SERVICE TO EMPIRE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 17, 20 January 1940, Page 12

SERVICE TO EMPIRE

DISTINGUISHED CAREER

ENVOY OF BRITAIN

No doubts as to the ultimate outcome of the war are held by the Marquess of Willingdon, who arrived by the flying-boat Aotearoa yesterday afternoon to represent the United Kingdom Government at the Dominion's Centennial celebrations. In an interview last night he said that he had never known a war more just than the one in which the Allies were now engaged and in which they were fighting for no material advantage but to defend the rights of small nations against the brutal methods of powerful countries. "We are so much better now both on the economic side and on the military side than we were in 1914, that I have very little doubt of the ultimate result, which, will be to restore peace and good will t^ the nations of the world," said Lord Willingdon. He thought that the Empire had already shown magnificent unity, and that was enormously satisfying to one who like himself had done the best part of his service in the outside parts of the Empire. It had been the greatest pleasure to him, as an old Imperial servant, at the outbreak of the present war, to see the wholehearted co-operation that came from all parts of the Empire. Lord Willingdon has given most distinguished service to the Empire, as Governor-General of Canada from 1926 to 1931 and Viceroy of India from 1931 to 1936. From 1913 to 1919 he was Governor of Bombay, and from 1919 to 1924 Governor of Madras. "My position is that I am representing his Majesty's Government here at the Centennial," he said last evening. "It was anxious to send somebody out to show its interest in this great celebration." INDIA'S LOYALTY. In a reference to India Lord Willingdon said that certain statements by Gandhi in the Press with regard to his requirements as to the constitutional future might incline people to think that there was some considerable disloyalty in India. "Well, I am perfectly clear in this, that the vast majority of Indians are absolutely I loyal to the Crown," he said. "That is clearly shown by the number of troops who have already gone overseas and by the very large sums of money that are being subscribed by the princes and people of India to assist the Empire. I lived in India for sixteen years and I have no doubt about the loyalty of India."

Lord Willingdon paid his first visit to New Zealand in the nineties when he was A.D.C. to the then Governor of Victoria, Lord Brassey, and spent several months in this country on holiday. On his present visit of about a fortnight he hopes to see more of the beauties of the Dominion.

Accompanying Lord Willingdon are the Marquess of Willingdon and his private secretary, Lord Errington.