RELATIONS OF U.S.A. AND BRITAIN

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 287, 31 August 1935, Page 10

RELATIONS OF U.S.A. AND BRITAIN

Value For World Peace

ENGLISH-SPEAKING UNION’S AIMS

“The main object of the union is the promoting of the better understanding of the United States of America and the British Commonwealth of Nations —the two great democracies of the east and the west. No effort should be spared to cement understanding between them, for on their understanding depends the future destiny of the world and certainly of all the countries whose shores are washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean.” said the Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C., the newly-elected president, in an address at the annual meeting of the Wellington branch of the English-Speaking Union last nignl. Mr. H. G. Miller presided. The last great quarrel between Great Britain anil the United States, Mr. Perry continued, was in 1812, and they hopgd that that was the last real quarrel that would ever take place between those two great democracies. The world was in need of strong democracies. Personal friendship made for friendly public opinion, and he considered tliat the fundamental thing which would bring together the two great nations would be their common tongue.

Reviewing the work of the year, Mr. Miller said that they had succeeded in making the union financial. This position was mainly due to the increase in membership. There were 255 members, a 75 per cent, increase over the figures for the previous year. “Personal contacts between the people of England and America,” the annual report stated, “are definite means ■ toward the harmonious relationships we desire to see existing.... The past year has seen a vital step to world peace taken by the American Senate. This was the advocacy of conscription of private wealth in time of war. “The following of America’s toad by the British Empire would be a death blow to any armament firms interested in promoting an actual outbreak of warfare involving either of these countries. It is a well-known fact that hardly needs to be stressed that no modern war can be carried on to-day without the resources at the command of England and America. Therefore the unity of these two countries in a concerted action for peace is of vital importance.” Officers were elected as follow’: — Patron, the Governor-General, Viscount Galway; president, Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C.; vice-presidents, Mj;. G. A. Bucklin, Mesdames H. L. Cummings, H. G. Miller, A. Leigh Hunt, J. Bennie, Sir Frederick and Lady Chapman, Hon. Mr. Justice Johnston, Mr. C. D. Morpeth. The meeting decided to convey to M. L. Armand Nihotte, Consul-General for Belgium in New Zealand, its heartfelt sympathy in the death of the Queen of the Belgians.