THE EMPIRE AND THE WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 69, 22 March 1915, Page 3

THE EMPIRE AND THE WAR.

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S VIEW'S.

(From Our Special Correspondent.)

LONDON, February 5.

On Thursday, February 4, which day marked the termination of a period of six months of war, Reuter'g Agency obtained the following statements from the (High Commissioners of the Dominions as to the effect of the conflict upon the relations between the Mother Country and the Dominions.

Sir George Reid, High Commissioner for Australia, said: —

" As to the Imperial standpoint, what magnificent responses have come from every quarter of the vast area and the numberless races which are gathered ■'under the British flajr! We children of | .lie Mother Race cannot brag about our ('loyalty when we remember the many I responses from -the hundreds of millions of other races who do not know our language, but the fact remains that, the response of the race wherever it is settled, has been absolutely beyond any possible expectation. When one thinks of the vast distances, and'that the great majority of the people of the Dominions have never seen tbe Mother Country, when one Temembers their peaceful and 'remote situation, all that has hiprened during the past six months, all that ha. been accomplished, all that is yet to come, will furnish the brightest page in the glorious history of our people." ' The Hon. Thomas "Mackenzie, High Commissioner for New Zealand, said:—

"•Here it can hardly be realised tbe interest that is taken by New Zealand in the war. and the "work that is being done in the Dominion to assist, I have just returned from a visit to Egypt, where the forces of our Dominion are marshalled, '.there are many thousands of our troops" under training, and it is said that finer material could not anywhere be found. Another contingent ia about to land, and still others are preparing. As a matter of fact, every Tace j'and creed is.pallying to the flag, and our 'Maoris also are joinimr'wtih the : r ftllow •Britons. Afc sea our ship the New Zealand has taken her place in two'engagements. Our people everywher e ~are straining their utmost to stand .by King and Country." -

Sir George Perley, Acting High Commissioner for Canada, said: —

"Every subject of the King must be proud of the 'way in which th c whole Empire has shown its loyalty and responded to Britain's call. We have many problems to solve, not on-ly in these British Isles, but also in the various Dominions and Crown Colonies, but these have all been forgotten in the universal desire .to assist in beating the enemy. After peace has been declared we shall have Imperial questions to decide, and I feel that the action of Germany in. causing this dreadful war has brought one good result by drawing all parts of our 2Empire closer together, and helping different sections to know , each other I better." . ... -

The Hon. W. P. Schriner, High Commissioner for South Africa, said:7-

"The adversity of war haa pulled the component parts of the Empire more closely together. With mutual trust and aid, ready eervive, constant endurance and steady courage, we shall pass through the fiery ordeal into the light of a -Victorious and abiding peace."