Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-01

ness?'
/ In conversations with Amerl-
cans living in London, I have
asked for eyewitness examples
of anti-Americanism in ordinary
daily contact. The reports boil
down to a tiny handful of surly
shopkeepers who may have been
just surly by nature and one
corner newsdealer who has
maintained since Suez that he
didn't have in stock whatever
an American customer wanted.
Seek to be Helpful
On the positive side, Ameri-
cans / have talked with say that
in normal daily contacts British
people seem to put extra effort
into being helpful and courteous
to persons with American ac-
cents.
/ You get criticism only if you
ask for it. l have asked for it
and found that every Briton has
a list of current grievances
against the United States: Amer
lean commercial interests are
squeezing out British interests
all over the world, making
Britain dependent on American
charity; America bulldozes Bri-
tain into following Yankee for
eign policy; Americans believe
the finer things in life are all
dollars; Mr.. Dulles is a self-con-
tradicting pop-off.
One can ask for criticism in
directly. For instance, an Amer
lean official whose job it is to
propagandize for America in
Britain. sometimes finds the
propaganda thrown back in his
face with a rude suggestion to
keep his Yankee lies to himself.
And an American businessman
trying to invade the local market
with an American product says
he has lost some sales on ideolo-
gical grounds.
But even when one asks for
criticism and gets it, the critic
almost always adds that it is
essential to keep the Atlantic
Alliance intact and hopes both
countries will work to patch it
up.
Two Groups Dislike u. S.
have run across two small
groups which really seem to be
anti-American (discounting. of
course. the Communists. The
first group is concerned with
Britain'S trade position and is
convinced Americas foreign pol
icy is consistent only with a
theory that America wants to
dominate the world economically.
driving out British competition.
This group tends to set great
store by the third force" idea
economic cooperation with Eu-
rope to form a strong balance
to be thrown against both Amer
lea and Russia.
The second group is a strange
one made up of intellectuals who
genuinely seem to dislike mat
erial comforts of life. And they
dislike people who do like
material things, most Of all
Americans.
Government Not Anti-U. S.
Present government policy
could hardly be called anti
American. however. In military
affairs Britain is trying to dove
tail its activities even more
closely with America. And by in
creasing its dependence on
America for guided missiles and
defense of Britain's outlying pos
sessions, for instance, Britain be-
comes also more politically
1t might be said that by
promoting a free trade area in
Europe. Britain is moving away
from America economically. but
officials here deny this. They
say free trade in Europe will
strengthen Britain and permit
more effective cooperation be- (
tween the two countries. And OF
course the State Department
has always urged Britain to
take part in European integra-
ton schemes.
Why is there so much more
pro than anti-Americanism to be
found in Britain? Probably be-
cause Americans and Britons are
more alike than different and
because nowhere but in America
can Britain find so many rich
and strong persons who are will
ing to work for the same peace
full free world Britain wants.
Sunday: Can Britain find a
new role for herself in world af-
fairs?)