WORTH WHILE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22553, 10 April 1943, Page 5

WORTH WHILE

Mr Eden’s Mission Better Understanding Gained By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright LONDON, April 8. “I felt convinced that no mission of which I have ever been in charge has been so fundamentally worth while as this,” the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr R. A. Eden) told the House of Commons, when he made a statement on his recent visit to the United States and Canada. The terms of the communique issued on his arrival were very wide and he could assure the House that the discussions had been equally wide. Mr Eden referred to the cordiality of his reception in both the United States and Canada, and said that with tne full approval of Mr Churchill he had invited Mr Cordell Hull (United States Secretary of State) to visit Britain at any time convenient to him. Describing his informal discussions with members of the Congress Foreign Relations Committee, Mr Eden said they had exchanged views very freely “off the record” and to his very great advantage. Mr Eden then placed his conversations under three headings. Firstly, military operations ‘not normally under the aegis of the Foreign Office and the questions wmeh arise always in war-time between Allies engaged in a common struggle.” On those subjects both parties were satisfied with the progress made. Political Co-operation Secondly, political co-operation. Mr Eden said that as the war progressed it had become ever more important th.-,t there should be close co-operation between the military and political sphere. For instance, with regard to North Africa, there was no doubt it was felt in the United States that there had been some misunderstanding in this country of the purpose of the United States Administration in keeping up relations with Vichy. “I can assure the House,” said Mr Eden, “that their motives were not special tendencies for Vichy. They thought, and were agreed that by maintaining relations with Vichy it might be possible to keep open a useful window on Europe. I have no doubt we were right and they were right.” Relations in North Africa

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 and had been invaluable in oaring the way for the arrival of the Allied troops. It was quite clear to him, he added, that many in the United States felt that Britain attri-

buted to them a tenderness for Vichy, Petain, Laval and the rest, which they did not feel. He was satisfied t- rt \s regards the future policy toward France there would be 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. Common Policy Regarding the extension of the common policy in respect to Spain, Portugal and Turkey, Mr Eden said that a common policy had been agreed upon as regard the occupied countries. There was only one policy 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 covered a wide range of questions, including practical problems which would arise on the surrender of the enemy. The task that would face Britain, the United States, Russia, China and the other United Nations was to safeguard the v.0r1.1 against further aggression. "We were both very close in similarity of outlook,” said Mr Eden. Admittedly the exchanges were of an entirely exploratory character and committed neither the United States Government nor ourselves. The last thing wc wanted to do was to bind our Allies to hard facts and rules.” Based on True Foundations Speaking of the relations between Britain and the United States, the Foreign Secretary said it would be a mistake 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 ups and downs we had sometim s seen in Anglo-American relations. He believed that definition to be profoundly true and well understood on both sides of the Atlantic. The British people recognised the need for some authority to ensure oy force that neither Germany. Italy nor Japan should be able to repeat aggression and he believed the American people shared our view. He had oported to the United States that in

Britain there wc I be no disposition, when the struggle was over, to tru ;t 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-' ir

problems. In conclusion. Mr Eden paid a striking tribute to the war efforts of both the United States and Canada*