DIPLOMATIC PATTERN OF WESTERN DIPLOMACY THREATENED BY M.E. EVENTS

Wanganui Chronicle, 1 June 1948, Page 5

DIPLOMATIC PATTERN OF WESTERN DIPLOMACY THREATENED BY M.E. EVENTS

(Special N.Z.P.A. Correspondent) London, May 31. The fear that the growing pattern of western diplomacy may be shattered by events in and connected with Palestine is causing grave concern in London. It is based on the possibility of estrangement between Britain ar. America without whose collaboration there can be no genuine co-operation in Western Europe.

American accusations that Britain is determined to back the Arabs have not been at all well received here while the report that President Truman is considering a loan to the Jews, coming at a moment when it was hoped that a truce might be achieved, left London diplomatic circles aghast. The fear is that if the situation is not controlled, the main purposes of both American and British foreign policy may be lost to sight. “The Economist" bluntly declares that if the present crisis is allowed to develop unchecked, the A mericans will raise their arms embargo to supply the Jews with weapons, and if Britain continues to fulfil its contracts to the Arabs and maintain its special relationship with the military farces of King Abdullah, Britain and America will, in effect, be fighting each other by proxy in the Middle East.

Such a situation, it adds, will immediately affect the wider field of foreign policy for, if the British and Americans fight each other in Palestine, they will not collaborate anywhere else. It suggests one result might be an end to the Marshall aid which would mean a petering out ot the policy to rebuild Western Europe. This would end the hopes of collaboration in other continents. ANGLO-AMERICAN POLICY. The drift must be stopped at all costs, declares “The Economist." It suggests that the chief hope of an Anglo-American policy in Palestine should be sought in an agreed and vigorous attempt to localise the fighting, to prevent all outside intervention in the hope that in the shortest space of time a balance of forces will emerge in Palestine itself. Though it is not easy for her, Britain, it advocates, should take the first step. Sharp criticism of Mr. Bevin is made in the Left Wing weekly "New Statesman and Nation."

The Foreign Secretary, it says, never troubled to conceal his violent personal opposition to the Jewish claims for statehood. In all his dealings with the problems (of Palestine) both great and small, he recklessly disregarded world opinion and conducted British policy as though what was at stake was a personal quarrel between himself and the Jews of New York and he has not omitted publicly to accuse the American President or capitulating to the Jewish vote. The journal does not overlook what it terms American vaccllation and adds “Between them, Mr. Bevin and President Truman not only permitted the Middle East to drift to the very edge of a general war, but produced a first rate crisis in Anglo-American relations.” It continues that the intolerable situation can be ended only if the Labour Government takes off the “unfair to Britain" placard round its neck and shows a little statesmanship-

AMERICAN AND BRITISH CLEAVAGE.

The Arab League and Mr. Bevin, it declares, have got to accept a fait accompli of the Jewish State in Palestine.

The "Tribune," another Left Wing weekly journal, refers to "the frightening cleavage opened between the British and American policy’ and declares that the British Press, as a whole, has done no service by withholding from the public the mounting storm of criticism in America. It describes the situation as appalling and calls for a change of policy.