MR. EDEN'S TOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24555, 10 April 1943, Page 8

MR. EDEN'S TOUR

STATEMENT IN COMMONS AIMS OF DISCUSSIONS ALLIED CO-OI'EIiATION By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright LONDON. April .S The Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Anthony Eden, in a statement in the House, of Commons, placed his conversations in the United States and Canada under three headings. First were military operations "not normally under the aegis of the Foreign Office and questions which arise always in wartime between allies engaged in a common struggle." On those subjects both parties were satisfied that progress was made. Secondly, political co-operation. Mr. Eden said that as the war progressed it became ever more important that there should be close co-operation between the military and political sphere ■—for instance, with regard to North Africa. There was no doubt that it was felt in the United States that there had been some misunderstanding in this country of the purpose oi the United States Administration in keeping up relations with Vichy. America and Vicliy "I can assure the Ilouse that their motives were not special tenderness for Vichy," Mr. Eden said. "They thought, and were agreed, that by maintaining relations with Vichy it would be possible to keep open a useful window on Europe. I have no doubt that we were right and they were right." It was only through the maintenance of those relations that the American Government was able to place a considerable number of agents in North Africa who were invaluable in paving the way for the arrival of Allied troops. It was quite clear to him, he added, that many in the United States felt that Britain attributed to them a tenderness for Vichy, Petain, Laval and the rest, which they did not feel. He was satisfied that as regards the future policy toward France there was complete agreement between Britain and the United States. Both had only one desire—to see all sections of the French people who were prepared to fight the common enemy united together. Restoration of Liberty Regarding the extension of a common policy in respect of Spain, Portugal and Turkey, Mr. Eden said a common policy had been agreed upon as regards occupied countries. There was only one policy that Britain and the United States were pursuing—to do all in their power to restore them to full liberty at the earliest possible moment. The third heading mentioned bv Mr. Eden covered a wide range of questions, including practical problems which would arise on the surrender of the enemy, and the task that would face Britain, the United States, Russia, China and the other Dnited Nations to safeguard the world against further aggression. "We both have a very close .similarity of outlook." said Mr. Eden. "Admittedly the exchanges were entirely of an exploratory character and committed neither the United States Government nor ourselves. The last thing we wanted to do was to bind our Allies to hard facts and rules." Speaking of the relations between Britain and the United States, Mr. Eden said that it was a to attempt to base these relations mainly on sentiment, but they should be based on true foundations —common interest in the maintenance of world peace and preventing a repetition of these catastrophic world conflicts. If we could keep to that foundation we would be in less danger of the tips and downs we have sometimes seen in British and American relations. Preventing Aggression Mr. Eden said he believed that definition to be profoundly true and well understood on both sides of the Atlantic. We here recognised the need for some authority to ensure by force that Germany, Italy and Japan should not be able to repeat aggression, and he believed the American people shared that view. He had reported to the United States that in Britain there was no disposition, when the struggle was over, to trust to luck and hope for the best, and he found' exactly the same mood in America. Therefore, he would say that while it would be the height of unwisdom to cease to concentrate our forces and efforts on the main task of winning the war, it would be a mistake to obstruct ourselves with any prolonged public debates on post-war problems. In conclusion, Mr. Eden paid a striking tribute to the war efforts of the United States and Canada. Common Interest Commenting on Mr. Eden's report, the Times says: "Mr. Eden did right to insist that Anglo-American unity must not be based on sentiment but on a common interest in the maintenance of world peace. This common interest has to find expression in a common policy and the best guarantee that the common policy can be reached is a community of ultimate ideals subsisting between" the British Empire and the United States." The United States Secretary of State, Mr Cordell Hull, said in Washington that he appreciated Mr. Eden's invitation to visit Britain, but ho had not made any plans yet. MEMORIAL TO AIRMAN '(Special Correspondent) LONDON, April A memorial to the late Pilot-Oflicer Cecil Henry flight, of Stratford, who was killed when his Spitfire was shot down at Bournemouth during the Battle of Britain, was unveiled by the High Commissioner for New Zealand. Mr. W. J. Jordan, in St. Peter's Church, Bournemouth, yesterday The memorial, which is in the form of . wings carved from kauri, was sent to England by the scholars of the Stratford Technical School, of which PilotOfficer ]fight was a pupil. The ceremony was attended by the Mayor oi Bournemouth, the New Zealand Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, and 200 New Zealand airmen who recently arrived in Britain. The memorial was dedicated by Canon Burrows.

AXIS WAR LOOT LONDON, April s Viscount Maugham asked in the 'House of Lords to-day what steps the Government was taking, in concert with iho Allies, in respect of the return of Axis loot to the despoiled countries. He said ho thought one powerful deterrent would be to solemnly warn the German Government, and people that, for_ all articles destroyed or removed, Allied forces would seize in Germany articles of equal value. , The Lord Chancellor, Viscount Simon, said it was a case for joint deliberation and action. It was clear that there was no direct action which could be taken at present to secure the return of loot. That opportunity would arise after the war.