ANGLO-AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3135, 18 September 1922, Page 7

ANGLO-AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP.

(By Sir Philip Gibbs.) Whether people like it or not, and some, I suppose, do not, it is undeniable that a new close, solid friendship is growing apace between, the United States and Great Britain. This is based, if my observations are sound, on more than sentimental platitudes delivered at banquets on more even than the istrosger sentiment which exists and always will exist between Americans of old British stock and what was once to them the mother country. Americans not of British stock —with some exceptions no doubt in large groups of foreign strains not yet amalgamated — are friendly and sympathetic to British folk while not abating by any jot their own American outlook.

All signs point to fair weather ahead between our two English-speaking peoples, due a good deal to the Washington Conference, at which we co-oper-ated successfully for the peace of the world by a general acknowledgment on both sides of the Atlantic that on broad issues apart from minor conflicting interests, our trend of thought, our desire for the future of the world, and our way of looking at things, was very similar.

1 think the praise for this drawing together must go very largely to men of my own profession, well-known journalists, men of letters of America and Britain who have done lienor to the press, with certain lamentable exceptions, by their friendly interpretation and generous idealism. The click of their typewriters has been good music to those who arc sick to death of the cheap sneers, the raucous shouts of the hundred per cent, patriots who can see no good in any country but their own.

One cause of the increasing friendliness, and the best, is increasing knowledge. England has been favored by the presence of many distinguished Americans —Taft was one of those most recently on this side—and they - have done much in private intercourse and public speech to enable the Englishspeaking to understand American character and thought. Bankers and business men of alii kinds have lately visited England; most of them had an opportunity of putting forward American views very clearly without reservation.

One cannot go to any important dinner party without meeting Americans of standing who generally give the attitude of the United States as far as they know it to world affairs and what they say spreads in groups and circles and has its effect. Also magazines audi periodicals of the United States, winch have fairly invaded England, are read each week by clerks and shop girls, middle class folk as wel call them, so life in the United States, humor, adventure, social customs are no longer unfamiliar. Sinclair Lewis recently declared that American fiction does not interest British readers, but the pelain truth is that English writers feel a little hipped because so many American stories appear in the popular magazines on this side and the bookstalls are crowded with American novels, not so solid as "Main Street" of the sentimental type, but such as they are, American in background and character. All that is good, because it breaks down the barrier of ignorance and creates a. sense of intimacy with the smaller ways of life without which no two peoples can really have friendship.

In a political way, not in the narrow sense of the word put in the larger aspect, the American Ambassador to London. George Harvey, is quite a powerful influence in creating social good will and understanding. He has certainly made a success of fiis job, which must be surprising to many of his critics. I cannot pretend to be ignorant of the violent objections raised at Harvey's appointment in certain American circles, and without having met the man was strongly prejudiced against his personality, his methods of journalism, his type of mind, as they were interpreted to me by distinguished Americans who feared he would "let down" the reputation of the United! States and make a hideous and humiliating failure at the Court of St. James'.

Everything 1 hear, however, seems to sow'that the American Ambassador in London has won a good deal of confidence and is very generally liked by all who come in contact, with him. He nas wen his position in spite of his early speeches, which raised the hair on some English heads, or, if they hadn't any hair, gave a drafty sensation to their scalps. They were aggressively American, being hostile not in intention but in fact to the sensibilities of quite a number of good friends of America and seemed to bar the way to any prospect of American co-opera-tion in Europe. Since then Harvey has mellowed. He loves America no less, but he likes Europe more and understands England with what I should say is a pretty shrewd though friendly judgment. I think his ideals have broadened; he is out for the peace of the world, reconstruction of the nations, not in a visionary way, but by means of common sense', facing up to facts, getting hostile views to agree on compromise and arbitration. What has won him his place in London, and it is a difficult job to fill, is I believe his great sense of humor, his straightforward simplicity of approach. Ho does not wrap himself round with portentous dignity and solemnity, but is apt to break down portentousness in others. I saw him preside at a. dinner party to which I had the honor of an invitation, which was quite a test of tact. Around the table in the dining room at the American Embassy were crowded an enormously distinguished and, varied company, representing, I should say, the most violent contrasts in thought and policy of English society. 1 sat next to a diehard l)uke, and on tho other side of Harvey was the German Ambassador, and all around the table were men of famous names in politics, science and public life. There was informal discussion of Russia, Germany, and the attitude of the United States to world problems. Not an easy company to handle nor subjects without extreme differences of opinion, but Harvey, in an admirable way, led tin; discussion, made comments, and in a perfectly easy way drew out the best thought among the guests. Eew men would have been so good, so humorous, so much at ease, lie is not helped by his presence, for he was not born beautiful. His face has positive peculiarities which 1 find fascinating. Hut, illumined witli comicality of expression, he is curiously attractive, and he tells American stories with a drawl that gives their lull flavor. Lady Astor, "our "Nancy," as 1 understand she was called in the United States, is a great ambassadress without official credentials, but one of the best friends of America who ever came to England ; one of the best friends of England who even went to America. Her house in St. James' Sfluare is Liberty Mall, where; one may always be sure of meeting a mixed crowd of Americans and English who get to know each other partly because the hostess put them together with in fro-

duotions so gay and gracious that there is no rpsistiiiLC a friendly chat. Lady Astor plays her part in English life with a splendid prodigality of

energy, wit, laughter and idealism. Though American, she reminds me of one of Shakespeare's ladies, like Beatrice as we may imagine her after her marriage with Benedick, quick and nimble of wit, but very womanly. Another American hostess who is gathering great companies of the two nations* at her house is Mr® Glasgow, whose reception the other night was one of the big things' of the London season.

All that may seem no better than society gossip in a world! full of tragedy and unemployment, stagnant trade and potentialities of new wars and race, hatreds. .But in a way it is important and influential. It help to create good feeling, leads to an exchange of ideas. It would, of course, be more important if people of the poorer classes could get together in the same way to exchange ideas, but that can only be done through the press. It is being done more than ever before, as I have pointed out and, if no reaction, no new poison, is distilled by evil chance or evil minds the English-speaking peoples of the world should be established in such security and good will that they at least may put aside all possibility of enmity and so> liberate an act of cooperation for world peace. That is the great chance of the future. ' Without indulging pessimism, one must admit there are still signs of anarchy and strife in Europe and elsewhere which are rather disconcerting to one's hopes. Germany has not yet decided what road she shall take. Anarchy there would check all progress. Russia has not solved the riddle. It will need great wisdom, sure guidance, close fellowship on the part of the most stable nations of the world to avert new disasters to the human family. Together Britain and the United States and. the free Englishspeaking dominions l would form a; lifebelt around the world tor the preservation of peace, and things even better than peace, which are in the code of decent, law-abiding life.