MR. BEVIN DEFENDS BRITAIN’S HOME AND FOREIGN POLICIES

Wanganui Chronicle, 8 February 1950, Page 5

MR. BEVIN DEFENDS BRITAIN’S HOME AND FOREIGN POLICIES

LONDON, Feb. 7 (Recd. 6.15 pm).— The Foreign Secretary, Mr. Ernest Bevin, defending Labour’s foreign and domestic policies in a campaign speech at Norfolk last night claimed firstly that Britain now has friends abroad where she once had nothing but hard looks. Secondly, the Conservative economics as opposed to Socialist, are the sort of economics now landing Germany into a mess. Mr. Bevan said when he became Foreign Secretary one of the fundamental things he laid down was that he could no nothing in international affairs unless he had sound, strong and planned economy at home. He said a good deal has been made of the Marshall Aid. The Conservatives called it charity, but. he would like to know what they would have done if thev had been in his place. Mr. Bevin said Europe was a cesspool of misery and chaos until Marshall Aid came. He had accepted American aid and did not regard it as charity. There were still difficulties to overcome, but Europe was saved,

"Europe will, in my opinion, not go down, and if Eurone does not go down our security is thereby enhanced and our securitv for development is thereby improved.’’