Anti-British Wave Sweeps American Press

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26779, 24 May 1948, Page 5

Anti-British Wave Sweeps American Press

WASHINGTON, May 21. While a wave of anti-British feeling is sweeping through the nation’s newspapers, growing misgivings are being felt in Washington about the effect of the Palestine crisis on AngloAmerican relations. Press criticism is being directed against what is described as Britain’s “ hand ” in helping the Arabs. The New York Post, as well as urging the immediate lifting of the arms embargo, demands that Congress should call an emergency session to stop all financial aid to Britain. Commercial firms are inserting as advertisements' in the leading newspapers here and in New York, reprints of the New York Post’s editorial, which claims: — “There is a deadly conspiracy against the peace of the world and continued usefulness of the United Nations. Britain is a member of that conspiracy. The United Nations must break this conspiracy. The President must lift the arms embargo. Britain must be notified that we will not countenance continued support of the Transjordan troops. -This action will be taken—if President Truman’s recognition of Israel is more than the political aphorism that the sneering British have tried to brand it.”

Virtually every leading paper in New York and Washington, including the New York Times, the Herald Tribune, and the Washington Post, is demanding an immediate lifting of the arms embargo in favour of Israel and many newspapers, usually most friendly to Britain, are now strongly critical The Christian Science Monitor, for instance, says: „ ~ “ There is every reason for the world to look askance at any army which the British trained, which still employs British officers, _ and which is assuming a main role in the Palestine struggle.” The New York P.M... which has always been pro-Zionist, claims. “British Imperialism marches on and King Abdullah marches on, too, accompanied by the blessings of Britain in the form .of British guns, tanks, technicians, and that estimable soldier, Glubb Pasha.” \ Improvement in Relations While basic differences of policy exist, relations between the American and British delegations which recently became strained over the Palestine situation, are now considerably improved, it.was learned authoritatively to-day from both sides, says Reu er tt is realised, however, that unless high-level talks are held soon between Washington and London, serious dimculties may arise. It is emphasised that the worst that could happen is that Britain and America should be placed in the extraordinary position of supplying arms to opposing sides —a situation which would skirt dangerously close to conditions in the Spanish Civil War. Denial of Marshall Aid In Washington, Representative Emanuel Celler (Democrat, New York) announced to-day that he would introduce a Bill on Monday to deny all Marshall Plan aid .to Britain “ while she continues to give financial and military aid to the Arabs in their invasions against Israel.’ Representative Cellar said: 1 Bri .ain is supposed to be broke, yet she has subsidised King Abdullah s Legions. It means that the money indirectly comes from the United States Treasury and is. diverted to this inhuman activity in Palestine. Britain is conniving with Arab aggression and using American money fpr that purpose. Britain while using Marshall Plan money for her dishonourable programme in Palestine is demanding an austerity programme from her own people. The British policy has earned her universal ill will.”