Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-04-30
Noyes
Continued From First Page

program. It seemed to them
and to us-the better part Of
wisdom for them to swallow their
pride and accept $500 million. d
In the current fiscal year. Con-
gress was asked for $500 million
Of defense support aid for the
British. Britain eventually got
$500 million.
The British now are suggesting
q military budget slightly larger
than last years. They have as
sumed in doing so that American
aid would continue. It's safe
bet that without dollars to tide
her over, Britain would be forced
into a serious stretch-out of her
military goals.
Military Program Changed.
Because of rising prices, part
Of the program has slipped al
ready-in terms of real results.
if not in terms of money spent.
The character of the program it
self has changed distinctly.
Where once the emphasis was
only a rapid buildup of existing
types of equipment, now the con-
centration is on the develop
ment of advanced weapons. Brit
ain cannot afford the luxury of
maintaining a huge military es-
Enlistment completely equipped
with the latest kinds of weapons
for an indefinite period.
The British, in short. are will
ing to admit that there is a limit
to the armed forces that they
can support themselves. And
they are anxious not to exceed
this limit. They are very con-
scious of the unfortunate psy-
Geological effect of American
handouts, both in their own
country and in the United States.
They have taken the lead in urg-
ing us to develop substitute
methods of support. This year,
Uncle Sam will buy some $3.50
million worth of tanks, planes
and ammunition in the United
Kingdom under the off-shore
procurement program. The Brit
ish are hopeful of bigger con-
tracts in the future. For the
long run, they emphasize the i'm
portance of freer world trade
and look forward to lower tariff
and customs barriers in the
United States.
In the meantime, however, the
need for American aid continues.
And since Britain manufactures
over 80 per cent of her own mil
itary equipment, 1t is important
that this aid should remain as
flexible as possible. There are
some who argue-and Secretary
of State Dulles appears to be
among them-that future aid
programs should be strictly linn
tied to military equipment. and
that other forms of support
should be curtailed. But such
an arbitrary distinction. applied
to Britain. does not make much
sense to most observers here.
Other Factors in Role.
Britain's contribution to the
Anglo American partnership. of
course. is not limited to her own
military and economic strength.
In support of her demand for
recognition as a world power
Britain puts great emphasis on
a couple of other important. if
less tangible factors: Her lead
ership of the British Common
wealth. and her influence in
Europe.
Britain's ties to the Common
wealth-which receive new en-
phaSis in this Coronation year
directly increases the potential
strength of the free world far
beyond any force that could be
mustered in the United King
dom. In terms of political lead
ership, they keep the attention
of the British family of nations
focused on the strategic import
ance of Europe in the cold
var.
Hritain,s leadership on the