Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-16
Our Visitors From London

It is good thing that Mr. Cnurcnul ana
Mr.. Eden are coming to Washington at this
time for there is much that needs to be done
and done quickly-if the bases Of Anglo
American unity are to be maintained.
The past two months have been cherries
ones for the West. Geneva has produced
nothing but disappointment and Illustration.
There may be some gain If those who pinned
their hopes on negotiation notably the British
have seen the light. But we ought not to
deceive ourselves. The West lost much ground
at Geneva. Meanwhile things went from bad
to worse in Indo-China. If there was hope two
months ago Of organizing an effective defense
there, that hope has been greatly reduced by
the delay resulting from the British insistence
on awaiting the outcome of Geneva. AS things
look now, Wet Nam is lost And major and
united effort will be required if defense line
is to be established and held anywhere in that
area. In France, however, another cabinet has
fallen. Once again, it has been demonstrated
that the French political system is too weak
to stand up under the pressure Of grim events
and the pressure will be very great indeed if
the future brings a serious attempt to stand
fast in Southeast Asia.
There is still another matter which requires
the earnest attention Of London and Washing
ton. This is the problem of what might be
called lingering colonialism-and what to do
about it. Reflections of this problem can be
found, for instance, in the Suez, where $4,000
British troops are immobilized in a dispute
with Egypt which should have been settled long
ago. It is seen, perhaps more spectacularly,
in the dilemma of the French in Indo- China,
and 1t will soon be commanding world atten-
ton in the French colonial areas in Africa
In this area the Western Alliance, which
has at least some vitality in the North Atlantic
theater, is more illuSory than real National
interests which tend to coincide in Western
Europe diverge and clash in the Near and
Middle East, in Asia and in Africa. It is situa-
ton which finds the United States openly or
tacitly supporting British and French policies
which 1t believes to be wrong. This support has
been given in what have been regarded as the
larger interests of unity, but there is a growing
feeling that more is being lost than gained
There are several reasons for this. One
is the great doubt that any vestige of colonial
ism can long survive the surge of nationalism
throughout that part of the world Another
is the certainty that the Communists are try
ing hard to capitalize on the mounting disaffec-
ton among these people who have tradition
ally been our friends. A third is the belief
that the United States If free to pursue policies
OF its own choice, might do much to regain
lost ground in the countries involved
In. all Of this, there Is, perhaps danger
OF becoming too pessimistic. Certainly, every
consideration Of logic argues for the continual
ton and the strengthening of Anglo-American
unity. But the cracks which have appeared
are too serious to be ignored. It is time to
patch them up, even If this calls for some very
blunt talk between MessrS Churchill and Eden
on the one hand, and President Eisenhower
and Mr.. Dulles on the other