BRTIISH FOREIGN POLICY

Hokitika Guardian, 13 August 1929, Page 6

BRTIISH FOREIGN POLICY

INTERNATIONAL PEACE DESIRED. DR, DALTON’S SPEECH. RUGBY, August 9. Dr Hugh Dalton, Under-Secretarv for Foreign Affairs, speaking at an .independent Labour Party meeting at Welwyn, retiewed the foreign policy of the Government. He said that in the sphere of foreign policy the Government was pushing forward vigorously along a wide front. He believed that they had the vast majority of the electors behind them in the steps they were taking to make international co-operation a reality and international peace secure. EGYPTIAN TREATY.* In regard to Egypt, Dr Dalton said that Mr Arthur Henderson, Foreign Secretary, had made a friendly offer to the Egyptian people of real international independence, with the prospect of full membership on equal -terms with the rest of the world in the League of Nations. He had made it a condition that parliamentary Government in‘Egypt should be restored. There ivas, moreoibr, to be no change in the existing j olcvtoral law. His Majesty’s Government had no preference ; for '|oiie Egyptian politician bi Egyptian party over another, nor did they intend to interfere in the internal politics of. Egypt. They bad made their offer in advance to the chosen representatives of the Egyptian people. Tills was a chance to make an enduring settlement, which if left might never recur. The defence of the Suez Canal would be no worse secured. Indeed, it would be -better secured if our troops and aerodromes were concentrated in the Canal zone, rather than scattered all over Egypt. THE WORLD COURT.

ine Government were pressing forward'with the establishing of more effective machinery than now existed forthe peaceful settlement of all international disputes. -Whatever their:,character as regarded justiciable disputes .ney hoped that the Prime Minister .would be able himself to sign the Optional Clause of the World Court Agreement at the forthcoming assembly of the League of Nations. Nonjusticiable disputes would fall to be dealt with by some such procedure as that suggested in the general act to the principle of which the Labour. Party was firmly committed, and the details of which they were now examining. They were determined to close every gap in the international structure through which war might again invifde their habitation.! _ : ... . ANGLO-RUSSIAN RELATIONS;^'-

Dr. Daltonrsafd that he lioped''that when Parliament reassembled in the autumn the Government would be able to secure authority for th'e resumption of full diplomatic relations with Russia. They were now awaiting further communication from Moscow. If the Russians were prepared to discuss the procedure for a settlement of the outstanding questions and to indicate a desire to settle such questions in a spirit of commonsense and goodwill, the Government would be prepared to do their part. The Government had already lifted the embargo on export credits for Russian trade. NAVAL REDUCTIONS.

The Prime Minister was taking special charge of the Anglo-American disarmament discussions, which had made good progress. This country had already reduced its naval programme and Americans had made a reciprocdl gesture which was waTmly welcomed here. • •' - THE HAGUE CONFERENCE.

At the Hague Conference Mr Henderson was seeking the total and conir>lete 4 evacuation of the Rhineland, a development which would create a new atmosphere in Europe and a- real sense that the Great "War had passed into history. As compared with evacuatiota the substitution of French for British troops in the occupied territory would be a very poor second best v None the less Mr Henderson had emphasised that Britain was under no pledge to remain if no agreement' for simultaneous action could be reached.

As regarded the financial questions under discussion at The Hague, Britain had a very strong, case, and her claims for adjustment were so small in proportion to the total .sums at issu'e that he hoped that a settlement would not be.difficult. He was very glad that an effort was to be made by the British representatives to bring to an end the system of deliveries in kind, which had had so evil an effect on the mining community. Britain, too, had her devastated districts, largely as a result of past policies ifrhieh he trusted would now be reversed.