Global leaders eager to meet new voice of Britain

Tony Blair won warm congratulations from world leaders yesterday, many of whom will be eager to sound him out soon.

The French President Jacques Chirac said he would be happy to meet Mr Blair soon in the French capital. A Franco-British summit is likely to follow shortly; France and Britain have moved much closer in their positions on Europe, and the change of government in London is unlikely to derail that.

Germany's Chancellor Helmut Kohl perceived in John Major's fate a famous victory over Euro-scepticism. "Voters did not like the anti-European rhetoric of the past few days and weeks and this should be a lesson for all those who want to win votes with anti-European polemics," Mr Kohl told reporters.

He was quick to dispense advice, urging Mr Blair to return Britain to its rightful place in the heart of Europe: "I'm sure the new government will see very quickly and very clearly that standing on the sidelines amid all the developments in Europe will not bring any advantages for Britain ... I would welcome it if Labour were more friendly towards Europe than the Conservatives were."

A White House spokesman said President Bill Clinton called Mr Blair on Thursday night "to congratulate him on his victory". It was no secret that there was little love lost between the White House and Downing Street while Mr Major was the occupant: the Conservative party launched a search for damaging information on Mr Clinton in British files during the 1992 election. The spokesman said Mr Clinton had also tried to reach Mr Major, but had been unable to get through to him.

Chris Patten, Governor of Hong Kong and a former chairman of the Conservative Party, congratulated Mr Blair but said he was taken aback by the result. "As a Conservative, although not an active Conservative at the moment, the result comes as something of a shock," Mr Patten told Hong Kong television.

Mr Patten's job will be abolished when Hong Kong reverts to Chinese rule at the end of next month, and there has been speculation that he will be a candidate to succeed Mr Major. He played this down yesterday, while not ruling it out. "I wouldn't advise anybody to put any money on me. One of the things which I lack in the party leadership stake is a seat in the Commons. I wouldn't take that seriously," he said.

Hong Kong's leading democrat, Martin Lee, urged Mr Blair yesterday to "actively defend" Hong Kong's democratic institutions after the colony's 1 July transition to Chinese rule.

In Australia, the opposition Labor Party said Mr Blair's success was in part a result of the lessons he learned from the Australian Labor Party. "He learned a lot from us, as he would acknowledge himself," said Kim Beazley. "There's a great deal that we've got to learn from Tony Blair's election victory," he added.

Indian Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral said relations between India and Britain were "very good" and he hoped to further their close ties. Mr Gujral said he had invited Mr Blair to visit. However, state- run All India Radio said the Labour Party's stand on Kashmir had been ambivalent and it suggested Mr Blair take a fresh look on the matter.