Grounded Kites
' On the decision to purchase the US F-111, the Prime Minister is again holding his breath. The time taken to complete the defence review gives him a further excuse. But we shall buy these machines in time and Mr. Wilson will eventually have to say so. He may even find a sop in the curious lead story ,in Tuesday's Times that Britain has beaten the US for an order to supply an air defence system for Saudi Arabia, in spite of the fact that it looks more like a tacit agree- ment by the US to bow out and thus allow Britain something (in return for the F-111) than a genuine example of dynamic British selling. The delayed defence review again provides the excuse for not announcing any decisions East of Suez, and perhaps for a further visit to Washington in March. But it is at the United Nations where the Prime Minister's decisiveness will be put to the test more publicly. No doubt'
he will give assurances that the plans for an oil embargo on Rhodesia are now well under way, and say some pretty sharp things about those countries who have not yet imposed sanctions. But he will be embarrassed severely in the process. For Mr. Wilson has been saying one thing for domestic consumption and another for abroad. Not even he can do this indefinitely. The tightrope, already narrow, is narrowing further. Harold Wilson has done no more on foreign policy than provide assurances that the woolly men from the left are not in charge. He has yet to assure anyone that he is in charge himself. The old kites of the ANF and the Hanoi peace mission are still grounded. For anyone to believe in the next ones will be even harder.
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