Evening star., 1946-03-06

the growing friendship and mutual
understanding between our two
vast but kindred systems of So
ciety but the continuance of the
intimate relationships between our
military advisers, leading to COM
mon study of potential dangers,
similarity of weapons and manuals
of instruction and interchange OF
officers and cadets at colleges. 1t
should carry with it the continu-
ance of the present facilities for
mutual security by the joint use of
all naval and air force bases in
the possession of either country
all over the world. This would
perhaps double the mobility of the
American Navy and Air Force. It
would greatly expand that of the
British Empire forces and it might
well lead, if and as the world calms
down, to important financial say
ings.
Already We use together a large
number of islands; more may well
be entrusted to our joint care in the
near future. The United States
already has a permanent defense
agreement with the Dominion Of
Canada, which is so devotedly at
tached to the British Common
wealth and Empire. This agreement
is more effective than many of
those which have often been made
under formal alliances. This prin-
ciple should be extended to all the
British commemorative with full
reciprocity. Thus, whatever hap
pens. and thus only we shall be
secure ourselves and able to work
together for the high and simple
causes that are dear to us and bode
no i'll to any. Eventually there may
come the principle of common citi-
zenship but that we may be content
to leave to destiny, whose out
stretched arm so many of us can
clearly see.
Vital Question Raised.
There is, however, an important
question we must ask ourselves,
Would a special relationship be-
tween the United States and the
British Commonwealth be incon-
sistent with our overriding loyalties
to the world organization? I reply
that, on the contrary, it is probably
the only means by which that or
ganization will achieve its full
stature and strength. There are
already the special United States
relations with Canada and between
the United States and the South
American republics. We also have
our 20-years treaty of collabora-
ton and mutual assistance with
Soviet Russia.
I agree with Mr.. Bevin that 1t
might we'll be 50-years treaty. We
have an alliance with Portugal I'M
broken since 1884. None of these
clash with the general interest of a
world agreement. On the contrary
they help it. "In my Fathers house
are many mansions" Special asso-
Citations between members of the
United Nations which have no ag-
gressive point against any other
country, which harbor no design in
compatible with the Charter of the
United Nations, far from being
harmful, are beneficial and, as I
believe, indispensable.
I spoke earlier of the temple of
peace. Workmen from all countries
must build that temple. If two of
the workmen know each other par
ticularly well and are old friends.
if their families are intermingled
and if they have faith in each
others purpose, hope in each others
future and charity toward each
others shortcomings, to quote some
good words I read here the other
day, why cannot they work to-
gether at the common task as
friends and partners? Why can
not they share their tools and thus
increase each others working
powers? Indeed they must do SO
or else the temple may not be
built, or, being built, it may COL
lapse, and we shall all be proved
unteachable and have to go and
try to learn again for a third time,
in a school of war, incomparably
more rigorous than that from which
we have just been released.
The dark ages may return, the
stone age may return on the gleam-