DECADENCE OF FOREIGN POLICY.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 January 1924, Page 3

DECADENCE OF FOREIGN POLICY.

1.010) SALISBURY'S ADVICE. “ACTION AVITH WORDS.” [“Tub Times” Skkvick.J (Received this day at 9.15 a m.) n LONDON, Jan. 17. '|Tie “Times,” in a leader, lamenting the apparent deeadenee ol Ilrilish policy abroad, says the real reason why France is being allowed to heeome doniinant in Western Furope, and to (lout British wishes, is he- * cause the British Government lias not followed the advice of the. late Lord Salisbury, who said: “Let action accompany words rather than lap; behind them." The true British policy is neither to follow nor to break with France, but to convince her that there is a better policy than the one she and Belgium is pursuing. The task, no doubt, is difficult, but it should no 1" be .insuperable. But. if interventiiffr is successful it must be backed by public opinion and not isolated by a purely partisan policy at the command of a majority in Parliament. There is no really vast difference in the attitude of the three parties on jjfce principal foreign policy of the moment. Some form of agreement, however, seems absolutely necessary, jf a n effective policy is to be devised it, could be reached, unquestionably, without the sacrifice of the principles of any party.