MR. S. M. BRUCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 17, 21 January 1939, Page 12

MR. S. M. BRUCE

WASHINGTON VISIT

OBJECT OF AUSTRALIAN TOUR

NATURE OF HIS TALKS

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, January 20.

There was no truth in reports that he had visited Washington to discuss concrete proposals for a conference to negotiate an American-Australian trade pact, said Mr. S. M. Bruce, High Commissioner for Australia in London, in an interview aboard the Mariposa.

"I broke my homeward journey for three days at Washington simply to get 'atmosphere' and endeavour, to ascertain what the possibilities were so that I could report to my Government," Mr. Bruce continued. "I kept saying this while I was in the tTnited States of America. Discussions did not include matters of detail.51 had a long talk with President Roosevelt, but the Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, was away at the Pan-American Conference in Lima. However, I saw Mr. Sumner Welles, who was acting for him, and the Secretary for Agriculture, Mr. H. A. Wallace, who represent! America's very important farming interests. ■ ■ ■■ •

"Public opinion and opinion in administrative circles was most" cordial towards Australia and 'the British Empire. There is an ; increasing appre- . elation that the United States cannot dissociate itself from world events, and i this feeling, has been more marked since the President's recent speeches and the re-armament programme which he has recommended to Congress. The American public is realising more and more that the country cannot stand outside the course of world affairs."

He had been surprised, Mr. Bruce,. added, at the complete misunderstanding which existed in the United States in December regarding the European crisis and the Munich agreement. This was noticeable even in circles where it would not normally be' expected. By informal private talks with individuals he had done his best to set out and explain the facts and to remove current misapprehensions. BACK FOR CONFERENCES. Mr. Bruce laughed when he was told' that reports were being circulated in Australia to the effect that he was on his way back to take over the leadership of the Commonwealth Government from Mr. Lyons. "If that is so, what is going to happen to Mr. Lyons?" he asked. "I don't suppose that they have anything to say on that point. 1*

His present trip, Mr. Bruce said, wai the first visit he had paid to Australia for four and a half years, and it had been delayed ,by successive European crisis. His appointment as High Commissioner had been renewed for a further five years from October last. He was returning to confer with the Federal Cabinet and members of. Parliament, and he also intended to "

visit the six capitals in order to meet State Ministers, members of State Assemblies, chambers of commerce, labour ( organisations, and ajl."« other bodies which* had matters to discuss with him. These meetings would be private, and party politics would not enter into them, as his office was nonpolitical.

Asked whether it would be necessary to discuss matters ' relating, to the Commonwealth's ; overseas debt, Mr," Bruce said that since the completion, of a £ 200,000,000 n loan conversion, which had saved" about £ 2,000,000 sterling a year, only one small loan of £2,500,000 had matured recently; and there were no transactiona of any magnitude for some time to come. • DEMOCRACY ON TRIAL. Greater resolution in the policies ot' constituent parts of the British Com* monwealth and the democracies generally for the preservation of world" peace was. urged by Mr. S. Bruce at the State luncheon held in the Grand Hotel yesterday. - / The Hon. P. Fraser, who represented I the Government, said he did not think there had ever been a time When, in the interest of the British Commonwealth and other democracies, they should make it more clear to the world that the British Commonwealth had a real foundation upon ties of blood and friendship. People in New Zealand were perplexed as to what the outcome would be of. events in the Old World* He had no doubt that Mr. Bruca might give some measure of hop£ greater than what people could gather in this part of the, world, ■' ;

Democracies seemed to be on the retreat, Mr. Bruce said. He agreed with, what Mr; Fraser had said about the Britiph Commonwealth and demoera» exes working together in solving the? problems confronting the world' today, ■ At the same time he believed that the things everybody would' like to see would not come about unless they were more resolute. Democracies were oh? their trial and their people must not bu content with merely talking about what democracies were doing. ~ Australia and New Zealand in the past had been very virile democracies, and it behoved all to make their contribution towards firmly establishing the system: They should show what democracies should be, ' _: Ideas that position could be gained only by force had got to be destroyed; said Mr, Bruce. Democracies had to make this clear to the world. They had td bring about political and economic appeasement so that all countries could go forward. . Mr. Bruce said that before he left London Mr. W. J. Jordan, New Zealand High Commissioner, asked him to convey his regards to New Zealand. Mr. Jordan, Mr, Bruce added, was representing New Zealand well.

"TOO MUCH PATERNALISM." Mr Hepburn, Premier of Ontario, Canada, said he had been impressed with the remarks about the absolute need for! Empire, solidarity. In his view democracies today were engaging in too^ much paternalism, and f people were getting soft. In Ontario,1 the richest section of Canada, there were many people on relief. This \va3 an indictment /of the system of democracy. ... 'There was -a changed spmt irt Canada today concerning armaments, continued Mr. Hepburn. He himself < had opposed an increased appropriation for armame.nts in 1927 when it was difficult to conceive that there would be, totalitarian States. He had since seen pictures of the conquest of Ethiopia and the war. in China. People now knew there were nations out to conquer the world. Mr. Hepburn added that he had reason to believe that Canada was about to vote more money for armaments than since the war. One of the most pleasing things waa the lining up of the United States . with the democracies. -; Mr. Hepburn said he was surprised to meet on the ship people from. New Zealand who had- little fear of invasion. It would probably be brought home to them later.