Less than kin

The American nation came into being as the result of war with Britain. Anglo-American relations began in conflict and that con flict has never been far beneath the surface in the past 175 years. Long may it remain so; for this basic Anglo-American friction has provided the dynamic of the Western world.

It is customary in polite diplomatic society to regard good Anglo-American relations as the prerequisite of a better world, and to interpret 'good' as meaning without noticeable disagreement. But this is to mistake the nature of the association. Britain and America are partners, but they are also rivals, each anxious to prove that its views on policy, indeed its way of life, is superior to that of the other. It is this element of competition which distinguishes the partnership; without the friction which it engenders the partner ship would be far more tranquil-but with the tranquillity of death.

The failure to understand the nature of the Anglo-American asso ciation is responsible for many of the disasters that have befallen us in this generation, and some reinterpretation of the Atlantic Alliance is necessary if it is to be built on sounder lines for the future. In particular, statesmen and the general public should come to realise that the partnership between Britain and America is not a natural and inevitable part of the structure of world politics. It is fragile, delicate and in constant need of careful nurture.