FAST TRAVEL AND MANY SPEECHES

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20984, 12 October 1933, Page 10

FAST TRAVEL AND MANY SPEECHES

MR "FRANK MILNER IN UNITED STATES ROTARY INTERNATIONAL

Since Mr Fr*mk Milnor, C.M.G., who, with Mr T. C. List, of New Plymouth, represented New Zealand at the world conference of Rotary International at Boston In June last, left the Dominion he has travelled on an average 300 miles a day, and a total of 20,000, miles in the United States. He also delivered 80 addresses, and he told a representative oE "The Press," who saw him yesterday evening shortly after his arrival in Chrlstchurch from Nelson, that on every occasion the message he conveyed from the Rotarians of New Zealand, of a sound interpretation of the constitutional attitude and ideals of the British Empire, received enthusiastic endorsement from his audiences,

Referring to his trip Mr Milner said that he received an invitation by cable from the headquarters of Rotary international in Chicago to attend the world conference at Boston to speak on the 'subject of "The New World," and leaving New Zealand at the end of May he reached Boston in time for the opening of the conference, which lasted seven days. He received an overwhelming reception . Wid was accorded an ovation from the 10,000 delegates, representing 60 countries of the world, who rose to their feet in a most enthusiastic demonstration. Within two hours of the conclusion of his address he received no fewer than 170 invitations from every of the United States asking him to deliver addresses in various states. It was, of course, impossible for him to give the time necessary to cover an itinerary of such dimensions, and after consulting Rotary International it was decided that he should accede to as many as possible along the line of his main route, which took him from Boston to Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Detroit, Chicago, into the Middle West, then to St. Paul. Minneapolis, and thence to the Banff conference in Canada, thence to Vancouver, Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, then back to Vancouver to join the steamer for New Zealand on September 13. In addition to meeting President Roosevelt, ho met distinguished senators, members of the judiciary, and public men of the highest standing. It had been also of the highest educative advantage to him, Mr Milner said, to travel on an extended itinerary at the present critical period in the social history of the United States.

An Empire Message. The object of New Zealand Itotarians in financing Mr Milner's mission was, first, to ensure the sound interpretation of the constitutional attitude and ideals of the British Empire. The Rotarian authorities in the United States doubted very much whether such a message would be acceptable in certain quarters of the-; great Republic, especially in New York, Chicago, and the Middle West, but he could honestly say, Mr Milner told the reporter, that on every occasion it received enthusiastic endorsement. The other aspect of the message from New Zealand was to emphasise that, in this world of instability, llie two greatest trustees for democracy were the autonomous section of the British Empire and (he United States of America. and, that they should pool their resources internationally with the object of stabilising world peace. President Roosevelt by his interpretation of "the new deal" in the international sphere, by his wish to enter into a joint survey of the danger zones, by his letter to the 54 rulers of the world, and by his promise to waive the American doctrine of the freedom of the seas, had shown a via media of procedure whereby America could abandon her Isolationism that fettered her independent judgment and political entanglements. It had been his experience, Mr Milner said, that this appeal to Americans to realise their responsibilities in the international sphere met with general endorsement from Rotarlans and from the universities.

Wnr Debts "Dead ns the Doclo.'' As to war debts, Mr Milner said that it should be mentioned that Professor Harold Moulton who, in conjunction with Professor Pasvolsky, had written the most authoritative and fullest work on the subject, did not hesitate to say that these debts could never be paid owing to America's refusal to accept goods. His frank outspokenness had been endorsed by several other economists of very high standing, especially by those of Columbia University. The eminent publicist, Frank Simonds, had published a work in which he described the war debts as "dead as the dodo!" The fealing amongst the best informed section of the American people was one of quiet admiration for Britain's attitude towards her foreign indebtedness and the utmost that was expected from Britain is a token payment in December and a composition in very reduced terms, probably 10 per cent., of the original capital sum to bo raised by means of a bond issue by Britain. Mr Milner was perfectly certain that President Roosevelt would like to see the war debts wiped out, but being dependent on political support, one could not always do as one would like.

deception in New Zealand. Regarding his reception on his return to New Zealand, Mr Milner said that he had hoped 1o re-enter the Dominion in comparative obscurity, and take up his education duties where he had dropped them. Instead, a good deal of the "ballyhoo" that: lie experienced in America had bee: reproduced almost in a hysterical nature .in different parts of the country. "And." he added, "f have had to submit to ;> detailed itinerary and a scrips of addresses to the extent of making me sick of my own voice!" Mr Milner's ordeal is not. yet over. To-day he is to be the guest at luncheon of the Canterbury" branch of the Royal Empire Society, the guest at. dinner of the Waitaki Old Boys' Association, and later he is to addresT the Christchurch Rotary Club. At Oamaru, on Saturday, he will attend an inter-club gathering of representatives of Rotary clubs from Oamaru to Invercargill, and also is to address a public meeting'.