ROTARIANS AT A DIFFERENCE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22336, 25 February 1938, Page 14

ROTARIANS AT A DIFFERENCE

. ❖ SPEECHES DEPLORED SENSATION AT N.Z. CONFERENCE f ATTACKS ON JAPAN AND GERMANY A sensation disturbed the national conference of Rotary Clubs yesterday morning. Mr F. G. Milner, of Oamaru, had just concluded a speech denouncing Japanese policy in the Far East, and sat down amid prolonged applause when the official representative of Rotary International, Mr Angus Mitchell, of Melbourne, rose to his feet to deplore the utterance of such statements in association with Rotary. Mr Mitchell also took exception to an earlier address on , European affairs by the New Zealand District Governor, Mr F. G. Hall-Jones, of Invercargill. Both speeches, he said, might go a long way toward the undoing of the great work of Rotary’s founder. Mr Milner’s address engaged the keen attention of 200 Rotarians, and when he argued that only British and American co-operation could prevent Japanese domination of the Far East, he was interrupted by applause and general expressions of approval. Forces for War “The pity of it is that Japan was allowed to get away with the spoils in Manchuria,” he said. “The logical result of Japan’s scoop was Hitler’s subsequent break and his militarisation 'of • the* Rhineland ; and defiance of the League of Nations. So, too, was Mussolini’s rape of Abyssinia and withdrawal from the League.” Mr Hall-Jones two days earlier had spoken of German ambitions in Europe and said that poison gas and aeroplanes were a necessary ancillary of peace and not to be spurned nor despised. He said that Germany, rearmed and aggressive, was determined to alter the status quo in Europe. „ • ... , When Mr Milner finished his address at yesterday’s meeting a vote of thanks was accorded him, the mover remarking that the address had been worth-coming a long way to hear. Mr Hall-Jones congratulated Mr MUper and pointed out to members that the addresses of Mr Milner dnd himself were expressions entirely of their personal opinions, “Now,he said, “Rotanan Mitchell will speak, though -1 'know Angus has got his hackles up. “Oratorical Efforts’* Mr Mitchell said,, “I have listened to the addresses of Rqtarian Milner and the District Governor,' and though I adrqire them as good ora--torical efforts 1 am afraid that It l these uvo speeches were sent round the world they would go a great way towards breaking down PauL Harris’s good work in founding; Rotary, - . .. . .% -j “I deprecate the indictment ot: other countries, where also there are: Rotary clubs. I don’t agree with many of the things Mr Milner said. After visiting 35 countries and going to Japan three times I believe that: friendship is possible, and unless,we! believe in it we should give up: should stand for fellowship) on the right lines, not the .indict-; ment of peoples, who have got their; place in the world and are entitled; to it as much as we. We should stand for the co-operation of peoples in fellowship, not for the co-opera-tion of two nations to subdue others.” . „ . , The Adjournment for lunch was taken after :Mr Mitchell’s speech. Several ..Rotarians before leaving mounted * the platform to shake hands with Mr Mitchell in expression of approval of his statement.