Labour Leader Has U.S. Publicity Spotlight

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30095, 1 April 1963, Page 15

Labour Leader Has U.S. Publicity Spotlight

(N.ZRjI.-Reuter—Copyright) WASHINGTON, March 31. The leader of the British Labour Party (Mr Harold Wilson) opened his Washington conference this week-end in the spotlight of publicity suggesting him as the man likely to become Britain’s next Prime Minister. Mr Wilson arrived on Friday for talks with President Kennedy and other top officials.

He had his first appointments yesterday with the chairman of the State Department’s Policy planning council (Mr Walt Rostow) and with the former Secretary of State and how Presi-

dent Kennedy’s special trade negotiator, Mr Christian Herter.

For the last two days, American radio and television networks in particular have stepped up their coverage of Mr Wilson's United States trip, with special reports on the British leader's personality. policies and chances of winning the next General Election in the light of continuing by-election defeats of the Conservatives. Conferences this week-end will give United States officials an opportunity to size Mr . Wilson up before the British leader meets President Kennedy at the White House on Tuesday. Before meeting President Kennedy, he arranged to con-

fer with the Secretary of Defence (Mr Robert McNamara) and the Under-Secretary of State (Mr George Ball). One critical note crept into the press discussions of Mr Wilson's visit, with the wellknown Conservative columnist and magazine owner, David Lawrence, complaining that President Kennedy, in agreeing to the White House meeting, was “treading on dangerous ground.” He suggested that a White House discussion of British Government policy in the event of a Labour election victory might be considered direct intervention by the President in the internal political affairs of another country. “Supposing . . . opposition leaders in the Senate and House . . . took a trip to London and discussed with Mr Macmillan the Skybolt affair or just what should be done with nuclear deterrents?” the columnist asked. Mr Wilson, speaking to reporters. refused to be drawn into a transatlantic political battle with Mr Macmillan, "We don’t fight election battles across the Atlantic."

he said when asked tor comment on Mr Macmillan's statement to a Conservative rally that Britain should not give up its nuclear deterrent. Mr Wilson, who believes the United States should be relied on for the West's nuclear retaliatory power, said he would have something to say about the Prime Minister's remarks—but not while he was in the United States.

Mr Wilson's basic political philosophy is well known to the President and his advisers. They are well aware that there are differences in the foreign policy of the Administration and the Labour Party. But the belief among Administration officials is that there is no fundamental reason why the United States should not be able to get on well with a Labour Government if one is elected in Britain.

It is recognised that in some respects a Labour Government might come into cloeer alignment with the Kennedy Administration than the present British Government.