A Socialist Foreign Policy

[p026] . FOR A SOCIALIST FOREIGN POLICY 1. Break the Allicnce With U.S. Imperialism The keystone of the present foreign policy structure is the allance with the American imperialists. This has already saddled the rearmament load upon the workers, aligned our country with the most vicious agents of capital- ist reaction, placed us in hostility to the Soviet, Chinese and colonial peoples, led to armed combat against the foreans and the rebirth of militarism in Western Germany 23

[p027] and Japan. It holds the immediate peril of full-scale war- fare with ali the horrors of atomic bombardment. British Labour must no longer be committed to the sal- vaging of a decaying capitalism abroad which it is pledged to eliminate at home. In place of further collaboration. with the imperialist powers in the N.A.T.O., etc., urged - -by the N.E.C., British Labour should seek closer economic. and political ties with anti-imperialist countries such as. the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, China, and the colonial peoples. The movement toward Socialism in our own - country must be fortified by co-operation .with all anti- capitalist forces in other lands striving for similar aims. 2. Open East-West Trade Gne of the first steps in that direction would be to open up trade with the East, now blockaded by the Cold War. The U.S. State Department threatens to cut t aid to countries shipping strategic materials to the Soviet bloc (which now va covers most commodities.) This is one more reason for _ getting disentangled from the American alliance. -. Laneashire’s textile mills, the clothing workshops of London, Leeds and Manchester, the boot and shoe fac-. tories of the Midlands are shutting down for lack of customers. Yet the Soviet Union, China and Eastern Europe offer huge potential markets for their products, — as the recent Economic Conferences in Moscow and Pekin © ae — indicate. ‘The two areas form natural economic supplements.. England is a great industrial nation, importing raw mate- rials and food; the agricultural countries of the East need our manufactures and machinery. If a broad five-year _ plan of trade could be worked out, such close economic collaboration would bring considerable mutual benefits. Our - factories could operate full-time; our workers could have employment. They would produce useful goods, instead of being forced into arms ‘obs. The millions being wasted . _ on armaments could be diverted to help finance this trade. _. What worker would not rather produce textiles, shoes _ ‘ind machinery for peaceful exchange than death-dealing: .

[p028] instruments to blast their fellow-workers in these countries off the map to enrich a few monopolist “‘merchants of - death.”” The development of East-West trade would not only head off unemployment and short-time at home. It would help raise the living standards of the masses in those countries who have thrown off the yoke of capitalism and are striving against great odds to build a better life for themselves along Sociali$t lines. Helping ourselves, we will help them and win their friendship in a common cause. 3. Cut Out The Arms-Budget The present arms budget cripples the working class, -squanders our national wealth, and menaces world peace. The Tories are using these arms, not to defend any just interests of the British people or the poor in other lands, but for imperialist aims. In place of destroying Malaya, Korea, etc., and blasting their ;nhabitants to bits, we should devote that money to improving life at home. Instead _ of bombs, airplanes and tanks, let us build homes for our families, more schools for our children, more medical faci- fities for our people. 4. Grant Full Self-Government And Unconditional Free- dom To All The Colonies _‘*The Labour Party aims at removing all forms of dis- crimination between the peoples. It believes that men and — - women of every colour, creed and country have the same: ~ right to enjoy those freedoms which are necessary to the _ dignity of man. It believes that all forms of exploitation,. _. whether economic, social or political, must be ended.”’ _ Tf this means what it says, then the Labour Party must announce as its immediate aim full self-government and _ emancipation for all the peoples now under British domina-- tion. The British imperialists entered, occupied and stay in the colonies to carry on ‘“‘economic, social and political exploitation” there at the cost of untold misery and humili- ation to the inhabitants of Africa and Asia. British Labour - -ygust prove by its deeds that it will reverse these policies and champion the coloured peoples who are rising to end all forms of foreign enslavement. 25

[p029] Colonial exploitation is enforced by racial discrimination. There is scarcely a Socialist, or even a Liberal, who has not been outraged by the exile of Seretse Khama, chief of the Bamangwato tribe, for marrying an English girl. They have been further disgusted by the cynical attempt to bribe him to renounce his position with the offer of an admini- Strative post in the West Indies. The action against Khama, initiated by Mr. Gordon-Walker under the Labour Gov- ernment in deference to the white supremacist Malan of South Africa, shows how deeply pro-imperialist practices have infected some parts of the Labour Party leadership. The substitution of “‘colonial paternalism’? and pro- longed emancipation for immediate freedom will not suffice. The peoples there demand—and deserve—full freedom without delay. And if Labour does not offer and support it, they will fight for it regardless. But we must help, and not hinder, these fellow-fighters for freedom. 5. Withdraw All British Troops From Korea and Malaya If, as the N.E.C. document says, “‘the Labour Party recognizes that the peoples of Asia are engaged in a his- toric revolution against foreign exploitation and domestic poverty,” then British boys in uniform must not be hurled against their just struggles in a hopeless endeavour to turn ‘back the clock. Instead of calling for ‘“‘support for the United Nations action in Korea,’’ we should get them out -of there at once. 4. Bring The Occupying Forces Home From Germany The N.E.C. rightly condemns the decision to rearm ‘Western Germany without electoral consultation of the Ger- man people who should have the democratic right to decide ‘such a question for themselves. To do so, they need to ‘be rid of all foreign occupying forces, including our own. In the House debate on this question, Mr. Attlee de- Clared that the N.E.C. statement was merely an expres- sion of opinion and he favoured German rearmament. This cannot be the position of the Party. 26

[p030] 7. Establish Peaceful and Friendly Relations With The New China And The Soviet Union Labour has more in common with revolutionary China which is combatting imperialism, capitalism and landlord- ism than with the American backers of Chiang Kai Shek who are opposed to the Mao Government. Labour must support the New China’s demand for admission into the United Nations, Socialists likewise have more in common with the Soviet peoples who are trying to uplift their planned economy than with the defenders of an outworn capitalism. We must work for peace and friendship with them. 8. Let The British People Vote On The Question Of Peace Or War The N.E.C. says that the German people should hold elections before rearmament is undertaken. Why shouldn’t this excellent idea be extended to England? We cannot permit the Tories to conspire with Washington to plunge our country into war without consultation or warning. For our elementary self-protection let the Labour movement demand that before England enters any new war, the matter shall -be submitted to a referendum vote by the whole nation.