AN ARMED EUROPE

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 54, 27 November 1937, Page 13

AN ARMED EUROPE

Impressions Of A New Zealander ATTITUDE OF BRITONS “In Europe you notice each change of country by a change in uniform these days,” said Mr. H. W. Whyte, an officer of the National Bank of New Zealand, who returned to Wellington yesterday in the Awatea after a visit of 16 months to England under a scheme for the exchange of bank officers. During his stay in England Mr. Whyte worked in the head office of the National Bank of New Zealand there and also in one of "the big five.” During his leave he made a comprehensive tour of the Continent, and lie said that the main impression of any visitor was that all countries were armed to the teeth.

“Since I arrived in England about 16 months ago the attitude of the British people has changed in a marked manner. In .1936 the general opinion was that peace was to be maintained at any price, regardless of any concessions that might have to be made, but now there is an air of preparedness that cannot be mistaken.” While he was in England Mr. Whyte gave an Empire transmission talk from the 8.8. C. stating his impressions of the country and of European Powers. “The’ stories about the German people being half-starved that seem to have been circulated are not at all authenticated from what I saw. The Germans seem a remarkably fit people and their hospitality was never lacking. To really appreciate the position there, it is necessary to be able to speak the language, but we toured the country without resorting to guides, and we saw many things that would escape the notice of ordinary tourists under the supervision of tourist officials.

“I was at Paris during the French national celebrations in July, and the mechanised army and military aerial displays were most impressive. Five hundred planes flew over Paris at once and there were several large parades of fighting units.”

Mr. Whyte was secretary to the general manager of the National Bank in the Wellington head office when he left to go to the head office in England, and he has returned to the staff at Wellington.