Commonwealth Unity And European Ties

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28493, 24 January 1958, Page 12

Commonwealth Unity And European Ties

(New Zealana Press Association)

WELLINGTON, January 23. Closer relationships between Britain and Western Europe did not mean a weakening of Commonwealth unity, said the British Prime Minister (Mr Harold Macmillan) when he spoke at a State luncheon today. There were people who believed that when individual members of the Commonwealth separately entered into ' relationships with foreign countries there was a corresponding weakening of Commonwealth ties. “To my mind, these arguments have no force at all,” he said. When members of a family made friends with those outside the family, it did not mean a weakening of the family relationship. Mr Macmillan said that since World War II the countries of Europe had come more closely together. This was not merely in self-interest, but for the benefit of the world. “Anything that Britain can do to foster the unity of Europe is in the interest of peace, in the interest of the Commonwealth andof all countries,” he said. Referring to the Commonwealth, Mr Macmillan said the member nations cherished the ideas of liberty and justice, the loss of which no nation's prosperity could compensate. “We put these things higher than anything else.” The Commonwealth also cherished the ideas of democracy, and the spirit of tolerance and good humour without »which Parliamentary government could not carry on. World Peace While the Commonwealth strove for world peace, its members were sufficiently realistic to recognise that perhaps for generations the world would be passing through one of those great secular conflicts of ideals that from time to time ranged the world. The Commonwealth must always strive for peace; but.it could not abandon its principles in the name of appeasement. Mr Macmillan said he believed the Commonwealth in these circumstances had a part to play of special value because of its “new character”—where countries of different race, creed and colour were united as independent partners. The Commonwealth could help to bridge the gap between competing values. He emphasised the importance

of the interdependence of the countries of the free world. No country could defend itaelf by itself. “Isolation is a thing of the past We must have friends and allies," he said. In this respect, much depended on the closest co-opera-tion between the Commonwealth and the United States. “It is very easy to be antiEnglish in the United States and anti-American in Britain; but I am certain that the people who fall for that propaganda are not serving the cause of peace,” he said. They were, in fact, serving the cause of communism. Talks With U.S. Mr Macmillan said that when he had his talks with President Eisenhower last year it was nearly 200 years since the American Declaration of Independence. The agreement that emerged from the talks was something that also had its place in history. It might be called a declaration of interdependence. There were three great forces in the free world today—the Commonwealth, the United States and Western Europe, he continued. From time to time they might quarrel and disagree, but It was important that they be kept together so that they could stand firm in whatever faced them in the future. Mr Macmillan said that in the most important contest for support of the uncommitted countries, Commonwealth countries such as India could play a vital role in interpreting democratic institutions to countries which had recently achieved independence. He said that he had gained great inspiration from his Commonwealth tour and first-hand knowledge of its member countries. It was the support of New Zealand and other countries in the Commonwealth that enabled those at the centre in Britain to carry their burdens mors readily.