OPINION ON THE CONTINENT

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23265, 28 July 1945, Page 5

OPINION ON THE CONTINENT

Hailed As Important Event Strengthened Relations By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright (5.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 27. The Labour victory is hailed among ordinary Russians as the most important event in Anglo-Russian relations since the Treaty of Alliance in 1942, says Reuter’s Moscow correspondent. Official comment is withheld, but everywhere there are expressions of keen satisfaction mingled with surprise. Signor Parri, in an interview at Rome, said: “The triumph of British Labour will help to dispel the atmosphere of distrust and suspicion which followed the Allied victory and threatened to slow down our return to normal peace conditions. Trust and collaboration between the three Great Powers will certainly be strengthened.” Greek Royalists and Conservatives who confident! • expected a Conservative win were stunned into disappointment when it became clear that Labour'

had swept the polls, reports the Athens correspondent of the Associated American Press. Public Interest in the election had been intense and to-day successive editions of the newspapers were snatched up and thousands of people listened to the results broadcast by loudspeakers. Left Wingers and Communists were jubilant. They believe that a change of Government will soon occur in Greece and that Britain will not be so active in Greek affairs. Dr. Van Acker, snatching a minute from the Parliamentary debate on King Leopold, said: "I am convinced that the Labour victory will effect a consolidation of our efforts to realise a lasting peace and will favour the drawing together of the western European countries.’’ Reuter’s Paris correspondent says the Labour victory competed in public interest with the Petain trial. There is some concern in Egypt that the change in Government might have an unsettling effect m various parts of the world, says Reuter’s Cairo correspondent. Egypt s main interest in the Labour victory is what will the new Government’s policy be regarding the revision of the AngloEgyptian treaty because Egypt's leading parties are mainly Conservative. The Cape Town correspondent of the "Daily Mail” says the immediate effect in South Africa will almost certainly be the break-up of the Smuts Coalition because the Labour Party has been waiting for the resulUpf the election. It is most unlikely that, General Smuts will try a snap election but will attempt to carry on.