BRITISH COMMONWEALTH AS ONE BIG POWER

Chronicle (Levin), 2 July 1947, Page 5

BRITISH COMMONWEALTH AS ONE BIG POWER

Correspondent.)

(Rpecial

LONDON, June 30. "Isn't it time to recognise — whn all foreign governments take fo granted — that. for strategic, economi and power-politieal purposes, ti: British Commonwealth is one power ask The Economist when comnieutin upon Viseount Montgomery 's missio to Australia and New Zealand. " It i easy to understaud constitutional, his torical and political reasons whic make Ministers cough discreetlv befor broaching sucli an idea with th Dominions but it isn't diflicult to under stand why there should be fear an distrust in the Dominions of Britis foreign policy which is so largelv con cerned with Furope. But for the nex 10 or lo years the onlv strategical prob lems lilcely seriously to worry the Im perial Staffs isn't exclusively Europea' — it. presents itself in the Pacitic, i. India, in Persia and on the Imperia route through the Mediterraiioau a well as in Furope. Viseount Alont gontery says he is visiting Tndia to dis 'euss tiieT'litureTof f'HeTrndian Australia and New Zealand to discus training. ' ' "It would be surprising. indec alarming, if his attention was no attraeted to these broader questiou which remain very mucli as th Dominion Prime Alinisters let't the: when they were in London just a yea ago. If Viseount Montgomery can rc turn froni Moscow with suggest.ions fo the revision of the Anglo-Bovie alliance, it should not be diflicult fo him to return from Australia aml Nev Zealand with suggestions that tlic Empire Prime Ministers should resum discussions of tiie British Chiefs o Htaff defence plan for the Gommon wealtli. ' '