in rehabilitation work for overseas. Give me the tools of production and their full results, and I will change the foreign policy of Europe,” he said. Mr Bevin said he intended to make the British zone in Germany self-sup-porting. although he was a great believer in disarmament until collective security had been obtained. They were on the way to getting the German situation cleared up. If the burden of Germany could be taken off their backs the drain on Britain's external payments would be considerably reduced. Mr Bevin said the great proportion of the United Nations was doing well. The Security Council is the most disappointing part of it. What was to have been the key place where great and little nations could meet judicially and reasonably to settle differences has become largely a propaganda show. Antagonism in Security Council “It is not dealing with things on facts. There are too many disagreements. Vetoes are being used absolutely stupidly instead of trying to evolve the spirit of understanding. All this antagonism is going on. Will it last? Maybe the peace with Japan will show. “ Not merely since the Labour Government took office, but for the past 35 years we have lived in a world of crisis," said Mr Bevin. “The world has been chaotic for a long time, and ecdnomic difficulties have been as difficult to handle as the war difficulties. Where the balance of payments went wrong the old system had one very simple method of dealing with it. It called in credit, produced unemployment, and restricted purchases abroad. Mr Churchill and others had greatly criticised the direction of labour, but hitherto the direction of labour had come only from starvation” Mr Bevin protested against accusations that he was tying Britain to America. He was convinced America had handicapped herself and had caused high domestic taxation by failing to redistribute her gold holdings. Empire Customs Union Mr Bevin contended that as 75 per cent, of Britain’s trade was. outside Europe, a Customs union in Europe would not solve Britain’s difficulties, although it wuold be of very great assistance. “ However, I hope our Commonwealth and certainly the Empire will agree to the possibility of a Customs union for the British Commonwealth and Empire.” Delegates received the announcement in silence and most of them appeared not to realise its significance. Delegates loudly cheered Mr Bevin’s speech. The president, Mr G. W. Thompson, said that never in congress history had such a magnificent speech been delivered.