THE COLONIAL EMPIRE

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23803, 24 November 1942, Page 5

THE COLONIAL EMPIRE

MR WILLKIE’S VIEWS BRITISH AND U.S. ATTITUDES (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) • (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 22. At a time when it is generally agreed that Anglo-American post-war friendship is very important for the world’s future, the general public in Britain has suddenly become aware of a great division of opinion between some sections of thought in the two countries on the issue of imperialism. This has been thrown into the limelight as a result of verbal exchanges between Mr Wendell Willkie and Mr Churchill. The British have so long taken the Empire for granted that it is something of a shock to many to find their viewpoint suddenly assailed, although the United States Ambassador, (Mr J. G. Winant) expressed the opinion that between Britain and the United States there is “a greater divergence of viewpoint on British colonial policy than any other subject.” Briefly Mr Willkie apparently believes that the colonies should be made wards of the United ■Nations, that their basic commodities n freel y available to the world ana their safety protected by an international police force, and that the full yield of their resources should be used ior their own health, education, development, and training in practices of self-government. He stated that this could not be accomplished when one or the two principals of the Atlantic unarter apparently defended the old imperialist order, and declared to a shocked world: “We mean to hold our own. It is observed that millions of A^ en oans share Mr Willkie’s views, Mr Churchill’s comment evoked both approval and condemnation in Britain. was ’ expressed by Sir Edj who said Britain must Btand by her colonial responsibilities. iJisapprovai was expressed by the Uaily Herald.” which chided Mr a~ c - * f° r not appearing to share American statesmen’s enthusiasm for Planning during the war the shape of wor d at peace. It also protested the statement: “We mean to noia our own.” .JP 16 . "Spectator,” however, took the umi°i S ? e v j e w. It declared that Mr wifikie misrepresented Mr Churchill in f oa yeying the intention of Britain ' imJ 10 • , on indefinitely to all she had, it- oni S / lc * Hus view c °uld spring - n i ™ ignorance and perversity, „ t f n t?, r "ain for a century had been riannl a P d Patiently educating her *nn end f nc ' es * or the responsibilities of successful independence. American Interest It must be admitted that some obervers consider America is not altoseiner altruistic, and that she is at pre,sPeaking with two voices, the Sift being that of Mr Roosevelt, Mr s;i na P. ’ Henry Wallace (Vice-Pre-®i°® nt j.and Mr Milo Perkins, and the ecend being that of big business. Nat- w pjl er in the “New Statesman and ({« «. n s ? ys: “This American interest hni c °l°nial field) is very welcome, ui there are clear enough dangers if street 1 ” 3 15 *° ' 3e America of Wall i,Jf r Kingsley Martin, editor of the w Statesman and Nation,” who is Ij?_P resen t in America, said: “After 'he iDm, war American business poured out :li° nn y on capital investments in and lost it. This time, the I* clever, would allow capimLr eve , °P men t on lease-lend princiL as ’ and > on the foundation of Amerian money and goodwill, create overf * markets that, as individual capivhey cannot fail to desire. This would be sensible on the part of Lig business. More likely it will regard

and laughter than previously.’ Mr Wallace as the arch-enemy and go straight imperialist.” Many people in Britain, as "The Times” states, are puzzled that Americans should proclaim without cavil their intentions to re-establish the integrity of the French colonial empire, while apparently regarding the integrity of the British Empire as an admissible war aim. They inquire if Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and Holland are to retain their colonial territory, and whether the British colonial empire is to be the only one to go into liquidation. Further British points of view are expected to be heard during the debate in the House of Commons in the coming week. Typhus Outbreak In Ireland,— Thirteen cases of typhus are reported in the coastal area of County Galway, Ireland. One death is reported. Schools within an area of 175 square miles have been closed.—London, November 22.