An ecumenical delegation met Clare Short, Secretary of State for international affairs, and British Prime Minister Tony Blair on 18 February to express the strong opposition of the Christian Churches to an imminent military attack on Iraq. The delegation, composed of representatives of the Churches of the USA, arrived in London after a lengthy tour aimed at exerting “diplomatic pressure” through several European countries, including France, Italy, Russia and Germany where they met with German Chancellor Schroeder. At the end of their conversation with Blair, the Rev. Jim Wallis said that the meeting with the British premier represents for the Churches “a crucial stage” for the promotion of all the international efforts being made to solve the current Iraqi crisis in a peaceful way. “The British government he said is in a better situation to influence decisions than any other leader in the world”. The Rev. John Chane, bishop of the Episcopal Church of Washington, expressed the same conviction, calling Tony Blair “a key person to solve the question”. The hostilities between Israelis and Palestinians were also discussed in the talks.
