Against a Bi-Partisan Foreign Policy with the Tories

[p025] - AGAINST A BI-PARTISAN FOREIGN POLICY _ WITH THE TORIES --‘The N.E.C. statement not only proposes to continue the - alliance with U.S. imperialism. It is also designed to — - accommodate itself as far as possible to Sir Anthony Eden’s. current foreign policy.* Jt means a surrender on every decisive point to the Tories a and a step-by-step yielding to the pressures of Washington : oo... * This was noted by the “Observer” on June 16: “The keynote -- of the document is a broad continuity of the policies inaugurated _ - by Mr. Ernest Bevin. As the continuity is also maintained by Mr, Eden, the basis for national unity in foreign affairs:remains - §ntact.” - a a ae This effort at partnership with Tories in foreign affairs : -. in the form of a bi-partisan policy is no more workable or beneficial for our party than a coalition on domestic affairs. =

[p026] behind them. This course would be suicidal for the Labour Party, which ought to assert the same independence in foreign policy as on domestic issues. The N.E.C. statement represents a retreat on the part of those leaders who correctly criticized the late Labour Government’s support of the arms programme. How does it happen that not the slightest whisper against the dis- astrous effects of the arms programme is to be found in it? Such concessions to the right-wing leadership will never do. They disregard the overwhelming sentiments in the ranks of the party, the trade unions and the co-operative movement. These have shown in one vote after another and in scores of resolutions that they stand opposed to the arms programme and want a change in the old foreign policy. The N.E.C. statement does not coincide with their views or meet their demands in any essential respect. We think that the sentiment of the party ranks will be to reject the N.E.C. statement out of hand. They will want to draft in its stead a very different programme firmly anchored in Socialist principles and consistently applying the concept of equality in relations with the colonial peoples. The members during their discussions and the delegates at the September Conference will have to fulfil that task themselves. We simply propose to suggest certain prin- ciples and points which can help them work out a genuine Socialist line on the most pressing problems of foreign ‘policy.