Bevin Fears War In Policy of Domination

Chronicle (Levin), 23 January 1948, Page 5

Bevin Fears War In Policy of Domination

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter.

. Covyriaht)

Receive'd Friday, 10.20 a.m. LONDON, Jan. 22. The Soviet Union's expansionist policy in Europe was vigqrously at-' lacked by the Secretary of State for, Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ernest Bevin, at ihe opening of the foreign affairs debate in the House of Commons. He declared that Britain ' believed that a policy of European 1 domination by one power would inevitably lead to another war. The Soviet apparently intended to uas every means to get Communist control of Eastern and Western Europe, said Mr. Bevin. Her frontiers were now advanced to Stettin, Trieste and the River Elbe, yet all evidence was that she was not satisfied with this tremendous expansion. It had been made quite clear that the Communist process continued, no matter how others temporised. "We have seen ths game played out in Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary and Rumania, and i'rom the information in our po'ssession other attempts may be made." A ruthless attempt was being made in Greece to bring it into the Soviet orbit. "'This is a dangefous situation — a case of power politics. We have been trying to leave Greece an independent nation and "get out. "Her Balkan neighbours have flouted the United Nations and there is a very serious danger that they and their Soviet mentors may make a great blunder over this. Provocations like this lead sometimes to serious developments which we, and I, hope they are anxious to avoid." Mr. Bevin said the matter would be better settled in accordance with the United Nations' decision, rather than the promotion of a civil war. It was dangerous, in international affairs, to play with fire. European unity coul'd not be achieved under the domination or ccntrol of any oue great power. The Marshall programme had vividly brought to light what had been under the surface all the time, he said. It was madness to tliink of anything but the friendliest of relations between Russia and every other nation, but Eastern Europe could not be cut off from the. rest of the world, and be turned into an exclusive, self-con- • tained block under the control of" Moscow and the Communist Party. Britain would do nothing against the Soviet Union, but she was entitled to "organise her kindred souls in the West, just as they organised their kindred souls in the East."