Evening star., 1952-01-11
Our Bases in Britain

Small following OF leIC-Wlng LaDor1teS issued
political manifesto best described as muddle-
headed and demagogic vote-getting appeal to
the emotions of the British people. Among other
things the manifesto demanded that action be
taken to clarity beyond any conceivable doubt
the circumstances under which any American
bomber should be allowed to leave these islands
on military and warlike mission which would
certainly bring atomic reprisals upon our own
cities"
The effect of this demand was to give the
impression that the since-defeated Labor govern
ment, in making big bases available to our Air
Force, had given the United States a completely
free hand as to how and when its giant aircraft
could strike from British SOIL Actually, of course,
no such freedom had ever been granted, the
understanding from the start having been that
any momentous action of that sort would have
to be agreed upon jointly by the highest Anglo
American authorities. Nevertheless, though not
arguing against the presence of our bombers,
the Bevanites made it seem fact that we could
do as we pleased with those bombers and that
therefore it was imperative for London to hold
a kind of "veto power" over us lest we take off,
in whimsical or impulSve moment, on an
atomic attack against Somebody-meaning Spe-
cifically the Russians-who would thereupon re-
taliate with rain of A-bombs on Britain
Despite its basic Stiffness, however, this argu-
ment-ignoring the true nature of the arrange
mentS controlling our American bases in the
United Kingdonl-won lot of attentive ears
over there, filling the minds Of many Britons
with visions of our Air Force striking out on its
own. without prior consultation or agreement,
IN way that would leave their country exposed
as a prime target Immediately vulnerable to
devastating counterattack. But now this false
Bevanites impression has been effectively dissi-
pated by one Of the points emphasized the other
day in the communique summing up the talks
between President Truman and Prime Minister
Churchill. Their comment on the subject is
worth quoting: 1--WE reafhrm the understanding
that the use of these bases in an emergency
would be matter for joint decision by His
Majesty's Government and the United States
Government in the light of the circumstances
prevailing at the time ..,
In other words. Mr.. Truman and Mr. Church.
Ill have merely Feaffirmed what has been in
existence. ever since the United Kingdom, under
Mr.. Attlees Prime Ministership, made the bases
available to rs That is TO say. the "veto power"
that was, still is: If ever the grim day comes
that our bombers take OF from those bases on
attack mission, they will take off only on the
authority of a joint Anglo-American decision
Any Britons who have feared to the contrary
can rest assured on that score; the issue should
no longer be confused in the public mind by
the Bevanite manifesto. In event of war it is
true. the British Isles will be a prime target
However. they will be prime target, not be-
cause of us, but because of their very nature
politically economically, geographically, mill
tarily-as key bastion Of the free world. The
presence or absence of our aircraft over there
is not really controlling factor in that sense.
But the formidable reality of our giant planes
on the big bases in East Anglia is in itself
powerful deterrent to aggression-a thing that
may be decisive in the effort to prevent the
kind of explosion that would Immediately make
the United Kingdom prime target. Certainly,
in that respect it greatly serves British security
as well as our own and the rest of the free
worlds. AS for eventualities, if a global war
breaks out, our two countries and all our Allies
will face such deadly common peril that there
will be neither the time nor the inclination to
argue very much about bombing take-offs against
the enemy.