Schizo Мой Blog

[Ree Vannin]

"Chamberlain’s efforts to run an aloof but flexible foreign policy on this issue came under sustained attack from his die-hard Cabinet colleagues, such as Joynson-Hicks, Churchill and Birkenhead. The first issue relating to Russia which the new government confronted was the accusation by some hardliners, such as the Home Secretary, Joynson-Hicks, that Russia were fomenting unrest in China, and thereby threatening British interests. Chamberlain’s reaction was to be cool but proper to Moscow. He observed that ‘it would be very inexpedient to provoke a controversy with the Soviet Gov[ernmen]t if it can be avoided, and that the less attention we pay to them the more anxious they will be to come to terms with us’. He advised the cabinet that Britain’s policy should be ‘to keep the formal relations as distant as possible’. Chamberlain’s success at Locarno in 1925 helped to establish his ascendancy in foreign policy, and to diminish the influence of these die-hards. Chamberlain’s intellectual vision of British foreign policy was based on a return to traditional British responses. It is perhaps significant that Chamberlain installed a portrait of Castlereagh, who had conducted a similar policy, in the new Locarno Suite at the Foreign Office, as the presiding deity in British foreign affairs. The Locarno agreements were the result of the return of balance of power policy towards Western Europe."

"There had been concern in London since the 1922 Rapallo Treaty of a German–Soviet alliance, and it was hoped that the Locarno Pact would make such an alliance less attractive to Germany."

 

[Ree Vannin]

"There had been concern in London since the 1922 Rapallo Treaty of a German–Soviet alliance, and it was hoped that the Locarno Pact would make such an alliance less attractive to Germany."

"Russia was viewed as a state that was historically unreliable, diplomatically duplicitous, and possessed of inherent expansionist desires."

 

[Ree Vannin]

"Russia was viewed as a state that was historically unreliable, diplomatically duplicitous, and possessed of inherent expansionist desires."

"Britain realised even before the end of the Second World War just how important good Anglo–American relations were to an effective inter- national role for the country. This concern fell principally upon the Foreign Secretary"

 

[Ree Vannin]

"Britain realised even before the end of the Second World War just how important good Anglo–American relations were to an effective inter- national role for the country. This concern fell principally upon the Foreign Secretary"

"Morrison set up a Liaison Committee to maintain contact between backbenchers and the leadership. Its chairman was a backbencher. Morrison also sat on it, as did the chief whip, a Labour peer and the secretary of the Labour Party. He also established the Party Policy Groups to cover the departments of State. According to Dalton, Bevin allowed the External Affairs Group to ‘pick itself.’ As a consequence, ‘in came all the pacifists and fellow travellers, pro-Russians and anti-Americans, and every sort of freak harboured in our majority’. In addition, he relaxed Standing Orders for MPs ‘to encourage freedom of action and expression “without upsetting the applecart”.’ He told MPs ‘We don’t want a gramophone record instead of a debate. I hope that there will be a good deal of free speech, even to the extent of disagreeing with ministers.’ Morrison emphasised that the party whips had the task not just of ensuring loyal support but also of conveying MPs’ concerns to ministers"

 

[Ree Vannin]

"Morrison set up a Liaison Committee to maintain contact between backbenchers and the leadership. Its chairman was a backbencher. Morrison also sat on it, as did the chief whip, a Labour peer and the secretary of the Labour Party. He also established the Party Policy Groups to cover the departments of State. According to Dalton, Bevin allowed the External Affairs Group to ‘pick itself.’ As a consequence, ‘in came all the pacifists and fellow travellers, pro-Russians and anti-Americans, and every sort of freak harboured in our majority’. In addition, he relaxed Standing Orders for MPs ‘to encourage freedom of action and expression “without upsetting the applecart”.’ He told MPs ‘We don’t want a gramophone record instead of a debate. I hope that there will be a good deal of free speech, even to the extent of disagreeing with ministers.’ Morrison emphasised that the party whips had the task not just of ensuring loyal support but also of conveying MPs’ concerns to ministers"

"Morrison’s own later judgement was positive: ‘Considering the varied views held by Labour members and their right to voice them, the times when differences became so acute that reprimand or even withdrawal of the whip or expulsion was necessary were very few.’"

