27 SEPTEMBER 1946, Page 4

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The broadcast General Smuts is to give on Sunday evening will, I predict, be of the first international importance. There is a_strong feeling in many quarters that after Mr. Byrnes' clear statement of America's policy towards Germany it is more than time the British attitude was as unequivocally proclaiment. General Smuts cannot do precisely that, for he is spokesman of the Dominion over whose affairs he presides with such distinction. Only the Prime Minister or Foreign Minister of Great Britain can define British policy authoritatively, and for many reasons I think in this case the task falls more properly to Mr. Bevin. But if a note at once of warning and of hope is to be sounded, no Man in the Commonwealth could do that more convincingly than the Prime Minister of South Africa. Some constructive comment on M. Stalin's recent declara- tion can safely be counted on.

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