CHURCHILL’S VIEW OF PAST YEAR

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24895, 7 June 1946, Page 7

CHURCHILL’S VIEW OF PAST YEAR

Powers’ Stalemate; “Decline In British Prestige”

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

LONDON, June 5. Resuming the debate on foreign affairs in the House of Commons, Mr Churchill said that in the year after the end of the German war there had been a virtual breakdown or stalemate in collaboration between three great Powers and (ilso a painful decline in British influence and prestige. Mr Churchill said it would be wrong to blame the Foreign Secretary (Mr Bevin), who had done his best to resist dangerous tendencies and had stood forth as a representative of much that was wise and courageous in the British character. 'Even if the Allies had preserved their war-time comradeship the problems would have fully taxed their resources.

Mr Churchill admitted that the Socialists had contributed to world peace by resolute denunciation of Communism and their refusal to allow the Communist Party to enter and permeate their ranks. The Communists in Britain had done their utmost to hamper national defence. “As far as they were concerned we might have been sunk in 1940-41 and blotted out for ever except as Hitler’s serfs,” he said. Mr W. Gallacher (Communist) protested and uproar followed. The Government had shown wise restraint in not interfering in Spain’s internal affairs, said Mr Churchill. “I like the Franco regime as little as I like the present British administration,” he said. (Laughter.) “I think the Spanish are better left to work out their own salvation. Withdrawal of the British Ambassador from Spain would have prevented us from worrying and admonishing General Franco with diplomatic representations. I should think we had enough trouble on our hands without getting involved in futile, fatuous entanglements.” South Tyrol Plebiscite Urged Mr Churchill said he was not satisfied with the Foreign Ministers’ decision to assign the South Tyrol to Italy. There was no case in Europe in which the United Nations Charter could be better applied. Why could not the South Tyrolese have a fair, free plebiscite under the Great Powers’ supervision? He regarded.the internationalisation , of Trieste as vitally important to the whole of Central Europe, particularly the Danubian basin. He was much im- ; pressed by the' enormous recovery of Belgium and Holland, and also by their affection for Britain. Everyone rejoiced to see France taking the forefront of the free democracies. There was no reason why Britain should not be close friends with the Belgians and Dutch. “But getting on easy sympathetic . terms with your neighbours is now said ' to be ‘forming a bloc,’ which is a crime according to every Communist in every land—unless it is a Communist bloc,” he continued. “If two countries which are great friends agree on something which is right, they are said to be ganging up.

Differences With Russia “There is deep sorrow throughout . Britain at the decline in contact and goodwill between Britain and Russia. < Mr Bevin received the approval of the J vast majority of the people when he protested against the pfolonged, systematic. vilification which is pumped out daily by the Russian propaganda machine. We seek nothing from them but goodwill. It is a great misfortune if a treaty of friendship is incontinently discarded. . ® “There is no use in concealing the fact that Russia’s propaganda and her general attitude since the war have profoundly impressed the British people. A great many people wonder whether the Russian Government really wishes to be friends with the British people. “The American eagle is a large, strong bird with a formidable beak and claws. He sits motionless day after day while Mr Gromyko prods him. but it would be a mistake to suppose that nothing goes on inside his breast,” continued Mr Churchill.

“It cannot be to Russia’s interests to continue irritating the United States. We could not have believed it possible that within a year the Russian cause could have done itself such harm and so chilled its prospects with the Eng-lish-speaking race. But far more serious than anything in the sphere of propaganda are the facts of the European situation.” Extent of Russian Control Mr Churchill said he had been censured for wrongly championing Russian claihns to the Curzon Line, but it was no longer a question of the Curzon Line or the Oder Line. The Russian line now ran from Stettin to Trieste. Not only had the curtain descended from the Baltic to the Adriatic, but behind it was a broad band of territory containing nearly one-'third of the population of Europe, apart from Russia. One group of very able men inside the Kremlin directed nearly onethird of the population of Europe, on which they were imposing the mighty powers of their despotic regime. “It is here that the seeds of a new world war if anywhere, are being sown." he declared. “Behind this curtain efforts are being made to Sovietise all the Russian-occupied zone of Germany. Poland is denied all free expression of her national will. We must face the fact that two Germanys are coming into being.” Britain would be very glad to reach a general peace with the German nation, but it was unlikely to come for some time. Britain and America could not afford to let chaos and misery continue indefinitely in their zones of Germany It would not bp inconsistent with Potsdam if Britain followed the American example and forbade a further transference of German industrial plant to Russia except in return for proportionate deliveries of food for the German people. Keeping millions of people hanging about in a subhuman state between heaven and hell would breed only moral pestilence and probably active war. “We must, after punishing the guilty do our best for the Germans and banish revenge against the entire people from our minds,” he said. The danger to which Europe was at present subjected was not Germany, but the confusion and degeneration ihto which a very large part of the Continent was sinking.