BRITISH INFLUENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 70, 23 March 1935, Page 9

BRITISH INFLUENCE.

Only Power Able to Organise Peace in Europe. GENERAL SMUTS' OUTLOOK. (Received 10.30 a.m.) CAPETOWN, March 22. After a visit of more than six weeks, the Imperial Press delegates completed their tour to-day, the last stages embracing Durban, Basutoland, East London, Port Elizabeth and the famous garden route to Capetown. The majority will embark on tlie Winchester Castle to-day for London, but the New Zealander, Mr. T. Geddis, will board the Ulvsses for Australia.

The final function was a farewell dinner by visiting delegates to their hosts. Major Astor presided, and the Governor-General, -the Earl of Clarendon, and leading South Africans were present. General Smuts, replying to the toast of South Africa, said that although late, it was perhaps not too late to bring peace and sanity to Europe. A great deal'had happened in the past few weeks to cause fresh anxiety and rouse further suspicions, but he saw nothing to make them turn back in the great experiment of organising peace.

Two years ago Germany was more than pleased to get an army of 300,000 from the Powers. Now she had taken double the number without asking. J am deeply grateful that the British Government is remaining perfectly calm despite what has happened at Berlin Britain is the one Power left in the Old World with sufficient influence and moral prestige to undertake the task of peacemaker in Europe. lam sure it is not beyond her."