MR. BRUCE INTERVIEWED

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 January 1939, Page 8

MR. BRUCE INTERVIEWED

EXPERIENCES IN U.S.A. [I’EB PBESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND. January 20. There was no triilli in reports ihal In- bail visili’il Wasliiny.ioil io discus:', concrete proposals for a conierenec io negotiate a irude pact between the United Slates and Australia, 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 al Washington simply to get the ‘atmosphere’ and endeavour to ascertain what the possibilities were so that 1 could report to my Government," Mr. Bruce continued. “I kept saying this while I was in the United States. The discussions did not include matters of detail. I had a long talk with Mr. Roosevelt, blit the Secretary of State. Mr. Cordell Hull, was away at the panAmerican conference at Lima. However, I saw Mr. Sumner Welles, who was acting for him, and the Secretary for Agriculture, Mr. H. A. Wallace, who represents America’s very important farming interests.

“Public opinion, and the opinion in administrative circles, was most cordial toward Australia and the British Empire. There is an increasing appreciation that the United States cannot dissociate itself from world events and 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 has been surprised, Mr. Bruce added, “at the complete misunderstanding which existed in the United States in December about 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 actual facts and to remove current, misapprehensions.

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.”

His present, trip, Mr. Bruce said, was the first visit he had paid to Australia for four and a-half years, and it had been delayed by successive European crises. 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 the State Ministers, members of State assemblies, Chambers of Commerce, labour organisations, and all 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 non-political.

Asked whether it would be necessary to discuss matters relating to the Commonwealth’s oversea debt, Mr. Bruce said that since the completion of the £200,000,000 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 transactions of any magnitude for some time to come. In a brief reference to the League of Nations. Mr. Bruce said that although on the political side it could no longer be looked to for the solution of world problems, its economic work was of the greatest value and would continue to grow in importance, especially as the United States was now giving its aid. Mi'. Bruce, who is accompanied by Mrs. Bruce and his private secretary, Mr. J. D. L. Hood, was a guest at a Government luncheon, and continued his journey to Sydney to-night.

ADDRESS AT LUNCHEON

AUCKLAND, January 20

Greater resolution in the policies of the constituent parts of the Britisn Commonwealth and democracies generally for the preservation of world peace was urged by Mr S. M. Bruce, at a State luncheon held at the Grand Hotel. The luncheon was 1 held in honour of the visit of Mr Bruce and the Premier of Ontario, Canada, Hon. Mitchell Hepburn, and the Minister for Public Works of Ontario, Hon. Colin Campbell. They were through passengers to Sydney by the Mariposa, which called at Auckland on her voyage from San Francisco. The Minister for Education, the Hon. Peter Fraser, represented the Government and extended a welcome to the visitors. The luncheon was attended by Auckland members of the legislature, representatives of local bodies and the defence forces and other prominent citizens. Mr Fraser said that Mr Bruce was not a stranger to New Zealand and had visited Auckland frequently in the past. The Australian High Commissioner, the Minister continued, was a familiar figure in southern lands and his name was a household one. Mr Bruce was as well known in Geneva, as he was in London and he was an international figure. He was responsible for much splendid work, including that dealing with nutritional problems. Messrs Hepburn and Campbell were strangers among them as far as it was possible to call members of another Brit- I ish Dominion strangers and to them, too. New Zealand extended a hearty welcome.

Mr Fraser said he did not think that there had ever been a time when in the interest of the British Commonwealth and other democracies they should make it clear to the world that the British Commonwealth had a real foundation upon ties of blood and friendship. The time might come when they would stand firm.

People in New Zealand were perplexed as io what the outcome would ho of events in the old world. He had no doubt that. Mr Bruce might giro some message of hope greater than what people- could gather in this part of the world. Dtmccracies seemed to be on the retreat. Mr Bruce said. He agreed with what. Mr Fraser had said about, the British Commonwealth and democracies working together in solving problems confronting the world today. At the same time, ho said, he believed that the things everybody would like to see would not come about unless they were more resolute. Th(> democracies wore- on their trial mid their people must not he content with merely talking about what the democracies wore doing. .Australia mid New Zealand in the past had been very virile democracies and it be-

hoved 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. The democracies had to make this clear to the world. They had to bring about a. political and economic appeasement, so that all countries could go forward. Mr Bruce said that he was under a ban as to what he could say because of his diplomatic position. He was not like Mr Hepburn, who was untrammelled. Mr Bruce added that he was in a similar position to a civil servant. That -was, he must, say nothing. He was wondering in his heart if he would be able to maintain this strict position during his visit to Australia. MR JORDAN DOING WELL.

Before leaving London, Mr Bruce said the New Zealand High Commissioner, Mr W. J. Jordan, had asked him to convey his regards to New Zealand. Mr Jordan, Mr Bruce added, was representing New Zealand well. While his job was in London, his heart was still in New Zealand. Mr Hepburn said he had been impressed with the remarks about the absolute need of Empire solidarity. In his view' the democracies to-day were engaging in too much paternalism. People were getting soft. In Ontario, the richest section of Canada. there were many people on relief. This was an indictment of the system of democracy. There was a. changed spirit in Canada, to-day concerning armaments, continued Mr Hepburn. He himself had opposed an increased appropriation for armaments 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 China. People now knew' that 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 was the lining up of the United States with the democracies. Mr Hepburn said that, he was surprisde to meet on the boat people from New Zealand who had little fear of an invasion. It -would probably be brought home to them later.