AID FROM U.S.A.

Grey River Argus, 21 September 1945, Page 3

AID FROM U.S.A.

BRITAIN’S REQUEST OBSTACLES SEEN LONDON, September 17. A correspondent at New York of the “Yorkshire Fost” states: — “Violent statements against Britain were made in the House of Representatives last week. They were inaccurate as a gauge of British American relations, but disturbing trends can be seen here by those wishing to see an improvement in those relations. It is beginning to be fully appreciated that harm was done by ihe abrupt termination of lend-lease, which Mr Roosevelt so carefully built for furnishing war aid, but a living symbol of economic co-operation. The sudden destruction of this pipe-line has weakened the inclination for cooperation among the Americans, whic Mr. Roosevelt so carefully built up. It is also being recognised in some circles that the sudden termination before careful financial arrangements could be made has placed Britain in the unfair and unfortunate position of suppliant rather than friend and associate.

“Britain is thus rendered vulnerable to all those here who entertain anti-British feelings. These range from those with sincere objections to British policies in Greece, Italy, India and Palestine to"those wishing to keep Britain weak commercially so that they may become strong. Britain is accused here by some of being an imperialistic Power with selfish designs and envied by others, as a Powe? which successfully built up the greatest world empire. Mr. Roosevelt realised clearly and made the American people realise the importance of their ties to Britain. There is danger now that those ties may be allowed to become less close. “Among some political and financial circles the results of the British General Election undoubtedly engendered a more hostile attitude towards Britain, but other forces here, particularly Labour and its sympathisers, welcomed those results and now favour dose co-operation with the Socialist Government. A large body of the public are still frightened by Socialism. In Congress, and out of it, there is a tendency more and more to make the United States the last bulwark of free enterprise rather than join the trend towards Socialism.” '