Labour’s Foreign Policy

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 686, 11 June 1929, Page 1

Labour’s Foreign Policy

full support for league Relations With U.S. and Russia British Official Wireless Received 10.49 a.m. RUGBY, Monday. MOST of the new Ministers took over their departmental duties this morning. They will have a clear three weeks before the serious work of Parliament begins. Parliament will meet on June 25, but the only business in the first week will be the election of the Speaker and the swearing-in of the members.

The King’s Speech will not be read, hnd the debate on the address will not take place until a week later. In an Interview with the “Daily Herald,” Mr. Arthur Henderson, Secreiary of State for oFreign Affairs, referred to the Prime Minister’s statement that he intended to go to Geneva as one of the Government representatives to the League of Nations Assembly meeting. Mr. Henderson said that both Mr. MacDonald and he regarded relations with the League as one of the most essential features of their policy. • We must be not only in the League, but of the League. Our policy will be conducted in the spirit of the League. We shall approach our problems, not from the standpoint of national strategy, but from the standpoint of international co-operation. That will inspire our policy, both toward the States which are members of the League and toward those which, like the United States and Russia, are still outside it. “America is enormously importunt, for it is obvious that in many problems affecting the peace of the world, the United States holds the key of the situation. We shall do everything in our power to strengthen the bonds between the great English-speaking democracies. The other great nation outside the League is the Soviet Union. The Labour Party's policy is well known, and It will be put into operation with all expedition, though of course negotiations will be necessary in order to put our diplomatic and our trading relations on that satisfactory basis. That is essential, both for the sake of world peace, and for economic reasons. “Ever since my mission to Russia in 1917, I have been personally anxious to see the closest possible relations established between the British and Russia peoples, and no dislike of the form of government which exists in Russia ought to influence our desire to secure the most friendly working relations.” Regarding reparations, he said, the Government would study the experts’ report, and ascertain the opinion of the other Governments concerned. Only then could it consider the next step. In reference to the Rhineland, he said: “We are anxious to see all foreign troops withdrawn from German territory as soon as possible: but we shall have to consider carefully the best ways and means of achieving that, and so with other questions — with disarmament, for example, and with the supremely important one of arbitration. Our objects are well known. Now we have to work cut the problems of how to achieve them.” The first Cabinet meeting was held this morning, and lasted half an hour. A talkie film was made of Mr. MacDonald introducing Mr. Sidney Webb, Secretary of State for the Dominions. “He is Still Mr. Webb,” said the Prime Minister. TWO MORE CONSERVATIVES There are still some 30 appointments to be made to minor positions in the Government, and it is expected that these will be announced tonight. When this task is completed, Mr. MacDonald will be free to leave London for a few days’ holiday at his native town of Lossiemouth, in Scot* land, and arrangements are being made for extending a cordial reception to the Prime Minister on his arrival there tomorrow. MACDONALD’S SECRETARY Mr. Lauchlan Mac Neil AVeir, Labour member in the House of Commons for Clackmannan and East Stirlingshire. has been appointed Parliamentary private secretary to Mr. Ramsay MacDonald. Mr. Weir has had a varied career as journalist, actor, sailor, teacher nnd lecturer in political economy. GIGANTIC PEACE STEP . Ut® official Labour organ, the Daily Herald.” in a leading article dealing with Mr. Arthur Henderson's toreign policy, says: "Labour intends to lay new- empha--818 °u the importance of the League °* Nations, the development of arbitration, the resumption of diplomatic relations with Russia, the evacuation ot the Rhineland, and the improvement and strengthening ot Britain’s relations with the United States. This constitutes a programme the jUlfllment of which will mark a gigant,c step toward peace. It is a good ? men too that Mr. MacDonald and -dr. Henderson are expecting an opportunity for personal contact and consultation with the American Govsrnment CONSERVATIVE COMMENT The "Morning Post” says: “There is nothing to alarm, but much to reassure, in Mr. MacDonald's broadcast Ctessag*. Evidently he is in a good

humour and his path has been made unexpectedly straight. “Presumably the Prime Minister is not preparing a big offensive against the conditions which make for the confidence and stability of industry, and does not intend to penalise the industries which are daring to be prosperous.

“The declarations of some of Mr. MacDonald’s colleagues, who are more eager to injure the capitalist than to benefit the wage-earner, leave little ground for hoping that the Socialist Government will leave well alone. “However, if Mr. MacDonald’s policy is better than their professions he will do much to deserve the confidence he desires to earn.” GOING TO AMERICA MACDONALD’S PLANS ARE DEFINITE CONFERENCE WITH HOOVER (United. Service) Reed. 11 a.m. LONDON, Monday. It is stated that Mr. Ramsay MacDonald is definitely going to the United States to confer with President Hoover as soon as his Parliamentary duties here permit. It is learned that such a visit was actually arranged for Mr. Stanley Baldwin had he been returned to power, in conjunction with the Canadian Prime Minister, Mr. W. L. Mackenzie King. It can! be stated that President Hoover is strongly desirous of cancelling the building of the 15 cruisers, and accordingly wants to meet Mr. MacDonald before the commencement of building. A message from Washington says reports received there from London that Mr. MacDonald is to seek a personal conference with the President on the subject of the relations between Britain and America, and also a conference with Mr. Mackenzie King, have been received there with some surprise. However, the report meets with the approval of Mr. W. E. Borah, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate. He said today that the greatest problem in the world is the lifting of the burden of armaments from the backs of men. “Close co-operation between Mr. MacDonald and Mr. Hoover wou»d give an exceptional assurance that progress would be made,” remarked Mr. Borah. LEAGUE COUNCIL’S WORK

SIR AUSTEN'S RESIGNATION SENT MUTUAL COMPLIMENTS (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 9 a.m. MADRID, Monday. In consequence of the absence of a special British representative at the League Council meeting, it is expected that all discussions on international questions will be adjourned till the August session, or dealt with at a special meeting of interested Powers, when the MacDonald Go%'ernment has settled Its policy. On June 4, immediately after his resignation of the office of British Foreign Secretary, Sir Austen Chamberlain, telegraphed as follows to the Council of the League of Nations, now in session at Madrid: “I deeply regret that it is impossible for me to attend the present session of the council, to complete the particular tasks with which it had charged me and to hid a personal farewell to my colleagues and friends. I desire to thank them one and all for the great kindness and consideration which they have shown to me. I shall cherish the memory of the friendships which I have formed, and shall always regard it as a high privilege to have been permitted to take part in the Council's beneficent work. "I shall follow its development with unceasing sympathy and interest. To the Secretary-General and his staff of all nations, I express my lasting gratitude for their unfailing and invaluable help.” . , Following is the translation of a reply to this message, telegraphed to Sir Austen Chamberlain on June 7. by Signor Scialoja, on behalf of the Council: —- .. . “I thank you in the name of all the members of the Council for the friendly sentiments expressed in your telegram. This mark of svmpathy which you have had the delicate thought of sending to us at the moment when we regretfully receive your farewells has profoundly touched us. It has confirmed us in the assurance that the personal bonds created by our long collaboration will not be relaxed.

“All my colleagues charge me to express to you their frateful memory of our work in common, and of the very valuable help vhich you have given in a spirit of profound equity and absolute devotion to the great cause of the League of National