 

[Ree Vannin]

"Morrison’s own later judgement was positive: ‘Considering the varied views held by Labour members and their right to voice them, the times when differences became so acute that reprimand or even withdrawal of the whip or expulsion was necessary were very few.’"

"It was over relations with the Soviet Union that Morrison faced the biggest difficulties. Many Labour MPs shared the outlook expressed in the Labour manifesto, Let Us Face the Future, drafted by Morrison, which declared that left could speak to left in the Soviet Union. ‘Immediately after the war’, according to Stefan Berger, ‘left-wing sympathies were still considerable. After all, Labour in 1945 used the campaign slogan “Left understands Left” – indicating that the antagonistic stance between Churchill and the Soviet leadership could give way to better mutual understanding under a Labour government.’"

 

[Ree Vannin]

"It was over relations with the Soviet Union that Morrison faced the biggest difficulties. Many Labour MPs shared the outlook expressed in the Labour manifesto, Let Us Face the Future, drafted by Morrison, which declared that left could speak to left in the Soviet Union. ‘Immediately after the war’, according to Stefan Berger, ‘left-wing sympathies were still considerable. After all, Labour in 1945 used the campaign slogan “Left understands Left” – indicating that the antagonistic stance between Churchill and the Soviet leadership could give way to better mutual understanding under a Labour government.’"

"Ian Mikardo has explained how a group of a score or so left-wingers used to gather at a table in the Members’ Smoking Room. These included Richard Crossman, Tom Driberg and Michael Foot. The ‘area of government policy which caused us deepest concern was external relations.’ They objected to ‘Bevin’s negative, sterile anti-communism’ and to ‘the Government’s self-imposed subservience to the United States.’"

"For a year after the election they voiced their criticisms only internally rather than publicly but they realised this was taking them nowhere. So they decided to go public."

 

[Ree Vannin]

"Ian Mikardo has explained how a group of a score or so left-wingers used to gather at a table in the Members’ Smoking Room. These included Richard Crossman, Tom Driberg and Michael Foot. The ‘area of government policy which caused us deepest concern was external relations.’ They objected to ‘Bevin’s negative, sterile anti-communism’ and to ‘the Government’s self-imposed subservience to the United States.’"

"For a year after the election they voiced their criticisms only internally rather than publicly but they realised this was taking them nowhere. So they decided to go public."

"They chose to put down a critical foreign affairs amendment on the Address for the King’s Speech inaugurating the 1946–47 Session. They were joined in this first serious challenge to the government from the backbenches by another, less influential, grouping of dissidents: the anti-American left led by John Platt-Mills, Konni Zilliacus, Leslie Solley, Lester Hutchinson and William Warbey. They consistently demanded a closer relationship with the Soviet Union and looser ties with the United States, while Crossman, Driberg, Mikardo and Foot favoured a neutralist ‘Third Force.’"

 

[Ree Vannin]

"They chose to put down a critical foreign affairs amendment on the Address for the King’s Speech inaugurating the 1946–47 Session. They were joined in this first serious challenge to the government from the backbenches by another, less influential, grouping of dissidents: the anti-American left led by John Platt-Mills, Konni Zilliacus, Leslie Solley, Lester Hutchinson and William Warbey. They consistently demanded a closer relationship with the Soviet Union and looser ties with the United States, while Crossman, Driberg, Mikardo and Foot favoured a neutralist ‘Third Force.’"

"Some writers feel that events alone did not produce this transformation. Peter Weiler maintains that ‘the Cold War consensus which evolved by 1950 did not just develop “naturally” in response to political events but was politically created, in part at least, by manipulation of the media, both at home and abroad.’ He adds, ‘Britain was not just reacting to the Soviet Union in these years but had its own diplomatic agenda.’ Certainly, Morrison was attentive to the need to reinforce the impact of events with efforts to educate the party and the public in the meaning of the developments. So, for example, between January and March 1948 he made several fervently anti communist speeches and took action against Labour MPs not toeing the anti-communist line."

 

[Ree Vannin]

"Some writers feel that events alone did not produce this transformation. Peter Weiler maintains that ‘the Cold War consensus which evolved by 1950 did not just develop “naturally” in response to political events but was politically created, in part at least, by manipulation of the media, both at home and abroad.’ He adds, ‘Britain was not just reacting to the Soviet Union in these years but had its own diplomatic agenda.’ Certainly, Morrison was attentive to the need to reinforce the impact of events with efforts to educate the party and the public in the meaning of the developments. So, for example, between January and March 1948 he made several fervently anti communist speeches and took action against Labour MPs not toeing the anti-communist line."

