KNOW AMERICA BETTER.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3134, 11 September 1922, Page 8

KNOW AMERICA BETTER.

Responding to the toast of bis health at the Pilgrims’ dinner in his honor in London, Sir Auckland' Geddes directed himself to the all-important point that the people of Great Britain must team to know America better. The occasion was one to which he had looked forward in order to express Ins profound thanks lor and appreciation of the manifold kimdnteisses’ which he had received white he had been in the- United States. He ateo had sought an opportunity to tell! his fellow-countrymen of the extraordinary hospitality, the extraordinary kindness, which had been ■extended: to their representative, not as an individual, but 'bccauHO ho was the representative of the King and the I Atopies of the British nation. Particularly, lie referred to the; hospitality of the" American universities where tho highest gifts they could bestow bad been conferred) upon the representative of the British people. The importance of friendship between Englfeh-sj)eaking peoples had been emphasised in those seats of learning. “I wonder,” said Sir Auckland, “whether our universities are taking as effective, as directing, as efficient a part in the leadership of the popular mind, to understand, to appreciate what Anglo-Ame-rican friendship stands for, not" now only, hut in the future, not for us only, not for America only, hut lor the whole world.” “Let mo speak of the Press ol I lie United States’,” he went on. “It is often the custom in this country to speak rather lightly of American newspapers, and there are—everyone knows it —newspapers*which do not invite serious description. Tho great newspapers of America, the great papers of New York, Boston, Philadelphia, to name a few of the larger towns, and the great news-gathering associations, have during the last two and a lialf years f have been in America, shown a consideration and appreciation of tin’ importance of, and a desire to further, Anglo-American friendship that has been quite astonishing. There is no doubt in my mind that the groat papers of America to-day aie carrying for better news of European affairs than newspapers on this side arc carrying with regard to American thought and action, American problems, and American ideals. Those great newspapers are steadily moulding and educating the public opinion of America to understand the responsibilities which are hers, tho great opportunities which are hors, and they are holding high tho piano of ideals.” Hero it must seem, proceeded Sir Auckland Geddes, that America was aloof, and cared little for European problems, but when one lived among that great people, and realised the magnitude of the tasks which lay to their hand, ono realised why America was absorbed in the great work which sho was doing internally. But that Americans did not forget the problems of Europe was evidenced by the way they put their hands in their pockets to help tho starving people of Russia. Americans would never seo the war as wo who were British saw it. To the mass of Americans the beginning of tho war meant the spring of 1917, but for Britons, for every European, of course, tho beginning of the war meant August, 1914. There was this difference, and there were countless differences of points of view of a similar nature, or, perhaps, of a dissimilar nature, which must color all thought with regard to every problem that arose. We British, whether of tho British Isles, of Australia, of Canada, of Now Zealand, of South Africa, or of tho East, had our different points of view of the same event; how much more certain, therefore, was it that the English-speaking people of America should have a still more different point of view. He had countless proofs of tho enormous sentiment of goodwill there was throughout America towards the people of Great Britain and towards the people of the whole of the British Empire, just as there was throughout' Britain and tho dominions towards America. But though that sentiment and goodwill existed, we did not seo eye to eye on every question. When we sat down and talked to ono another, as was possible at Washington, wc saw things in tho same white light, and therefore it seemed to him that the Pilgrims and similar associations had great possibilities for good. What we needed was greater personal Contact, not between officials only, but between non-official persons. It was perfectly astonishing how few British people bad ever taken tho trouble to travel for pleasure, interest, and education in tho United States. A\e needed now to get a. large number of Britons of goodwill to travel in America—not to deliver lectures —(laughter)—hut to arrive at a true British point of view with regard to America “I believe absolutely,” proceeded Ins Kxeellency, “as I know yon believe, that Anglo-American friendhip and understanding is tbe most important thing in the whole range of politics. I know lids. too. that now. when the relations of the two Governments were more frank ami more friendly than they have ever been, should any question arise in the future between ns there arc great differences of points of view in tile public mind which will need to make ns on Ibis side ot the Atlantic approach those questions carefully, and educate the public and there we shall need the help ot the newspapers —as to the point ol \ iew that is held' bv the other side. Be. need, above all, a great increase m the number of Britons who really know America, because. in my judgment, there are few people of the British Isles —there may he many in Canada, hut there are too few here—who know tlm United Stales and can say. should a difference arise, ‘This, that, or the other is the view in America, let ns discuss that; don’t let ns get excited.’ ’’ In these days a large number of Americans were really beginning to know this country. When we got a corresponding number of Britons who knew America wo should have moved, forward towards roal nndoi standing, friendship, and co-operation between. I lio two nations. At the present time 11,0 whole world called lor the service of everv man of goodwill to pull it out of the dreadful hog into which it had sunk, and for those of them who could d'o anything to help an Anglo-American understanding he believed it was the greatest work they could do, not lor the special benefit of America, hut lor the benefit of the whole world.