THE EUROPEAN SITUATION

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22662, 17 March 1939, Page 10

THE EUROPEAN SITUATION

ANGLO-AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP POSITION OF DICTATOR STATES VIEWS OF BUSINESSMEN FROM ABROAD The importance of Anglo-Ameri-can friendship and the desperate condition of the totalitarian states, acting on the principle that they had “nothing to lose and everything to gain” were the main points discussed by two widely-travelled businessmen, Mr Robert Heiman, of New York (where he represents a large English steel firm), and Mr Barratt Stennett, a retired businessman of London, who was in France during the September crisis, when they were asked for their views yesterday by a representative of “The Press.” In his wide experience of conditions in England and the United ■States, as well as other parts of the world, Mr Heiman has closely followed the attitude of the American people towards Great Britain, and the repercussions there of the September crisis and the part played by Britain then and later. “I consider that the only hope for the salvation of freedom in the world lies in the friendship between the two great democracies. Great Britain and America,” he said. “The visit of Mr Anthony Eden to the United States and the intended visit of the King and Queen are the handwriting on the wall which shows how events are moving. Resources and Armaments “Against a united front of these two democratic countries no totalitarian power or combination of totalitarian powers would have a chance. Very few people realise the enormous wealth of the United States, not merely in terms of finance, but in raw materials, gold, coal, oil, iron, helium, to mention only a few of its resources, and, above all, in man power. “It is a question whether at the moment Britain can hold her own in the armament race with the totalitarian states, organised as they are for desperate measures. It is not through lack of finance that Britain may be held up, but through lack of facilities. There is no doubt that an attack on Great Britain could do a great deal of damage; but Britain and the United States in cooperation could outbuild any combination of totalitarian states, or any power in the world, and would be completely safe against them. The staying power of these two countries would outmeasurably surpass that of any totalitarian state or alliance of totalitarian states. “When it is considered that one large factory turns out 9000 motorcars every day, 9000 to-day, 9000 tomorrow, and 9000 the day after; that this is only one unit of motor production, with the other manufac ; turers operating at the same time, drawing on an unending and unlimited supply of raw materials it will be realised what could be done if this industrial power were turned to the manufacture of aeroplanes if they were necessary in the event of war. The production would reach astronomical figures.” In reply to a further question Mr Heiman said: “I definitely think that American opinion on the attitude of the United States to Great Britain has greatly changed during the last 12 months. This change has been indicated by repeated statements in the press, by the general expression of opinion among the people, and by statements from political leaders, the President himself, Mr Roosevelt, and such men as Mr Harold L. Ickes, Secretary of the Interior, and many others. Effect of September Crisis Mr Heiman was asked whether the part played by Great Britain and Mr Chamberlain in the September crisis and the repercussions of public opinion in the United States had caused America to come to the view that it was necessary to stand by England. “Very definitely,” he said. “While the general attitude of the average American was a feeling that British prestige had not altogether held its own the Americans probably realised that Mr Chamberlain could hardly have acted differently in the position in which England was after being stripped of every power she had by the policy of Mr Ramsay MacDonald’s Government. The events then brought the Americans to the realisation that they must stand by Britain if Britain was to take a stand. “The whole world, it could almost be said, could oppose these two powers, arid would not have the ghost of a chance. “There is no doubt that France would stand by the democratic powers,” he added. “But the position of Russia is problematical. “These are the impressions I have formed. I am stating them in reply to your request, but I do not claim to be a spokesman for either the American or English people. I am giving my views as I feel that anything that can be done to foster friendship between Brttain and America is important.” Mr Heiman, though expressing very great interest in the latest developments in Europe, said that he felt he could not make any comment on the situation. He left for the North Island last'evening to sail later for Australia, but he intends to return in about two months. Britain and Germany Mr Barratt Stennett has travelled widely throughout the world by motor-car, having covered about 25,000 miles a year for the last 33 years. Nice was being evacuated when he was there at the height of the September crisis, and he motored some 800 miles to Paris between 8.15 one night and 8.55 next morning. “Britain is putting off the war till she can take charge of the whole situation,” he said. “The previous Labour Government there made it impossible to get anything done, and Britain got down to "almost nothing by way of armaments, just through trying to be nice people. “But I had a letter recently from someone in the War Office (and you can mention this because it wasn t confidential), telling me that they were very happy about the position to-day. “There is no question about it that the dictators act as they do because thfey have everything to gain and nothing to lose. I was in Berlin the

March before last and I saw what conditions were like there. I am. not talking about hotels, which are for visitors, who can get anything they like. I was in a private house with well-to-do people, and they had not seen cream or eggs for months. They got a limited amount of butter and meat for the year, and this they had to buy at one shop.”