"In May 1946 he was back in America for negotiations on an impending crisis in world food supplies, in particular a wheat shortage. During the Second World War there had been food and raw material scarcities which had been lessened by American Lend-Lease aid. At war’s end in 1945, this assistance ceased. As Morrison said, ‘The wheat shortage was partially engendered by the termination of Lend-Lease on 21 August 1945.’"

 

[Ree Vannin]

"In May 1946 he was back in America for negotiations on an impending crisis in world food supplies, in particular a wheat shortage. During the Second World War there had been food and raw material scarcities which had been lessened by American Lend-Lease aid. At war’s end in 1945, this assistance ceased. As Morrison said, ‘The wheat shortage was partially engendered by the termination of Lend-Lease on 21 August 1945.’"

"The end of Lend-Lease meant there was lack of dollars to pay for North American wheat. Added to this was the new responsibility to feed the British zone of Germany. The situation was made worse still by the failure of the rice harvest in Burma, which produced a food crisis in India. Morrison later explained, ‘We could, and did, pay for the food for our own people, though it was not easy; but Germany was on the verge of starvation and we had to spend precious dollars to buy American food for the people in the British zone of occupation. Worse, India’s vast millions had to be fed, and the American food supplies sent there were debited to our account.’"

 

[Ree Vannin]

"The end of Lend-Lease meant there was lack of dollars to pay for North American wheat. Added to this was the new responsibility to feed the British zone of Germany. The situation was made worse still by the failure of the rice harvest in Burma, which produced a food crisis in India. Morrison later explained, ‘We could, and did, pay for the food for our own people, though it was not easy; but Germany was on the verge of starvation and we had to spend precious dollars to buy American food for the people in the British zone of occupation. Worse, India’s vast millions had to be fed, and the American food supplies sent there were debited to our account.’"

"On arrival he told his nervous Washington Embassy adviser, ‘I’m going to have a row’, who pleaded ‘Please, no!’ But Morrison replied by observing that ‘I knew Americans never minded plain speaking. They merely regard the kid-glove approach on such an issue as a sign of weakness. I was right.’"

 

[Ree Vannin]

"On arrival he told his nervous Washington Embassy adviser, ‘I’m going to have a row’, who pleaded ‘Please, no!’ But Morrison replied by observing that ‘I knew Americans never minded plain speaking. They merely regard the kid-glove approach on such an issue as a sign of weakness. I was right.’"

"When he failed to make progress, Morrison then adopted a characteristic approach: he used the mass media to take his message to the American people. He made a coast-to-coast radio broadcast in which he conjured up the vivid image that American pigs were eating better than most human beings throughout the world. (Surplus wheat was being fed to farm animals in the USA.) He also hinted that civilisation was being threatened by the forces of famine."

 

[Ree Vannin]

"When he failed to make progress, Morrison then adopted a characteristic approach: he used the mass media to take his message to the American people. He made a coast-to-coast radio broadcast in which he conjured up the vivid image that American pigs were eating better than most human beings throughout the world. (Surplus wheat was being fed to farm animals in the USA.) He also hinted that civilisation was being threatened by the forces of famine."

"It was only when he had further talks with Anderson, who was joined by Dean Acheson, Acting Secretary of State, that a breakthrough was made. Incidentally, this meant that Morrison met Acheson before Bevin, who had his first meeting with the American in April 1949 at the signing of the North Atlantic Pact. The Americans decided to help. India was designated a special famine area. The Americans agreed with the British to consider treating their two occupation zones in Germany as a single unit for food. The British had to make a concession: they would not receive a planned delivery of 200,000 tons of wheat in September. This meant that the British government had to introduce bread rationing in July, which lasted for two years. The concession was necessary to convince sceptics in the United States who suspected that the Britishb were hoarding supplies."

 

[Ree Vannin]

"It was only when he had further talks with Anderson, who was joined by Dean Acheson, Acting Secretary of State, that a breakthrough was made. Incidentally, this meant that Morrison met Acheson before Bevin, who had his first meeting with the American in April 1949 at the signing of the North Atlantic Pact. The Americans decided to help. India was designated a special famine area. The Americans agreed with the British to consider treating their two occupation zones in Germany as a single unit for food. The British had to make a concession: they would not receive a planned delivery of 200,000 tons of wheat in September. This meant that the British government had to introduce bread rationing in July, which lasted for two years. The concession was necessary to convince sceptics in the United States who suspected that the Britishb were hoarding supplies."

