April 30, 1960 THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY

From the London End British Independence and the Military Deterrent

AS a mass display of public opi­ "Blood-hound" and a host of other of the arms race and Britain's pre­ nion, the "Aldermaston March'1 and rockets. And as the sent dilemma; they have, by virtue has no parallel in British politics Sunday Times goes on to say, "at no of their tens of thousands, however since the end of the war. Over the less than £500 million we have given an almost instinctive portrayal four days of the Easter holiday many after twelve years failed to find a of the anxiety that comes from his thousands marched the 50 miles from solution to a single initial problem". dilemma. But prejudice remains. Aldermaston—the atomic centre— ft will be easy, one guesses, for It is not easy for the makers of reaching London in swollen numb­ the Labour Opposition to condemn British policy to face the conse­ ers. Some 100,000 people crowded and criticise the British Government quences of their actions and chart into Trafalgar Square to demand for the immense waste involved in out ways which can extricate Britain that Britain should disarm, at least persisting with the . But from what is clearly a most pro­ from nuclear weapons, unilaterally. the problem is fundamentally not found crisis of foreign policy. There are some who believe that the technological nor a lack of military Abandoning Blue Streak may have authorities actually welcomed this aptitude and competence. The issue been inevitable; in its place, demonstration of public opinion arising from Blue Streak and all however, other weapons are being and that it has assisted Britain's own the other weapons that have been sought, inspite of the difficulties pre­ pre-Summit diplomacy. This may worked on is basically political. sent. To purchase missiles from the not in practice be strictly true but Why should Britain persist in an U S, as the Government admits, is the almost simultaneous British de­ independent deterrent and so com­ to be tied to the dictates of Ameri­ cision to abandon the development pete in a race which only economies can policy and so to become a true and production of the Blue Streak of the size of the U S S R and the vassal of the United States. This intermediate range rocket and in the U S A appear to have the resources inevitably would mean that Britain process to stand for once without an to sustain? Ever since the end of would not have its own deterrent. independent "British deterrent'", the last war the future influence of Reverting to the trusty old V-bom- makes the Aldermaston March as­ Britain, its position in Europe and ber would also be no solution. sume a not inconsiderable signific­ the world, side by side with the two The Economist argues that the ance. It may now be possible for colossi, has presented every British time has come when Britain should Britain to give added impetus to Government with the most difficult recognise its prejudices and throw general disarmament negotiations of choices : to abdicate from the thern over-board. This journal calls and to a suspension of nuclear tests. great power struggle or to compete for greater confidence in NATO with all the resulting cost and risk. The decision to abandon the Blue and wants to tic the U S more firm­ Mr Attlee secretly appropriated Streak weapon is apparently based ly to West Europe. It suggests that funds for developing a British ato­ on technological grounds. This at Britain should enter West Europe mic bomb despite the weakness in least is the most logical of arguments for the development of a "collec­ the economic situation. Mr Chur­ that has come from the British Gov­ tive deterrent" and stop "going it chill pursued this and secured a ernment. The Spectator puts it well: alone". In these ways confidence British H-bomb. There followed the "the Government has at last learned will be rebuilt and all the political British attempt at rocketry and mis­ its lesson; all our defence projects and economic difficulties which se­ sile development. The choice was are by some immutable law, invari­ parate Britain from West Europe made in 1948 and Britain has failed, ably obsolete before they go beyond will be removed. as is now patent, to hold her own the project stage". The fact that a in this race. In making that choice, number of major British military It is doubtful whether this can in however, she gave the NATO al­ projects become obsolete when they fact solve Britain's dilemma. To liance something of an equivocal are just about to reach the produc­ enter West Europe on these terms is character and provided the rationale tion stage must be profoundly dis­ to become submerged in the morass for France to compete and disturb turbing and frustrating for a country of West European politics and to the very equilibrium her own policy bent on achieving a position of become committed to a German was designed to preserve. More than independence through possession of policy which, as everyone knows, that, the cost of the British military its nuclear "deterrent". The De­ carries the gravest risks of war. deterrent inhibited the recovery of fence correspondent of the Sunday Would it not be better for Britain the British economy and gave West Times has pointed out that the to contract out of the arms competi­ Germany the time for reconstruction Navy's going under the dis­ tion, to work for disarmament and and the opportunity of re-emergence arming name of "Seaslug" which a zone of enforced withdrawal in as the centre-piece of the West cost nearly as much to develop as the West Europe? A , policy of this European economy. The path cho­ Blue Streak, "cannot become fully order of magnitude takes an im­ sen in 1958 has led to British isola­ operational until its services are no mense amount of courage to adopt. tion and this uncomfortable truth is longer required". Another missile, And yet there appears little left for for once being understood in Bri­ the "". for use by the Britain to turn to; the alternatives tain, if not in Whitehall, then cer­ is useless in the event point to the same cul-de-sac to which tainly in other thinking quarters. of an enemy choosing to take "coun­ the policy of the independent deter­ ter-measures". And following this The Aldermaston marchers may rent has directed Britain in the past order of uselessuess, there is the not have worked out the vast gamut twelve years. 676