BRITISH-AMERICAN CO-OPERATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 23 October 1941, Page 3

BRITISH-AMERICAN CO-OPERA-TION

UNION OF HEART AND MIND The aims of the British-Amencan Co-operation Movement were outlined by Mr C. H. Weston in an address to j the annual meeting of the Wellington Drapers, Clothiers, Mercers and Boot Retailers’ Association. “It is not suggested that we should | get closer to the United States merely j for the purpose of protecting our own j skins,” said Mr Weston. It was felt that if democratic ideals were to persist in the world, the democracies must' work in close co-operation. No attempt j was being made to form any actual federation, but merely to attain co- ! operation of mind and heart. Canada and the United States af- i forded a great example of the success of such co-operation. On their common ! frontier of 3000 miles there had not i been a single guard for 100 years. , Mutual patience and common under- , standing had achieved a wonderful ; association, showing that unity of, mind was better than a written con- | tract. Between Britain and the United 1 States to-day similar co-operation ex- j isted. The meeting at sea of Mr Churchill and President Roosevelt gave a picture of two great men. thoroughly understanding each other, confident of each other’s purpose, with the same backing of traditions and : ideals. What higher form of associa- j tion could be aimed for? asked Mr | Weston. Except that she was not actually sending men to tight, America was j practically a full partner with Britain and her Allies in the present war, j he continued. As he understood it. ■ she was providing the sinews of war. : free of cost. She had put all her ship- . yards at the disposal of Britain, and had spent 79.000.000 dollars on repair- j ing our warships alone. American ! grounds were being used in the train- ; ir.g of British pilots. America was j training Allied tank troops and hordes j of American technicians were being j sent to England. Mr Weston urged that every endeavour should be made to foster a spirit of friendship between New Zealand and i the United States.