A Mutual Understanding

It used to be called the "special relationship"--those ties of history and culture that bound the U.S. and Britain. Now, with Britain's entry into the European Economic Community, the traditional link has been redefined and renamed the "natural relationship." So as Prime Minister Edward Heath flew into Washington for a two-day meeting last week, both governments treated the visit as a promising start for Nixon's "Year of Europe"--that post-Viet Nam era heralded by Adviser Henry Kissinger last September.

By his exceedingly cordial treatment of Heath--full military honors, warm words of welcome at a state dinner and a rare presidential excursion to the British embassy for lunch--Nixon signaled his appreciation of Heath's diplomatic silence during the December bombings, a show of support denied him by some of the other Western powers. Besides, the two leaders get on well.

Nixon and Heath ranged agreeably over many topics during their meetings in Washington and at Camp David, from U.S. plans in Southeast Asia to the squabbles of the Middle East. Their main concerns were, predictably, trade and monetary affairs.

But if, in his private talks, Heath learned exactly what Nixon means by the Year of Europe, it will be news not only to the Europeans. Officials at the State Department have indicated to European diplomats that they too would like to know.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.