“Anti-Americanism Grows In Australia”

Press, Volume C, Issue 29608, 2 September 1961, Page 11

“Anti-Americanism Grows In Australia”

<NZ pres* Association— Copyright) , NEW YORK, August 31. Australia and New Zealand have some reason to feel that they are America’s forgotten allies, according to the American information magazine, “Vital Issues.”

Just as a wave of antiAmericanism had swept across Canada in recent years, so had the quiet but steadily mounting voice of anti-Americanism begun to be heard in Australia, the magazine said in its latest issue.

“Resentment over certain aspects of our foreign trade policies and particularly over our tendency to put Australia and New Zealand in a back seat, has grown considerably,” it said. The magazine said that America was generally ignorant of Australia’s and New Zealand’s history needs and goals and its diplomatic appointments furnished one example of how the United States took both countries for granted. Both nations had sent their most distinguished diplomats to represent them in Washington. But the United States had. with one or two exceptions, sent men who knew little of the Southwest Pacific to represent America m Canberra and Wellington; men who were defeated politicians rather than experts in the economic problems which the two countries faced. “Vita! Issues” described

Australia and New Zealand as fully independent nations. It said that Americans who had fought alongside the "Aussies” and the “Kiwis” were aware of their rugged sense of humour, their love of outdoors, their ability as soldiers, their friendliness, and their pride and confiddence in the future of their countries.

It reported the Australian Ambassador to the United States, Sir Howard Beale, as declaring that the greatest handicap to even better Australian - American relations was neither wool nor butter, investments nor China, although all were important, but American ignorance of Australia, unthinking disregard of her needa and sentiments, and lack of concern for her position in the present world. Both Australia and New Zealand "have every reason to remain friendly to the United States—if we will pay them the courtesy of attention and the respect of consultation,” the magazine said

“Vital Issues” is published in Washington. Connecticut, by the Centre of Information on America, a national independent educational corporation.