AMERICAN VISIT.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 263, 6 November 1929, Page 7

AMERICAN VISIT.

MacDONALD'S REPORT. Frank And Friendly Discussion Of Great Issues. WORKING TOWARDS PEACE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, November 5. Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald, to-day in the House of Commons, reported upon his visit to the United States of America and Canada. He said that what success the visit had was largely owing to the hearty support of all parties in this country. He went out not as a party leader hut as a national representative. He took the opportunity of thanking President Hoover and his Cabinet, and both the Senate and House of Representatives for the welcome they gave him and the honour paid him as representative of this country. He spoke of the candour with which the difficult questions were raised and discussed, and said that though some of the matters he had to deal with might easily have aroused prejudices, from to end he found nothing but thoughtfulness and a desire to cooperate in placing the facts and positions justlv before the country. Government could have opened the doors of their minds and hearts wider. The conversations he had had earlier with General Dawes, American Ambassa : dor, had already removed the fear that the unbridged "differences between the United States of America and Britain would doom an international conference to failure. In those conversations with President Hoover, studying with him ways and means of filling in the narrow gaps still in the building programme which would, at the same time, recognise both the parity of strength and varietv in use of tonnage, both recognised that the agreement they were seeking was one, not merely between themselves, but one which would have to fit into a wider co-operation and a final settlement dependent on the five-Power conference.

There was a desire to make it clear to everybody that in our mutual relations the Paris peace pact was a reality and so, in a joint statement, a declaration to that effect was made for the first time officially by representatives of the two nations speaking together. That declaration stated that both our Governments resolved to accept the peace pact, not only as a declaration of good intentions but also as a positive obligation to direct the national policy in accordance with its pledges. In the light of such a declaration a solution of the old problems had become possible in ways satisfactory to both countries. Loyalty to League. The United States, continued Mr. MacDonald, pursues with vigilant jealousy its historical policy of keeping free from all world entanglements and is therefore not in the League of Nations. "We are in the League of Nations. "We have contracted obligations and_ we shall remain loyal to them. On neither side was any attempt made to change these facts. In the course of the discussions President Hoover raised some of the major historical causes of difference, such as ■belligerent rights, so-called fortified bases and so on, which were still active in .forming public opinion, and it was agreed to examine them. He believed that nothing but good could come from an exchange of views on these questions. Mr. Mac Donald, in concluding, expressed great appreciation of the welcome he received in Canada where he discussed, with Mr. Mackenzie King, matters which had arisen in Washington of special interest to Canada, and political and economic subjects of mutual concern. Baldwin Felicitates. Mr. Baldwin, who spoke after Mr. Mac Donald, on behalf of the Conservatives, offered his felicitations to the Prime Minister, who throughout the visit had acted as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and not as a party leader, for which the country owed him a debt of gratitude. (Cheers.) Three years ago he had broached with the American Ambassador the subject. of the British Prime Minister visiting the United States. Both then felt that it would not be opportune for some time. He desired to admit that Mr. Mac Donald had taken the first possible moment to make the visit. "I Will not disguise from the House, though I am not greedy for power, that there was one thing I always hoped to do, namely, to go to America as Prime Minister to try, personally, to improve Anglo-American relations. I rejoice that it has been done and I hope it will not be the last of such visits." Mr. Lloyd George desired to join in congratulating Mr. Mac Donald, whose visit had been an unquestioned success from every point of view. Without real good will between the nations, all pacts for the abolition of war would be mere scraps of paper.

Mr. Mac Donald, in this way, had rendered a real service to world peace by clearing the atmosphere and introducing a more genial element into AngloAmerican relations. He said that the more gladly because he doubted the wisdom of visiting America before the five-Power conference. Mr. Llovd George wished that Mr. Mac Donald" had told them more of concrete results and commitments of his visit. Was there an Anglo-Ameri-can understanding regarding cruisers and submarines and the size of guns? What was known as the freedom of the seas? He was continuing to put other questions when Labour members shouted that it was the wrong time for questions. Mr. Lloyd George did not think he lad said" anything to provoke the Labourites. '"I have been studiously conciliatorv. lam entitled to ask these questions. Had Mr. Mac Donald discussed with America the problem of general disarmament; the question of debts, which was most important to Britain, and was there any intention to give us most favoured nation treatment in respect to debts?" Commander Kenworthy (Lab., Hull) said Mr. Llovd George's questions were mischievous." The whole success of the five-Power conference would be jeopardised if Mr. Mac Donald went into details. Mr. Mac Donald in reply regarding belligerent riehts said that no promise had been made bevond a promise, to consider the matter. He had not raised the question of American support ot general disarmament. It would be time to do this after the five-Power conference. He had not discussed debts.