GOOD RESULTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 March 1943, Page 4

GOOD RESULTS

FROM MR EDEN’S VISIT TO WASHINGTON SIGNS OF INCREASING UNDERSTANDING. ON MOMENTOUS ISSUES (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) RUGBY, March 29. The visit to the United States of the British Foreign Secretary (Air. Eden), now almost al an end, lias borne excellent fruit, according to Press reports reaching London. Mr. Eden has been able to make and to renew personal contacts indispensable for the great tasks ahead, whether in war or peace, and has had the advantage of long and valuable conversations with a wide variety of influential Americans. Reports stress the value of these contacts at such a time in removing any misunderstandings which might tend to mar the unity of the two. English- speaking Powers and so prejudice the prospects of solidifying a wider unity among the Allies on the momentous issues of war and peace. There is little doubt that the visit has revealed an even greater unity on fundamental issues than before. No foreseeable difficulties were evaded and although the- conversations necessarily were only tentative, progress was made from the explanatory stage towards the preparation of firm ground for wider exchanges. Attention was devoted to Mr Churchill’s conception of future councils for Europe and Asia and there appears to be agreement that this does not connote a preference for regionalism, nor any desire that the United States should disinterest itself in Europe. If one thing more than another has emerged from the Allied discussions hitherto it is the conviction that the United Nations, particularly the four Great Powers, must act together in peace as in war and Mr Eden dispelled any idea that Britain would not throw her whole weight into the Far Eastern war if Germany were defeated before Japan.

Is is also noted, with particular satisfaction, that there is a steady evolution of American opinion towards acceptance of the necessity of fully effective and permanent international cooperation, not only in the purely political sphere but in all the military and economic implications arising therefrom. With this underlying conception in mind, both countries have made it plain that the present discussions are intended to lead towards a Four Power agreement which will be the solid basis cf a general system of security and cooperation. Dealing in the same spirit with relations with Russia, Mr Eden presumably expounded British hopes that the Anglo-Russian Treaty would similarly be the necessary precursor of a wider agreement.

It is understood that the possibility of forming regional councils in various parts of the world for common security and development was discussed and that some progress was made on plans for the eventual reconstruction of devastated rations.

A more immediate topic for an exchange of views was the political aspect of the approaching invasion of Europe in case of the liberation of various territories which might be involved.