AVERAGE BRITON'S REACTION

Evening Star, Issue 25003, 23 October 1943, Page 5

AVERAGE BRITON'S REACTION

NOT GREATLY CONCERNED

(N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent.)

LONDON, October 22

Not unnaturally, a topic of recent conversation has been tlie comments of the American " Five Senators," as they are dubbed, and their statements regarding Britain. Although there has been much newspaper comment, the average man in the street appears to have paid particularly little attention to the statement, probably because he is so used to hearing Britain criticised, and because he, too, is always criticising, especially the Government. Mr Churchill's refusal to indulge in a " wordy warfare " has been endorsed. It is likely that the reason why the Senators' comments aroused the attention they did 'was not so much resentment of the criticism itself, but the fact that the criticism might possibly lead towards some estrangement between Britain and the United States .at a time when it was important that there should be no misunderstanding. One comment- which has caused some smiles was the suggestion that Britain was "out-smarting America." The man in the street has so long regarded his own Government as always " muddling through," and has heard so much of American " efficiency," that he is more inclined to believe the boot is on the other foot, and that America, especially regarding civil aviation, is preparing to leave this country far behind in the post-war world. Judged by reported American newspaper comment, the incident has probably done some good, since it appears to have emphasised Britain's fine part in the war.