BRITISH CAR EXPORTS

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27643, 27 April 1955, Page 13

BRITISH CAR EXPORTS

Growing Threat From West Germany (Hee. 9 p.m.) LONDON, April 25. Britain’s car makers are facing the biggest challenge since they became the world’s leading car exporter after the war, the “Daily Express” said today. West Germany has gained supremacy over Britain in Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Holland and Sweden, according to figures available in London and Bonn last night. Exports JasT year were, respectively:

The “Daily Express” said that in the United States 6343 German Volkswagen cars were imported last year, •nd this car. displaced the British M.G. •s the leader of imported cars. In South Africa the West Germans Were massing resources to take advantage of the imminent easing of im-

port controls. British car manufacturers were not lying down under West Germany’s challenge, and British manufacturers would bring out several new models in the next six months, the “Daily Express” claimed.

The State Department had said the Nationalist Chinese would have to be represented at the conference proposed by Mr Chou En-lai. This was immediately rejected both by Marshal Chiang Kai-shek and by the Communists. Neither concedes the other has any legal standing. Mr Dulles refused to discuss his talk with Mr Eisenhower, other than to say that “we covered in general things that have happened since we last saw each other.”

Mr Eisenhower made no mention of the Chinese Communist overtures in a speech in New York. But he said he would not be bound “by slavish adherence to precedent, or halted by the lack of it” in his quest for world peace.

Senator George said today that the absence of Nationalist China from the conference table should not prevent the United States from having talks with Communist China on peace in the Formosa area. He said as far as he was concerned, he would be willing to waive the Nationalist representation condition, at least in exploratory discussions. “All rights of both parties could be reserved at any conference that could be arranged,” Senator George added. “With those rights reserved, I think it would be advantageous to have preliminary talks with the Communists to learn if it is possible to make some approach to a peaceful settlement. “Only through a conference can we arrive at anything, and I think one should be held.”

Senator George said that before there were any negotiations, there “should be a de facto cease fire in that area, and a de facto abandonment of any military effort.” He also urged that the Administration discuss the Formosa crisis with’ “our friends” in Europe and Southeast Asia. He told reporters that agreement' among these nations might help the United States to deal with Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, “who might be stubborn.”

To Belgium Germany. Britain. .. 38,653 15,072 To Switzerland .. 21,994 3,138 To Denmark .. 13,880 10,948 To Holland .. 13,866 9.033 To Sweden .. 40,791 39,803