East-West Trade Curbs Attacked

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30286, 12 November 1963, Page 13

East-West Trade Curbs Attacked

(N.Z.P. A. -Reuter— Copyright) LONDON, November 11. Britain is preparing for a showdown in the Western alliance over North Atlantic Treaty Organisation restrictions on trade with Russia, the “Daily Mail” said today.

“Mr Butler, the Foreign Secretary, and Mr Edward Heath, the President of the Board of Trade, will fight for an extensive liberalisation of Western policy when Mr George Ball, the United States Under-Secretary of State, reaches London in midweek.” a commentator predicted. The "Daily Express” urged Britain to tell Mr Ball that she wanted more and not less trade with Russia. “The exchange of goods will lessen Russia's isolation and raise the living standard of her people," the newspaper said. "And the more affluent the Soviets are, the less revolutionary they are likely to be. "It is not communism that will benefit, but the cause of peace.” The "Daily Telegraph” said: “Our guiding principle should surely be this: that we aim at a completely free interchange of goods and peoples and desire Russia and her satellites to enter fully into the community of nations. “The Communist countries

refuse this, and offer only partial exchanges. “Each of these must be examined to see whether it can be made to yield means of prising open the door a little further—or whether, on the other hand it will simply reinforce the barriers separating the Communist peoples from the free world,” it said.