MISINTERPRETED SPEECH

Evening Star, Issue 19127, 19 December 1925, Page 3

MISINTERPRETED SPEECH

CANADA AND THE EMPIRE “CUT THE PAINTER ” POLICY. Prasa A s*oci*tlon —By Telegraph—Copyright NEW YORK, December 17. A mild sensation was caused by statements attributed to Mr Frederick Hudd, Canadian Trade Commissioner to the United States, in a speech before tho Pan-American Commercial Congress, in which Mr Hudd allegedly pledged Canada’s allegiance to PanAmoricanisrn in tho broadest sense, and urged the countries of tho Western Hemisphere to stand together as “ the United States of the American continent.” This was interpreted here and in Canada as a “ cut tho painter ” policy. Mr Hudd subsequently issued a statement declaring that his remarks had been misinterpreted and given a political significance, whereas he was only speaking as a commercial representative before an unofficial body, lie said: “ 1 was merely authorised to attend tho Congress as Canada’s representative. I had no authority whatsoever to pledge the Canadian Government to anything, particularly a major matter of international policy which is obviously beyond the province of a Civil servant. The Pan-American Commercial Congress is not an official body, although all the Latin-American countries are represented. It has no connection with tho Pan-American Union, although the two bodies are in sympathy.” Mr Hudd states that ho intended to say: “Canada is an elder daughter in the great Commonwealth of Nations, but her immediate destiny lies on tho North American Continent. Canada believes in the 00-operation of all countries on this continent and earnestly seeks their goodwill and to work with them in tho interests of mutual prosperity and the permanent peace of the world. These considerations are further strengthened by the conviction that there is no problem too difficult for tho countries of Latin-America and North America to solve. No catastrophe is too ominous for the countries of tho Western Hemisphere to avert provided thev stand together.”—A. and N.Z. Cable.