AUSTRALIA AND AMERICA

Evening Star, Issue 17720, 22 July 1921, Page 6

AUSTRALIA AND AMERICA

MR HUGHES ELOQUENT.

Pram Association—By Telegraph—Copyright

LONDON, July 21,

(Received July 22, at 1.35 p.m.) Mr W. M. Hughes was the guest of the American Luncheon Club at the Savoy Hotel.

Mr Wilson Cross, an oil magnate, presided. and said tiiat the invitation to the Washington Conference made it fitting that Mr Hughes should be their guest. America and Australia wore great democracies. and had much the same_ ideals. These young democracies, having no ancient feuds nr prejudices to overcome, must be looked to for tlio salvation of, the world’s affairs.

Mr Hughes, after an ovation, said: “I know well that American citizens in London are watching with intense interest the progress of those negotiations initiated by President Harding,, which, we hope, will lead to disarmament and peace. War has taught us that'isolation is incompatible with the modern circumstances of nations.. Everv nation is dependent on others, and is affected by what they do. _ IS either Australia’s remoteness nor America’s traditional policy can keep the effects of war from them. America has invited the nations to come to her homo and discuss the- greatest problems the world has ever faced.. There are many points of likeness between America and Australia; hut she is great, and we are small; she has over a hundred million people, we have five million. Wo are now what she was ninety years ago; she to-day is what Australia will he in a hundred years. We have .the same language and enjoy the same literature and ideals, which mean so much. Australia can never forget that out of the Pacific will come whatever of success or failure the future has in store for her; out of the Pacific will come for us life or death. For America and Australia the Pacific holds vital interests. Now comes an invitation to Washington to discuss disarmament. All peoples of the world are groaning under the burdens of war and the weight of armaments. They say joyfully: ‘This is good news.’ Men turned to each other saying : ‘ There shall be no more war.’ This, indeed, is the hope of all, and it is well that nations should meet round the council table with a view to ending ihe suicidal policy of aval armaments. It is w r ell also to remember* the difficulties standing between mankind rind their desire. It is not enough that they meet it they cannot agree on some practical scheme which they are preto give effect to. This is'not easy, as it is hedged round everywhere by difficulties.”