CEMENT OF EMPIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 161, 9 July 1926, Page 7

CEMENT OF EMPIRE.

GREAT GATHERING IN LONDON,

SIR J. ALLEN RETIRES

AN INSPIRING OCCASION.

SAFETY IN THE PACIFIC

(By Cable. —Tress .Association.— Copvrisiit.) [Received 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 8. Unstinted appreciation was paid to Sir James Ailen's services, at the British Empire League's luncheon at which he •ivas the guest of honour. Representatives of all sections of public life were present, including Mr. L. C. M. S. Amery (chairman), Lord Stradbroke, Lord Chelmsford, Lord Burnham, Lord Robert Cecil, Lord Liverpool, Lord Emmott, Lord Southborough, the High Commissioners and AgentsGeneral, Sir Thomas Mackenzie, Sir Francis Bell and Sir Arthur SteelMai tland. Mr. Amery expressed the opinion that ■'the personnel of the gathering representing London "s busiest men was in itself a great personal public tribute to a man who, before, during and since the war had rendered the highest service to Tsevr Zealand and the Empire. NEW ZEALAND IN THE WAR. His great work as the Minister of Defence during the Great War enabled Xew Zealand to discharge her wartime responsibility. He subsequently rendered the highest service in shaping public opinion towards a new conception of Empire partnership, aiming at the common welfare and prosperity. In London Sir James Allen's personality strengthened the position of the High Commissioner's Office, which was destined to play a more important part within the framework of the Empire's Constitution. His services to the League of Nations were great, but his greatest work was for the benefit of the League of the British Empire, which was not only the instrument for peace but a great unit seeking the benefit of all concerned. He succeeded in translating New Zealand's spirit to Britain. When he returns to New Zealand he will help to translate to his countrymen the spirit of Britain which is steadily emerging from ah , its difficulties. INSPIRATION or CAPT. COOK. Sir James Allen was loudly applauded. He acknowledged the tribute, pointing out that he never passed the statue of Captain Cook in the Admiralty arch \rithout feeling the inspiration that those colonisers were spreading over the Empire. While appreciating all the work done for disarmament, he had been disturbed from time to time when he con--ridered the question of the defence of "Australia and New Zealand. "A minefield laid in Cook Strait by a wartime raider emphasised xlie necessity ibr foreseeing and preparing against what might happen twenty, thirty or forty years hence. .The Washington Pact had limited the ' tonsfruction of battleships, but he was "Store" concerned with 10,000-ton cruisers. Jijthe Empire had more ocean communications than other countries it was vital tkt any future conference in fixing onePower standard should adopt a standard of comparison with Britain and not with the whole Empire. JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN. Mr. L. C. M. S. Amery, Secretary of State for the Dominions, responding to the toast of his health, reminded the gathering it was the anniversary of Joseph Chamberlain's birth. He expressed the opinion that Mr. Chamberlain was not only a great administrator hut the first statesman far-seeing enough to realise the need for a policy of closer Empire unity which ultimately musfprevail in economics as well as in other '.directions. Otherwise it was bound to lead to disaster.— (A. and N.Z.)