SPANISH REGIME; FUTURE OF RUHR

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24901, 14 June 1946, Page 7

SPANISH REGIME; FUTURE OF RUHR

Referring to Spain, Mr Bevin said: “I think that the problem of Spain is muddled. If other countries had not interfered there, General Franco would have .gone. Sanctions would not be a wise thing. I have said before that directly you start sanctions yq« must prepare for war. if left glone, a very wide class in Spain is anxious to get rid of General Franco. I am ready to consult with France and America about this problem." Mr Bevin said that he did not blame Fiance for wanting to separate the Ruhr from Germany He proposed that the Ruhr should be run as a European industrial area under international control. Its great resources should be used to raise the standard of life in Europe. Its products should be semi-manufactured and allowed to flow into Fr:nce, Italy, Jugoslavia, and other countries. He was at present

had come to a dogmatip decision. When America offered a 25-year He did hot propose to criticise the economic system of another country. Russia was socialised. Britain was partly socialised, and America believed in private enterprise. It was Britain’s great task to try to weld these forces together to keep the peace. Mr Bevin vigorously defended the diplomatic service, which he was reorganising. He intended to stick to the career men in the service. He did not intend to decry the products of Eton and Harrow, but he wanted to give young men of other classes an equal opportunity. Mr Bevin was loudly applauded after his speech.