TWO NATIONS AKIN

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 159, 1 April 1938, Page 8

TWO NATIONS AKIN

Relations Of England And America SIMILAR IDEALISM The similarity in outlook between the British and American peoples was stressed by Dr. Guy 11. Scholefield, 0.8. E., in an address at a meeting of the English-Speaking Union in Wellington last night. The president, Dr. Alexander Gillies, was in the chair. “Our ideals and philosophy .of life,' said Dr. Scholefield, "our belief in individualism, democracy, freedom of thought and speech is almost identical with the American belief. Itacially we both come from Anglo-Saxon stock, although in America there are strong elements of other races. In art and literature we acknowledge a common heritage and, Indeed, Shakespeare, whom we are inclined to regard as a national possession, is even more highly rated in America. “Apart from political thought,” said Dr. Scholefield, “American public and individual conduct is similar to our own, although the Americans are inclined to be more religious than we are and are more devoted to celebrations. In American churches.the flag is always,carried up the aisle in front of the clergyman. “The impression of bigness in America is reflected in the people,” said Dr. Scholefield, who described their warm hospitality, their tremendous public works and the wide scope of the social organisations instituted under the New Deal, which, he said, was a radical programme to have beeti adopted by a people whose prosperity before the depression had not required such legislation.

Dr. Scholefield spoke of the broadminded attitude of Americans toward foreigners, and in particular of their friendly attitude toward England. “Before 1 visited the country,” he said, “I had quite a wrong conception of America, probably gained from their books and their films. Their writers are merciless in portraying their own people and they raise the sordid side of life to an undue proportion. It is easier to find Dickens characters in London than the characters of the films and the radio in America. In fact, the American Press does violence to the American character and customs and gives us a distorted impression. We read it because it is entertaining. They write it because we like reading it. In the United States one is amazed to find how normal the Americans are.” Concerning political relations betweeh the two countries, Dr. Scholefield remarked that they were acting in concert in international’affairs. “Conditions in the Ear E’ast,” he said, “have brought us together, facing in the same direction.” He spoke of America’s self'Sufliciency and her “Good Neighbour” policy, fundamentally a determination not to interfere in outside affairs. “She has never meddled in Europe,” he said, “and is passionately anxious to keep free. Many Americans are wondering to-day why they came into the Great War. Tlie United States will not be dragged into a war unless their own interests are endangered or they are attacked; although she cannot afford to see England in danger, and would, I think, come into a war to save her.”

“The United States hits a deep-rooted feeling against alliances,” said the speaker, but added that there wag an alliance between England and America of sentiment, ideals, and common interest. lhat, in his opinion, was sufficient.

The meeting carried a vote of thanks to the speaker, moved by Mr. A. Leigh Hunt. ‘ i