BRITAIN’S FOREIGN POLICY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 198, 22 August 1945, Page 5

BRITAIN’S FOREIGN POLICY

NEW MINISTER’S REVIEW

CLOSE WATCH ON TOTALITARIANISM

Recd. 6 p.m. London, Aug. 20. Making his first big speech in the House of Commons to-day, the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Ernest Bevin, declared there would be much in lhe period ahead of us which we did not like. One thing, however, we must aim at resolutely, even at the beginning, and that was to prevent the substitution of one form of totalitarianism for another.

Mr. Bevin went on to define the primary aim of our foreign policy as the economic reconstruction of the world, based, on the decisions we had accepted at Potsdam. Dealing with our policy to particular countries, he said of Greece: “Our objective there is the setting up of a stable democratic government.” I'he United States and France had agreed, to help in the supervising of the elections in Greece, and Mr. Bevin said he proposed to invite representatives of the Dominion Governments as part of the British contingent of observers. The Regent of Greece meanwhile was coming to Britain foi a face-to-face discussion. Discussing the situation in the Bed ! kans, Mr. Bevin declared: “The gov ernments which have been set up i: Bulgaria, Rumania and Hungary d.

——. jiuigana, nuiuanm tuiu x-iuiiguiy u. not, in our view, represent a majority of the people, and the impressioi we got from recent developments is that one kind of totalitarianism is be ing replac’d for another. That is not what we understand by the ver. much over-worked word ‘democracy,’ which appears to need a definition The form of government whi£h has been set up as a result does not impress us as being sufficiently representative to meet the requirements of diplomatic relations.”

Mr. Bevin said that also would be our view of the results of the corn ing elections in Bulgaria.

With Italy, Mr. Bevin added, we wanted a peace treaty of fair terms and we were assuming that the country would set up parliamentary gov ernment again.

Mr. Bevin went on to say that he was reviewing the whole of our policy toward France. “With that great country,” he emphasised, “I am most anxious we should be on the best of terms.”

PROBLEM OF POLAND I One of the great problems that still : faced us was Poland whose actual area would have to be settled at tne peace table. Mr. Bevin spoke of talks he and Mr. Attlee had had with Poles at Potsdam, and said: “We were assured thet 1 friendly and secret elections would be held not later it was hoped than early next year. We expect in particular that the principal Polish democratic parties shall be equally with The Communist Party allowed to take part in the elections to make their own programme and to select, their own candidates and that freedom of speech and association shall be guaranteed to all.” ■ Mr. Bevin said he had emphasised at Potsdam that, the British people desired friendship with Poland and nothing could prevent friendly relations except & failure to carry out the ' assurances that, had been given. I Marshal Stalin had given him an ■assurance that Soviet, troops would be [withdrawn from Poland except for small numbers needed for communi- ■ cations with Germany. I Mr. Bevin urged all Poles overseas Ito return to their own country where they could render greater service than from outside. Mr. Bevin spoke of the regime in Spain as being for the Spanish people Io decide and declared: “It is obvious that, we should take a favourable view if they change their regime but His Majesty’s Government is not prei pared to take any steps that would permit or encourage civil war in Spain.” THE FAR EAST I Referring briefly io the Far East, Mr. Bevin said: "We have now taken steps to receive the surrender of the Japanese at. Hongkong. There may still be difficulties, but they will be overcome and I am sure that in agreement with our Chinese and American allies, our territory will be returned to us.” ■ The British Government regarded world economic reconstruction as a primary objective of its foreign policy, said Mr. Bevin. He said the war nad .ended only just in time. We were on | the eve of a great world food crisis, jWe could not stop the decline this [winter, but there were hopes that the harvest would check the decline.

Next year v ould be vital. It was : hard, to ,?all on Britons after six; I years of war fjr more, but peace with I understanding, with Britain ploying a proper role as leader of the social [and economic field, was a prize worrh winning by them. ECONOMIC RECONSTRUCTION 1 “In a world stunned and only just beginning to awaken from the stupeI lying effects of the war, the great I thing is attention to economic reconstruction and to work hard and get the people re-settled and earning their own living.” Mr. Bevin said that in conducting this policy he would ’always be actuated by a desire that jit would be worthy of Britain’s imimense sacrifices during the war. Manpower losses happily were less i than lhe last war’s, but the methods i adopted to win the war had left Bri--1 tain extremely poor. Reconstruction J was a heavy task. The enormous re--1 sources of the United States had been i | thrown into the titanic struggle; long

years of fighting had disorganised China, but the worst situation •was possibly in the liberated countries. One of the great difficulties there was tliul the people had been taught, to disobey the occupation forces, resulting in lawlessness which was now difficult Io eradicate. “We cannot allow the idea to develop that, the liberated countries can lie down and rely on the Allied countries for continuous support,” he add- | ed. ‘There is a limitation to what U.N.R.R.A. can do, both in amount land time. i “Coal is a basic need and minors are • international in outlook. The Labour i Government proposes to give the British miners what they have asked for I for years. I have asked them Io help ime. not [or profit or for capitalists, ! bul for peace and to bring succour, health and warmth Io millions of uolI at homo and abroad.” 1 The Government accepted the I Potsdam decisions as a basis on which 'the Foreign Ministers' Council and i general work must, proceed. When J the foreign ministers met. thev must not lie merely hv n desire to i punish or*’oven.ge, but in everything 'thov di<l they must ask themselves I whether the decision mode was for I peace or for war. He believed if thev | could only eliminate the war mind ■f’-oni there would ho a [olipeop of unity where no conflict j need o? ist. ’ POLICY IN GRFECF The Government adhered to the [policy in Greece which it p-ihlkly :upported when Greece was liberate 1. H saw no good purpose in nssustin , in I the creation of a now gcvci iL.ien, ' • the cfi'Ctioi.. G. ‘er.’ v ouLi neve." rec r.pr whil ■ her 1 aders spent their time continuously trying 1c change the ernment. They ha<; better lake an example from us. (Laughter). The Government urged that an election be held as soon as possible to assist in restoring conti-

. dence. Britain would welcome an j amnesty at the earliest possible niu- ' ment. He realised that this was a dif- ' lieu It problem, because not only violent criminals, but also collaoorators were involved. Referring to the Dominions’ representation at the elections, .10 said t would be remembered that New Zealanders and Au.dralians in particular had foils’ll! in Greece and were v. ell respected there. Reports received from British troops in the area did not substantiate | Yugoslav charges about the trealiment of Slav-speaking Greeks in I northern Greece,