“ALARMED AT A TOUCH”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 57, 9 March 1946, Page 5

“ALARMED AT A TOUCH”

RUSSIA LIKE BLINDED MAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS DEBATE IN HOUSE OF LORDS R«cd. 7 p.m. London, March 7. All Britain would approve of Mr. Churchill’s plan for British and American co-operation, but the next move should come from the United States, said Lord Samuel, opening a foreign affairs debate in the House of Lords.

Britain, he said, should not give the impression that she was attempting to establish a form of hegemony in world affairs. United Nations controversies arose from “the unhappy state-’’ of relations between Britain and Russia. Britain was not attempting to build up a western bloc against Russia, as Russia seemed to believe.

“Russia suffers from one of the greatest disabilites that can affect a nation—maintaining a censorship of news and a Governmentdirected Press” said Lord Samuel. “A country living under such a system is like a man who is compelled to wear a bandage over his eyes. He is alarmed a touch. "Russia's policy of deliberate isolation is fatal for international relations. Russia has adopted the discredited methods of the early nineteenth century diplomacy, replying to what it considered objectionable action with a more objectionable one.” Lord Altrincham said it was deplorable that the Russian desire for security took a dangerously aggressive form. It seem’ed that their maxim was that there was no security anywhere except through the propagation of Communism. He felt sure that the Russian people were opposed to aggression and that their

leaders were anxious to avoid it. Lord Altrincham added that the Dominions should- be fully consulted about decisions on the Far East, and not merely informed when decisions were reached. MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING Lord Stangate, replying for the Government, said he was saying nothi ing about Mr. Churchill’s speech, except that the Government’s policy was formed, not upon groups, but upon the United Nations Organisation and the world s unity in the Pacific and Atlantic. South America and the United States were making sure of freedom from aggression. Was Russia's justifiable demand for secure borders the whole aim of Russian pol- • icy? Britain wanted mutual understanding with Russia, who, after her amazing victory, naturally felt a sense of giant strength. Daily there were new elements of friction but Russia was dealing with a Government whose members were her friends in the darkest days and stood by her when she had few friends in the world.