WARNING BY MR EDEN

Southland Times, Issue 25483, 2 October 1944, Page 5

WARNING BY MR EDEN

POSTWAR REVIVAL OF NAZIDOM (8.0.W.) RUGBY, September 29. A statement that we should err if we read into the marked improvement in our fortunes since the House met last, a signal that the main battle was won, was made by the Foreign Secretary, Mr Anthony Eden, in the House of Commons. No one could say how long the struggle would endure in the east or the west. Our over-riding needs remained for the maintenance of Allied unity and the delivery of blows in accordance with the plans laid down at Teheran and carried through since. He was not greatly impressed by the terms “hard peace” or “soft peace. The only peace was to see that neither Germany nor Japan had the opportunity of starting this business again. Mr Eden added that we were not prepared to make, a negotiated peace with Germany. Many Germans recognized the inevitability of defeat in this war and were already (thinking in terms of the next. Himmler was laying the foundations for a secret organization intended to operate many years ahead in order to revive Nazidom in the fu-

ture. Therefore we must take every precaution to prevent a recurrence of the situation that faced us today. Speaking of Bulgaria, Mr Eden said that she should withdraw her troops from Greece and Yugoslavia and that no armistice would be signed with her unless she did. AID FOR POLAND

The Foreign Secretary stressed Britain’s friendly attitude towards France and also referred to the Russo-Polish agreement of 1941, stating that Britain had done her best to try to build again on the foundations we laid then. We had also done everything in our power by military effort to aid the garrison of Warsaw. There had been some discussion about the eastern frontiers of Poland. There had been no more vexatious issue in all history than these eastern frontiers, and the British Government, bound both to Poland and the Soviet Union, would not swerve in playing its part in trying to bring about that to which all three were pledged—the creation of a strong, sovereign, independent Poland. Mr Eden said that it was perhaps just as well that a complete solution had not been reached at the Dumbarton Oaks Conference, for we had much rather that difficulties were faced than that they should be glossed over and work not done properly. He emphasized the necessity for the closest friendship and collaboration with Britain’s neighbours in Western Europe and other Powers generally and concluded: “Let no one think that with the defeat of Germany the issue is at an end. The problem of Germany will be a continuing problem. It is the key to the foreign policy this country must pursue. The principal danger to Europe after the defeat of Germany will be the re-emergence of military Germany.” Mr Eden added that if that crude, harsh fact were accepted, our foreign policy might have a fair chance of leading our people and the people of the United Nations to a lasting peace.