COMMUNIST CHALLENGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27570, 12 December 1950, Page 7

COMMUNIST CHALLENGE

Identity Of Anglo-American Policies

New Zealand Press Association—Copyright Rec. 6 p.m. OTTAWA, Dec. 10. The Prime Minister of Britain, Mr Attlee, said today that Britain and the United States were “very close on objectives and very close on methods.” He made this statement at a press conference when commenting on his meetings with President Truman in Washington last week. ¥ Mr Attlee said the prime object of the meetings was not to arrive at “ a lot of cut-and-dried decisions,” but to have friendly and frank, discussions and understand each other’s point of view.

Referring to the communique issued at the end of the meetings, Mr Attlee said there were matters on which different views were taken, but he declared: “They were really just exceptions to our general position of agreement.” Mr Attlee said he and the President had looked at the “ long-term position,” not only of the East, but also of the West. They discussed “ pretty freely” the North Atlantic organisation and the building up of the defences of the countries within that organisation. Mr Attlee said that his talks with the Canadian Government showed that there was general identity of views on policies to meet any Communis/t threat. Broadcast to Canada Mr Attlee, in a nation-wide broadcast to the Canadian people, said that the objectives of the United States and Britain were “ peace and freedom for all men, with the opportunity to develop their lives happily in their own way. “ We were also agreed,” he said; “ that the instrument by which these objectives must be' attained is the United Nations organisation. There is no other way. We members of the British Commonwealth of Nations have had long experience of freedom and democracy. We are accustomed to working together on terms of perfect equality. We understand the need for tolerance and understanding of other people’s views. We have therefore much to contribute to the furtherance of the ideals for which the United Nations stand. “ If we can so strengthen the United Nations that its members act with the same remarkable co-operation that the members of the Commonwealth have always shown in times of trouble, the world would have no need to fear aggression. When the ideals for which we stand are threatened we react in the same way instinctively.” Referring to the North Atlantic Treaty organisation, Mr Attlee sgid: “This organisation menaces no one. Its creation has been forced on us all by those who fear and dislike our way of life. Its purpose is to defend that way of life and to guard peace by acting as a deterrent to aggression.” Declaring that the greatest of all problems of the democratic countries was the menace of Communist imperialism, Mr Attlee said: “ There are many points in the democratic front where we are holding the line. Malaya is one example. Ido not think the world sufficiently realises how great the drain on our man-power and our resources is in that unspectacular but violent struggle against a Communist effort to seize power in that particular part of South-east Asia.” Referring to the Colombo plan, Mr Attlee said it would help to demonstrate to the peoples of the world that “ freedom and democracy .can bring them greater advantages than the slavery which lies behind the specious promises of the Communists.”. Mr Attlee concluded: “I go home well content with the results of my visits to Washington and Ottawa.” London Reaction The Times, in an editorial, says: “Having balanced the immediate dangers of Asia and the latent dangers in Europe, Mr Attlee and President Truman have confirmed the abiding truth that Europe must remain the chief defensive base of the free world. It cannot be the only base, but any direct

threat to West Europe would not only menace one of the strongholds of Western life, civilisation and power, but also, deprive distant areas of much of their assurance of support.” The “ outstanding lesson of the Tru-man-Attlee meeting is that the decision of peace or a wider war in the Far East does not rest merely with them,” The Times continues. “It rests with the Chinese Government. “Peace is only possible, whatever the prudence of the Western Powers, if the Chinese desire it. Not to become enmeshed in a full-scale war with China is the common desire of all the Western Powers. With their largest dangers always in Europe this desire is also their deepest interest. Whether desire and interest can be satisfied, turns, however, not only on our own good sense and restraint, which is obligatory, but on the riddle of Chinese intentions.” Danger in Europe The Daily Telegraph says: “ The statement faithfully reflects the feeling of decent people all over the world. It makes it clear that the Western Powers are ready to act on the slightest signs of a more conciliatory spirit in Moscow and Peking, and equally emphatically emphasises that there will be no appeasement. Not the least important, passage is the frank recognition that the danger in Europe may well exceed in extent the bitter and more dramatic peril in the Far East.” The Daily Mail says: “There is a healthy note of urgency in the references to the speeding up of mutual rearmament. It would appear that a still closer integration of Anglo-Ameri-can economy to give virility to our joint defensive powers will result from the Washington conversations, and .this is the supreme need in the dark world scene.” “Mr Attlee is coming back from Washington with plans for a more costly munitions programme that will entail shocks for everyone in Britain,” says the Sunday Dispatch. “ The new rearmament programme will mean, first, a big switch of jobs from luxury production to munitions; secondly, austerity cuts; thirdly, taxes on a war-time scale; fourthly, price control when goods become short. “ Labour members of Parliament who had private hints of the stiff ■ Budget coming have been alarmed at the cost of rearmament. It is already being rumoured that if there is a Labour Party revolt against the munitions plan Mr Attlee may have no option but to suggest a Coalition Government.” Statement in House Mr Attlee is expected to make a statement in the House of Commons on Wednesday on his talks with President Truman, and if he does a debate on foreign affairs will be held on Thursday, says the political corre- ’ spondent of the Daily Mail. Mr Attlee will first confer with the Cabinet. If he cannot make. a statement in the House this week, the Christmas recessof the House, scheduled to start on. Friday, will be deferred until next week. The Prime Minister’s return, the correspondent adds, marks the beginning of a fresh intense period of sac-, rifice and exertion for the British r people. The agreement .with Presi-, dent Truman on the stepping up of, Western rearmament and defence is • regarded as bound to involve substantial taxation increases and new shortages of many goods.