FOREIGN POLICY.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17786, 10 August 1929, Page 7

FOREIGN POLICY.

BRITISH AIMS. IN EUROPE AND EGYPT. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. (Omclal Wireless.) (Received August 10, 11.45 a.m.) ' RUGBY, Aug. 9. 1 Dr. Hugh Dalton, Under-SecretarJ for Foreign Affairs, speaking at an Independent Labour Party meeting at Welwyn, reviewed the foreign policy of the Government. He said, in the sphere of foreign policy the Government was pushing forward vigorously along a wide front. He believed they had a vast majority of the electors behind them in the steps they w'ere taking to make international co-oper-ation a reality and international peace secure.

Egyptian Treaty. In regard to Egypt, Dr. Dalton said the Right Hon. A. Henderson, the Foreign Secretary, had made a friendly offer to the Egyptian people of real international independence, with a prospect of full membership on equal terms with the rest of the world of the League of Nations. He had made it a condition that Parliamentary Government in Egypt should be restored. There was, moreover, to he no change in the existing electoral law. His Majesty’s Government had no preference for one Egyptian politician or Egyptian party over another, nor did they intend to interfere in the internal policy of Egypt. They had made their offer in advance to the chosen representatives of the Egyptian people. This was a chance to make an enduring settlement, which if left might never recur. The defence of the Suez Canal would be no worse secured —indeed, it would be he I ter secured if our troops and aerodromes were concentrated in the Canal zone, rather than scattered all over Egypt. Machinery for Poaco. The Government were pressing forward with the establishment of more effective machinery than now existed for the peaceful settlement of all international disputes, whatever their character. As regarded justifiable disputes, they hoped the Prime Minister would be able himself to sign the optional clause at the forthcoming assembly of the League of Nations. Non-,justifiable disputes would fall to be dealt with by some such procedure as that suggested in the general Act, to the principle of which the Labour Party was firmly committed, and the details of which they w'ere now examining. They were determined to close every gap in the international! structure through which war might! again invade their habitation. Relations With Russia. Dr. Dalton said he hoped that when Parliament re-assembled in the autumn the Government would be able to secure authority for the resumption of full diplomatic relations 1 with Russia. They were now awaiting a further communication from Moscow, if the Russians were prepared to discuss the procedure for the i settlement of outstanding questions, I and to indicate a desire to settle such questions in a spirit of commonsense and goodwill, the British Government will be prepared to do its part. The Government had already lifted the embargo on export credits for Russian trade. j Naval Disarmament. I The Prime Minister was taking special charge of the Anglo-American disarmament discussions, which had made good progress. This country had already reduced its naval programme, and the Americans had made a reciprocal gesture, which was warmly welcomed here.

Aims at The Hague. At The Hague Conference Mr Henderson was seeking to secure the total and complete evacuation of the Rhineland, a development which would create a new atmosphere in Europe, and a real sense that the Great War had passed into history. As compared with complete evacuation, the substitution of French for British troops in tI)C occupied territory would be a very poor second best. None the less, •Mr" Henderson had emphasised that Britain was under no pledge to remain if no agreement for simultaneous action could be reached. As regarded the financial questions under discussion at The Hague, Britain had a very strong case, and her claims for adjustment were so small in proportion to the total sums at issue that he hoped a settlement would not be difficult. He was very glad an effort was to be made by the British representatives to bring to an end the system of deliveries in kind, which, had had so evil an effect on the mining community. Britain, too, had her devastated districts, largely as the result of past policies, which hc’truslcd would now he reversed.