TIGHTEN THE BONDS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 9, 10 July 1931, Page 8

TIGHTEN THE BONDS

PROBLEMS OF PACIFIC

WHITE RACE MUST LEAD

A GOODWILL TOUR

The three American debaters from the University of Oregou (Messrs. E. A. Pfaff, E. T. Miller, and D. G. Wilson, junior) .were the guests of the Wellington branch of the English-Speaking Union at a luncheon to-day. The chairman (Mr. G. E. Powles) introduced the visitors, and said that the union had a special pleasure in meeting them because they came ,from ; the Pacific Coast. New Zealand's connection with the United States in the past had mainly been secon/Uiand, as she had relied upon the ties between the Eastern States and England. He-hoped the visit would be the forerunner of many others. Mr. Powles mentioned that through the courtesy of an English' motor firm the visitors would be given an opportunity of seeing some o£ New Zealand's scenic beauties on their way to Auckland, via Napier and.Taupo. Mr. Wilsoii expressed appreciation of the warm welcome, and said that,"in spite of talkies and gangland novels, America was really an English-speaking country. He believed that, the union would iihd its greatest links among the Pacific States, and that'the visits would do much to strengthen, the bond of friendship. It. would be a splendid thing, he thought, if a system of scholarships were instituted between the New Zealand Universities and the best schools of the Western United States. In the Pacific it was a case of race against race, and the only way to prevent a great "upheaval was to : tighten the bonds ■' between America, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. • It was for the white nations in the Pacific to decide its future, and they could count upon the United States for co-operation and friendship. Mr. Miller'said that they had come to New Zealand not with a jealous eye as in business" or political visits, but with'an eye to kinship and friendship, and with a desire to impart such learning as. they, might. He thought that the, world would develop in the Pacific, and it was for the white race to lead.. They could only get Japan into a pacific feeling provided they were themselves pacific, and so with China when she developed industrially. He hoped that other universities would carry on the work that had been begun, and so help to bring about the logical conclusion of peace in the Pacific. They were taking a goodwill tour of the countries bordering the. Pacific Basin, said Mr. Ptaff: It had been said that the Pacific would be the next theatre ;of ■ world events, but l few realised that ,ttie: Pacific era had arrived. The object of the tour; was to promote goodwill Jand understanding between the countries concerned in the problems of the Pacific... . ' ■ In proposing a vote ■■ of thinks, ■ Mr; A. Leigh. Hunt said that the value. of such visits had long been'realised.,They were themost effective way ofrealising the object for which they were working.