Attlee “Betraying A Friendly People” Says Senator

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27470, 2 October 1954, Page 7

Attlee “Betraying A Friendly People” Says Senator

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, September 29. Senator William Knowland, ot California, Republican Senate Majority Leader, said today that Mr Clement Attlee, the former British Labour Premier, was proposing a doctrine of betraying a friendly people when he suggested that Formosa be turned over to Communist China. Addressing a luncheon club, Senator Knowland said that Mr Attlee’s proposal “would not have given greater aid or comfort to the enemy had he, as a possible future Prime Minister, offered to furnish the ships and the arms for the successful Communist invasion of Formosa. “As a potential Prime Minister of Great Britain he has put his moral stamp of approval upon a future aggression which the Communist leaders of China have announced they will make.”

Mr Knowland added: “He has given them aid and comfort to embark on an adventure which, if they try it, will lead to armed conflict with the United States of America. “He has done it as a man who may at any time be called upon to assume the powers of government to carry out an alliance which both countries (United States and Great Britain) have felt was a keystone to the foreign defence policies.” Senator Knowland said: “I do not see how the American people can be expected to place their confidence in any ally in Europe which may at any time give aid and comfort to the enemy in Asia.

“I hope that the Government of Great Britain will not be slow in repudiating the Attlee doctrine of appeasement.”