THE EMPIRE TO-DAY

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 122, 16 February 1935, Page 8

THE EMPIRE TO-DAY

Steadying Force in World of Chaos ADDRESS BY SIR HUGH DENISON England Holds Respect of Other Nations “We should be proud that we are British and that we belong to the British Empire, even though we hear the Empire creaking at the joints under the stress of influences tending toward its disintegration. Great Britain today is regarded by the nations as the one steadying force in a world of chaos.” The foregoing were among the remarks of Sir Hugh R. Denison, chairman of Associated Newspapers, Ltd., Sydney, who, with Lady Denison, was the guest of honour at a luncheon given by the Royal Empire Society yesterday at Kirkcaldie and Stains’, AVellington. Sir Hugh, who is a vice-president of tlie society, has a distinguished career in business and politics in Australia, and was for some time Commonwealth Commissioner in the United States of America.

Mr. L. O. H. Tripp presided over a representative assembly of members of the society and other prominent Wellington citizens. In welcoming Sir Hugh and Lady Denison, Air. Tripp referred with pleasure to their consenting to be present at such short notice. It was pleasing also that among the hosts of the occasion was another eminent member of the society. Sir James Mills. Sir Hugh, continued Air. Tripp, had done a great, deal in a practical way to foster the Ideals for which the society stood, and no man had done more by influence and personal generosity to further the objects of the Royal Empire Society. (Applause.) Bright Part of Empire.

On rising to give his address, Sir flugh was heartily applauded. He mentioned that his visit to New Zealand gave him great pleasure. The Dominion was looked upon as one of the brightest sections of the Empire, and especially for its extreme loyalty. It was held in high esteem at the centre of. the Empire for this reason, and for Mie commercial relationships which were a further bond with Great Britain.

Sir Hugh said ne had had t<he honour since May last of sitting at the council' table of tlie society in London. In the ranks of the society and among many people in high places with whom he had talked, there, was a strong feeling tiiut all was not well with the Empire to-day. In saying that lie was not sounding a note of depression or of tragedy. None the less, there was the impression that the Empire was beginning to creak a little at the joints. The feeling was abroad that the Statute of Westminster had not been altogether for the good of the Empire as an Empire. In Ireland there were portents that could not be disregarded; another disintegrating influence was South Africa’s decision to take no part in the defence of the Empire and her disregard for the Ottawa Agreements by her conclusion of trade treaties with foreign countries. Thirdly, the future of India was a question of grave concern. It was felt in England that if the question were the subject of a referendum in Great Britain, there wouid be a heavy “No” on the issue of seifgovernment flor India under present conditions. AU these problems provided the creak in the joints of the Empire, and gave cause for anxiety. Stirring Public Patriotism. “There is a definite conclusion among members of the Royal Empire Society in Great Britain,” said Sir Hugh, “that there must be a big move undertaken during the next two or three years to stir public patriotism to an appreciation of what the Empire means and stands for. I make this appeal to you to see that New Zealand continues to stand flrm with the Old Country. If the Dominions and the Crown Colonies are solid in their devotion to the Empire, it means a great deal at the centre of this Empire of ours.” The speaker concluded a description of the founding of the society and the late Earl Grey’s aspirations- toward the creation of a great Empire centre in London with an appeal for an active membership campaign. At present the society had 16,000 members; it ought to be 32,000.

Coming more specifically to the political and economic situation of the world as he saw it, Sir Hugh Denison said there was an undercurrent of feeling among some of the big financial men that all was certainly not well in world finance. There was a strong Belief that unless Great Britain continued to maintain the position that it did to-day, something serious might happen in the world financial structure. In September he was visiting the Scandinavian countries and Finland. Although all these countries were ’ regarded during the war as enemy countries of Great Britain he found a pronounced inclination among business men there to look to •England for stability amid the chaos of European conditions. They considered that if anything happened to Great Britain financially a general collapse must follow. These countries formed portion of what was now known as “the sterling bloc.” If circumstances called for it there would be strong support forthcoming from such countries in defence of the pound sterling and of Britain’s position in the world of finance. America’s Changed View. Sir Hugh went on to describe the change that had come about in the United States in the attitude of business men there toward Great Britain. During his term as representative of the Commonwealth of Australia in the United States business leaders there continually inquired why it was that Great Britain held to conservative practice in finance and commerce. The Americans pointed to their own prosperity then and chided Great Britain on' her slowness to adopt business methods operating across the Atlantic. Since the advent of the slump numbers of those same business men were in changed circumstances. Their attitude toward England had also undergone a profound change. These men now said that so far from Great Britain being a decrepit old country her conservatism In finance and politics had stood her in good stead. Then there was the case of Air. H. G. Wells. In his autobiography bo described his visit to America and his talks there with President Franklin Roosevelt and his interview afterward with Stalin, Litvinoff and other leaders of Soviet Russia. The fact was that Mr. Wells's sane mind hud registered tlie impression that while everything might not bo right in tlie Old Country, still England stood to-day as the first ami soundest country of the world. We, should be proud that we belonged to the British race.