BRITAIN AND AMERICA

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26513, 30 August 1951, Page 7

BRITAIN AND AMERICA

Importance Of Friendship

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) NEW YORK. August JB. Warm endorsement of the mutual defence pact between New Zealand, Australia and the United States, but regret that Britain was not a member of it, was expressed by Mr Anthony Eden, Deputy Leader of the Sritish Parliamentary Opposition are to-day. Mr Eden, who has been touring the United States for a month, added: "But my regret is academic, because British membership is unnecessary If Australia and New Zealand are ever in trouble, we will automatically be at war alongside them." . War could be avoided if friendship between Britain and the United States was maintained, said Mr Eden. To me, the most important political factor in the world to-day Is friendship between our two countries. If we retain that friendship, we can keep peace. If we lose it, we might lose the peace. Don't let irritations divide us from our friendship. Great friendship and little minds go ill together.’ On the chances of avoiding a third world war, Mr Eden said he believed the position in Europe was now certainly no worse than it was in 1950 and.in some ways was stronger. The improvements were due to the extent of the defence build-up and to General Eisenhower, who had been a remarkable leader in inspiring the welding of the diverse forces under his command. "If we continue without pause or panic to build up our forces, we shall achieve our purpose of peace through strength,” said Mr Eden. It was likely that peace negotiations might come, Mr Eden said. Things were ’’far from easy” behind the Iron Curtain, and developments might induce the Soviet leaders to want negotiations. It was up to statesmen to see that negotiations were opened if the opportunity came. Mr Eden said he found real and deep friendship among Americans towards Britain. Even some differences between the two countries could not weaken that friendship. One difference between the United States and "Britain concerned trade with China and trade with the Soviet Union. The export licensing system now operating at Hong Kong had stopped leakages of strategic materials to China. Trade with the Soviet Union was a much bigger question. Britain needed the materials she was getting from the Soviet Union, especially timber and coarse grains. If Britain did not get timber from the Soviet, she would have to go to dollar countries for it, thus adding to the strain on the dollar situation. He thought that on the balance, Britain was obtaining more advantage than the Soviet.