AMERICAN AMBASSADOR ON THE BRITISH EMPIRE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3134, 11 September 1922, Page 2

AMERICAN AMBASSADOR ON THE BRITISH EMPIRE.

There was a distinguished gathering of the Pilgrims at a dinner in London last month to honor Sir Auckland Cl Celtics, British Ambassador to th United States, who was home on a brief holiday. The toast of the occasion—the health of Sir Auckland Geddes, was in the hands of the American Ambassador, who made a speech that is well worth reproduction. Mr George Harvey opened by saying that Pilgrims had greeted Pilgrims, Ministers of different countries had greeted each other publicly, Americans had been welcomed to England, but it was unique that “a Vermont Yankee should be privileged to extend a glad Ambassadorial baud to a Scotch Canadian upon his happy arrival at the seat of the British Empire from the capital of the United States.” But the main thing was to tell Sir Auckland Geddes that they were delighted to see him. All- Harvey continued: “I cannot say that all is well with England. Would that I could. But 1 can say that all is better, very much better.' When the Ambassador sailed for America two years ago the trade union registration showed 23.1 per cent, unemployed. Today it is barely 14 per cent. True, the total actual number, approximating 1,100,000, is still large as to seem depressing, but it is the tendency, the increasing tendency, that is really significant. And not only is the change in the right direction, but strikingly so. ' The Ambassador quoted the July figures of 400,000 fewer recipients ,of unemployed relief, as amazing compared with the duration of the hard times following the A*apoleonic wars. It far transcended a mere indication; it became proof positive, proof conclusive, of sound, unimpaired finance, proof of tile impregnability of commercial England. Another phase, even more vital than the happily reviving industry, was that the recovery was taking place despite the tremendous decrease in the volume of exports. “The idea that England is dependent for her very existence upon European markets has become accepted ds almost axiomatic,” he said, “but recent demonstration does not seem tq bear out this conclusion. May it not transpire that the impicssion was only an obsession after a II4 If so. that is a discovery, a very great and important discovery, it can mean but one thing—namely, that England, like the United States, can, d dire necessity actually requires, go alone, not luxuriously, as in the golden past, of course, but yet comfortably, and. avi tli due heed to prudence and economy in expenditure, in safety and seem it\, while tune affords apportion , t- v V } . and unfold the vast possibilities not only of the faithful dominions, but of the million square miles <•1 land possessions recently brought under Hie flag. “Ihe builders originally of England, and subsequently „ft be' Empire''made no fundamental errors. They did not rest their edifice upon shifting sands. I ht\\ phiml tlieir mighty structure*, beam by beam, oak by oak. upon solid lock. Integrity whs the corner stone. JUKI fiilelity wii s tb<; keystone of tin 1 most wonderful arch of practical, progressive, and permanent civilisation the uorld lias ever produced. They realised. as none before them, that money is but a symbol of restricted purchasing capacity, while fhe scope and power of "'■dll arc limitless. This knowledge and ibis recognition have borne them into sale harbors through the storms ol a tlioiisand years, and constitute today I be priceless heritage of their suc- ( essors now charged to carry on. Willi wnat result."' f inancia ily, no less than commercially, in a relative sense, the kingdom is fully fortified and is growing steadily stronger. .Most noteworthy of all, in a general sense, is ibe increase of nearly a dollar in the market value ol the pound sterling. II seems now <o be only a question of lime, ol a very short time, in fact, "hen the English pound sterling rvill have regained its proud position at par with the American dollar.” Some argued, be said, that England’s gain would be America’s loss, but except, in the narrowest view that was not Ihe case. England iiad always been the best customer of the United States. Canada took second place. Therefore, ibe Empire’s prosperity means prosperity of the United States. Mr Harvey went on to say that the remarkable i m provenient coincided with the success! ui ending of the Washington Con•'■rcine. ami be paid high tribute to Sir Auckland s work there as what might in l termed “the resident manager ol the British Delegation.”