ALARM EXPRESSED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 267, 24 August 1949, Page 3

ALARM EXPRESSED

WASHINGTON TALKS Press Bickering in U.S. (N.Z.P.A.—Copyright) NEW YORK, August 22. Alarm was expressed in a section of the press and in official circles in Washington today over the bitterness of AngloAmerican re criminations in the current debate between the press of the two countries over responsibility for Britain’s crucial dollar shortage. No international conference since the war has been preceded by such publicly expressed criticism of each other by the British and American press as that now heralding the British, Canadian and American financial talks opening in Washington on September 7. The tones of Mr E. Shinwell’s protests and the widely reprinted “Sunday Pictorial” leading article gave rise to a number of leading articles in the American press pointing out that sucn international bickering was endangering the talks.

The Baltimore “Sun” said that nothing was to be gained by an exchange of recriminations. It added that trie relationship between debtor and creditor was bound to be strained. The newspaper acknowledged that aid ..to Britain had been given primarily with ultimate benefit to the United States. “That does not mean,” it stated, “that our own qualified representatives should withhold reasoned criticism of the present financial policy of which the British Government in a matter on which we are so seriously concerned. We surely have both the right and the duty to offer suggestions and advice provided always it is done in a friendly manner.” The Washington "Star”" wrote:“‘Now that the Britisn press both Labour and Conservative—has unuerstanaaoiy struck back at the extremists among us who delight in twisting the lion s tail, ail the parties involved ought to cease fire long enougn to mull over trie fact mat tins Anglo - American quarrel will benefit nooody but tne nussians if it is allowed to go from bad to worse, generating heat and illwill ratner than light and co-opera-tion.”

The “Star” added that Britons and Americans must remember above all tnat they needed each other. Tne whole effort to safeguard tne free Western world could end only in catastrophic failure unless the two countries stuck together in the closest possible relationship. Short of that the Kremlin was likely to win the game.

Views of Big Business, The New York “Wall Street Journal,” which has opposed as hopeiess the American plans to revive Britain with dollars so long as she had a planned and managed economy, said to-day that a continuation of -that policy would be foolhardy as well. This newspaper, which generally reflects the views of American big business, devoted a 3000-word leading article to the talks in Washington. The “Journal” stated: “The Washington official view is that the weakening of Britain is the weakening of one of the pillars on which rests American political and economic policy toward Europe. The primary purpose of the British negotiations will be different. First in their minds is the continuation in office of the present British Government. Other considerations are secondary, and if Anglo-American cooperation has to be sacrificed to their ambition to continue in power the sacrifice will be made. “There is a growing sentiment in Washington not to give the British any further substantial aid until the British have taken further steps to correct their situation,” the. article continued. “However, there is also a' sentiment for further aid without stiff conditions, and it would seem that that idea is still in the ascendancy within the Administration. What really is threatened with collapse is not Britain: it is the collapse of the Socialist structure which is misusing the great intelligence of the British nation.” Senator James Kfcm (Republican, Missouri) said in a speech in the Senate to-day that the United States should require Britain to abandon her “wasteful experiment in socialism before spoon-feeding any more economic soothing syrup to the people of Britain.” Senator Kem said that American officials should tell Mr Bevin and Sir Stafford Cripps during the forthcoming talks to put their house in order.

He added that the British proposals for the relief of the dollar shortage would represent a means “to tap the American Treasury for more millions to prop up the tottering socialistic economy in Britain.-If I had my way I would sav to Mr Bevin and Sir Stafford Cripps: ‘Not another dollar for British socialism, not another dime of the American taxpayers’ money until you take pleasures to help yourselves. We have done our part. We stand on our record, but' the evidence shows that you have not done your part.’ All signs indicate that British management is dead on its feet and British labour is working no harder than is absolutely necessary.” . Senator Kern suggested that Britain devalue the pound sterling and repudiate bilateral trade agreements, such as that signed with Argentina “which shut off the competition of free American enterprise in the markets of the world.” /

Ending Slanging Match It was time to end the slanging match between Britain and America, said the London ••Daily Mail.” It added that it was time certain journalists and politicians on both sides of the Atlantic tried to cultivate a sense of responsibility. Mr Tom O’Brien, a member of the General Council of the Trade Union Congress, declared in a speech that Britain. s ? would “rather take the risk of civilising Communism than he kicked around by unlettered pot-bellied American magnates.” Conservatives and Communists were enjoying a Roman holiday, he added. “In the ghastly choice between them the people of Britain might be tempted to prefer the tyranny and poverty of the East rather than abject subservience to the opulent vulgarity and offensiveness of the West. I hope Mr Bevin and Sir Stafford Cripps will keep this m mind in Washington.”