EXCLUSION OF BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26847, 27 September 1952, Page 7

EXCLUSION OF BRITAIN

Discussion By Cabinet

(Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 26. Morning newspapers give prominence today to what is called “the Anzus row” and emphasise Mr Churchill’s anxiety to have before him at this morning’s Cabinet meeting a report on all the Issues involved In Britain’s exclusion from the Anzus talks.

The statement issued at Peart Harbour after ‘the meeting of military representatives of the United Stated Australia and New’ Zealand is interpreted in London as indicating that the three Pacific Powers are still unwilling to admit a British observer to their meetings. Several political correspondents suggest that Britain will probably make even stronger representations very shortly to the three nations to admit at least observers, .

The political correspondent of the ‘‘News Chronicle” says the discussion about Britain’s association with Anzus is “degenerating into a futile and damaging wrangle.” He says that although Australia and New Zealand did originally support the British request to attend as an observer, the United States was disinclined to admit her. “This negative American attitude may have two explanations: “(1) During and since the war the Pacific has been .treated very much as an American sea.

“(2) 1416 political situation there is controlled rather by the United States War Department than by the State Deparment, which has a greater understanding of the delicate and susceptible machinery of the British Commonwealth. Australia’s Fears “There is thus a conflict of opinion between London and Washington, but even more serious is the possibility of misunderstandings between Britain and the Dominions. “Some fear is expressed in Australia, and to a lesser extent in New Zealand, that Britain, by. pressing its claims too vigorously, should lessen American willingness to negotiate a pact precise enough to compensate the Dominions for signing the treaty with Japan. They have tended to argue that each meeting of Anzus would make British participation more obviously desirable and that the British Government can therefore afford to show patience. “Behind this argument there is the dislike in Australia of anything which could suggest that Britain seeks to control the policy of the Dominions. On the British side thpre is natural anxiety lest the two Pacific Dominions should come to depend too little upon Britain and too much upon the United States.”