CONGRESS MISSION

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 63, 15 March 1944, Page 5

CONGRESS MISSION

Invitation To Visit British Parliament I) IS CUSS lOX IX COMMONS Rec. 12.30 p.m. RUGBY, Mar. 14. The House of Commons and Lords to-day carried a motion to invite the United States Congress to send a delegation of its members to pay an official visit to the British Parliament at an early date. Moving the proposal in the House of Commons, Major Braithwaite said that during? his visit to Washington he was deputed by the British-American Parliament Association to ascertain whether Congress would be disposetr to accept such an invitation. The delegation would lie the guests of Parliament itself. The Congress Speaker, Mr. Sam Raeburn, welcomed the suggestion. Major Braithwaite added that heavy responsibilities lay ahead, making it essential that we should have intimate knowledge of our opposite numbers and should establish accord so that complete confidence and unanimity of purpose could be maintained. Colonel Arthur Evans (Con., Cardiff) said that the leaders of both Houses of Congress expressed to him the desire that the delegation visit the British Parliament as soon as circumstances permitted. President Roosevelt also expressed his approval of the visit. Mr. Eden, as Leader of the House, said that Major Braithwaite accomplished a thorough piece of diplomacy in Washington. British friendship with the people of the United States was deep, and the House should strive to complete the circle of comradeship.