"Publicity and propaganda were particular interests of Morrison. On his return from North America he produced a memorandum for the Cabinet, saying, ‘In Washington I received the impression that we are missing many publicity opportunities … I hope we can take the initiative and clear away bogies such as British Imperialism.’"

 

[Ree Vannin]

"Publicity and propaganda were particular interests of Morrison. On his return from North America he produced a memorandum for the Cabinet, saying, ‘In Washington I received the impression that we are missing many publicity opportunities … I hope we can take the initiative and clear away bogies such as British Imperialism.’"

"Morrison had already learned that good relations with the Americans were essential. This was especially true of foreign policy. While sharing Bevin’s outlook, he nevertheless brought some different perspectives to his conduct of foreign policy. This was evident even before he became Foreign Secretary."

 

[Ree Vannin]

"Morrison had already learned that good relations with the Americans were essential. This was especially true of foreign policy. While sharing Bevin’s outlook, he nevertheless brought some different perspectives to his conduct of foreign policy. This was evident even before he became Foreign Secretary."

"A more robust attitude to the United States and greater use of publicity were to characterise his general approach as Foreign Secretary. So he minuted the record of a Foreign Office discussion about Anglo–American relations:

I am inclined to good fellowship, cordiality – combined with frankness, readiness to assert ourselves. At times we have perhaps been a bit too lame. But Anglo–American fundamental friendship is essential, but it can’t [sic] be on the basis of being pushed around."

 

[Ree Vannin]

"They chose to put down a critical foreign affairs amendment on the Address for the King’s Speech inaugurating the 1946–47 Session. They were joined in this first serious challenge to the government from the backbenches by another, less influential, grouping of dissidents: the anti-American left led by John Platt-Mills, Konni Zilliacus, Leslie Solley, Lester Hutchinson and William Warbey. They consistently demanded a closer relationship with the Soviet Union and looser ties with the United States, while Crossman, Driberg, Mikardo and Foot favoured a neutralist ‘Third Force.’"

"Publicity and propaganda were particular interests of Morrison. On his return from North America he produced a memorandum for the Cabinet, saying, ‘In Washington I received the impression that we are missing many publicity opportunities … I hope we can take the initiative and clear away bogies such as British Imperialism.’"

While Labourist Britain slowly emancipates their colonies, embraces multiculturalism and "clear away bogies such as British Imperialism", the United States struggles with academics and professors who accuse them of imperialism and colonialism. Well, someone has to be responsible for imperialism, right?

 

[Ree Vannin]

"A more robust attitude to the United States and greater use of publicity were to characterise his general approach as Foreign Secretary. So he minuted the record of a Foreign Office discussion about Anglo–American relations:

I am inclined to good fellowship, cordiality – combined with frankness, readiness to assert ourselves. At times we have perhaps been a bit too lame. But Anglo–American fundamental friendship is essential, but it can’t [sic] be on the basis of being pushed around."

"He reiterated the need for good publicity work in response to a letter on 26 May from Sir Oliver Franks, the British Ambassador in Washington, who reported on the tensions in Anglo–American relations over Korea, Taiwan and China. Franks noted that the American people were shocked and annoyed to find that their main and most dependable ally was not always 100 per cent with them in every policy. Even when our policy does not change, he added, the constant reiteration of our attitudes and views by the British government was an essential approach to the US public."

 

[Ree Vannin]

"He reiterated the need for good publicity work in response to a letter on 26 May from Sir Oliver Franks, the British Ambassador in Washington, who reported on the tensions in Anglo–American relations over Korea, Taiwan and China. Franks noted that the American people were shocked and annoyed to find that their main and most dependable ally was not always 100 per cent with them in every policy. Even when our policy does not change, he added, the constant reiteration of our attitudes and views by the British government was an essential approach to the US public."

Given how many resources Britain has invested in its domination over the Far East, it would be strange to expect from them to allow someone else to simply reap the fruits of their labor in this region. But, unfortunately for Americans, China suddenly became communist and closed itself... Though it imported tons of goods from the West by acquiring British ships and crew through dummy companies.