EQUAL TERMS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 108, 20 February 1950, Page 3

EQUAL TERMS

BRITAIN WILL CO-OPERATE

RELATIONS WITH SOVIET

(N.Z.P.A.— Copyright) LONDON, Feb. 18. Britain at all times would cooperate with Russia on equal terms in the comity of nations ' said Mr Attlee, when he made his last political broadcast before the British General Election on Feb- * ruary 23. He was replying to Mr Churchill’s call for talks with Mr Stalin on the highest level. Mr Attlee continued: “Co-operation must be on equal terms in the comity of nations, said Mr Attlee, when he 'made his terms. We cannot submit to domination. We will not change our way of life at the behest of others. “Out of a meeting I had, with President Truman and Mr W. L. Mackenzie King, Prime Minister of Canada, within a few weeks of taking office, came a proposal for the international control of atomic energy. Had that been accepted, this cloud of fear would have been lifted-from the peoples; but Russia would not accept it. '“The hydrogen bomb has even more dreadful possibilities. The machinery of the United Nations is still there, ready to be used. W e are prepared at -any time to- use it to the full. “We are ready and eager to discuss with Russia, the United States, Canada, and all other nations ways and means of dealing with the menace. The difficulty does not lie in the method nor in the choice of persons to discuss these high matters. All that is required is the will.

“We on this side of the Iron Curtain have the will to discuss with the Russians this and all other outstanding difficulties.

Infinite Patience

Emphasising -'that the blame for the cold war did not lie on Britain’s side of the Iron Curtain, Mr Attlee said that the British Foreign Secretary (Mr Ernest, Bevin) had shown, ihfinite patience in seeking* to enlarge international co-operation, both in the political and in the economic spheres. He said: “Again and again we have sought to bring Russia more completely into partnership in the great adventure of civilisation.” ' Mr Attlee sqid. that Britain, under the guidance of Mr Bevin, had taken a leading part in the woi'k of the United Nations and other international organisations. “With the United States arid the other democracies, we have been steadily increasing the defences of freedom and peace. The European Recovery Programme, the Western Union, the Atlantic Pact and the Council of Europe are all great strides forward. Their purpose is to cheek the potential aggressor,,, and, through promoting better economic conditions, to remove som'e jof the causes from which wars arise.” Mr Attlee said relations between the members of the Commonwealth had never been so intimate as in recent years. In the Colonial Empire, too, great political advances had been made. “The resources of many of these territories are being developed, not as in the past, in the interest of exploiters, but in the interests of the people themselves and, indeed, of the whole world,” Mr Attlee continued. After outlining the domestic achievements of Britain’s Labour Government, Mr Attlee said: “It is true that we

liave had generous help from the Commonwealth and the United States, but

that does not detract from" our peace-

time effort, anymore than lend-lease deprives Britain of the credit for, its share in winning the war. “We have planned on the basis of

fair shares. Mr Churchill does not like the policy of fair shares. He calls it ‘levelling down.’ It depends on the point of view. For the majority of the people, it means levelling up.” Britain, said Mr Attlee, was not out of her economic difficulties, “but we have made immense progress, and provided there is no slackening of effort, we can win through.”

Proposal Repeated Mr Churchill last night repeated his call for “highest level” talks with Russia, which he.described as “a supreme question of life and death, perhaps for the wholp world.” Repeating his original proposals made at Edinburgh, Mr Churchill said: “Mr Bfevin dismissed all this by. his scornful word ‘stunt.’ What a reflection it. would be upon our national dignity and morgl elevation if we found nothing to talk about but material wishes and nice calculation about personal gain or loss. “The only time when people, really have a chance to influence and, in fact, decide events is at a General Election. Why should they be told it is a stunt to speak .to them of great world issues? “It is only byi agreement with the Great Fowers that security can be given ordinary folk against annihilating war with atomic or hydrogen bombs or bacteriological horrors. 1 cannot find in it the heart of conscience to close the door upon that

hope. Upon its fruition alone, the Unii ted Nations can discharge its supreme mission. “The United States, on whose bounty Mr Attlee’s Government has been living, produced its vast wealth and high wages on the capitalist free enterprise system. Canada, that mighty land of the future, is anti-socialist. “New Zealand and Australia have cast off socialism, although they had only taken the dose in a modified form. “All free, civilised States are in recoil from socialist rule and socialist doctrines. One of the chief reasons which : turned the tide in Europe against socialism is the utter failure of . socialist governments to make any eff fective resistance to Communist aggression. “Britons have to say whether they are to plunge deeper into the thickets and briars of socialist regulations and control's, or whether by resolute effort they rejoin their friends and comrade nations on the high road of ordered freedom and progress. By one heave of her shoulders, Britain can shake herself free.”