EDEN’S VISIT TO U.S.

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27873, 23 January 1956, Page 11

EDEN’S VISIT TO U.S.

Hope for Outcome Of Talks (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, January 21. Sir Anthony Eden said in a television broadcast to the nation tonight that he hoped “a message of hope and guidance to the world” would emerge from his coming meeting with President Eisenhower.

The Prime Minister, referring to the President as “your friend and mine,” said that their discussion would be guided by one purpose only—to increase world confidence in peace. In a 15-minute political broadcast televised by the 8.8. C. the Prime Minister said of hi S' Washington talks: “Of course, we shall not agree about everything—free countries never do. But I believe that out of that meeting can come perhaps a message of hope and guidance to the world. , “That is what we want—a message which will give greater confidence in peace. I pray that our mission will succeed.”

Dealing with British defence problems, Sir Anthony Eden said that his Government wanted to do everything it could to ensure that the larger part of land, sea and air forces should be regular recruits. The Government had some new proposals to encourage regular recruiting, which would be known before long, he said. The Government had decided to produce the hydrogen bomb because it believed it was the most powerful deterrent to war existing in the world, he said. He did not refer directly to the controversy over hydrogen bomb tests, but said: “You cannot prove a bomb until it has exploded, that is why I have said there should be tests.” The bulk of the speech dealt with such home issues as inflation, the need of increased savings, peaceful atomic development, restrictive practices in industry, and the coming of automation.

Sir Anthony Eden gave a pledge that Br tain would be ia the forefront of the atomic age: he promised that the battle against the rising cost of living would be maintained; and that his Government would do all it could to see that restrictive practices in industry were abolished.