OUR PEACE DELEGATES' DOINGS

Evening Star, Issue 16992, 14 March 1919, Page 4

OUR PEACE DELEGATES' DOINGS

LONDON, March 13. Mr R. Riley, tho official reporter of the Now Zealand delegation, cables as fob lows! — Mr Massey was tho guest of tho Y.M.O.A. on Monday night, when ho addressed about 2,000 American soldiers, who were entertained by tho “ Tuis,” tho New Zealand soldiers’ concert party. Mr Massey, who was most cordially received, referred to tho manner in which the war had removed past friction between America and Britain and had brought the two great English-speaking nations together in effective co-operation for the triumph of Honor and Liberty on the battlefields of France. He hoped they would never again bo estranged, and that tho existing good feeling and spirit of unity would bo maintained as aids to'prosperous developments; that tho best interests of both would be kept above and beyond party politics; and that there would bo no political interference by either nation in tho domestic affairs of the other, so that the lessons of tho war would have influence for permanent good on tho life of each nation. Both natjpna had fought, with tho gallant citizens of France, for the highest ideals, and had won. All must now strive to be worthy of the great victory, and thus secure victories of peace. Both Ministers attended tho New Zealand Y.M.C.A. headquarters at Paris on Tuesday, and were heartily welcomed by the soldiers on leave and by the staff of the excellent organisation. Tho Ministers spoke of the splendid reputation of the New Zealanders, both ns soldiers and as men, who everywhere had made good and great tho name and fame of New Zealand, whore a royal welcome awaited them. As regards peace settlement, it was impossible to speak definitely ; but the lessons of Prussian warfare emphasised tho need for demanding a full measure*of reparation and indemnities for the nations upon whom tho destructive war bad been trust. The New Zealand delegation during the week-end visited Rhoims and Soissons, and saw the appalling devastation and wanton destruction which tho Germans had deliberately done, ft hoi ms and scores of villages are n V desolate and deserted ruins, while the former fair vineyards are grotesque cemeteries.