PERSONAL LINK

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 10261, 3 December 1926, Page 5

PERSONAL LINK

■. ; DUKE OF YORK’S TOUR

NEITHER - ADiViiN ISTRATIVE NOR DirLLLUATIU MISiiLOiN.

ROYALTY' ENTERTAINED BY

Pilgrims

limited Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Receivou Dec. 2,9. R) p.m./ LONDON, Dec. 2. A distinguished assemblage attend- 1 ed tfie Pilgrims' dinner m tlie Hotel Victoria. Viscount Cave, chairman, was flanked by tlie l>uhe of York ana the Prince oi Wales. • : ’

Earl Balfour, in proposing the Duke of York’s health, said the Duke was going on a mission which Was neither administrative nor diplomatic, but was no less important to tne Empire on that account. None coiua accomplish it so well as members oi his house, in achieving a personal link, thus''uniting every part of the Empire. Earl Ballour referred to similar missions of the King and tlie Prince of Wales, but said he doubted if either knew the incalculable value of their services. The mike aya Duchess of York’s tour supplied the vital link Because it occurred after the Imperial Conference.

AN EMPIRE WITHOUT CONTROL

It was said there was nothing new in the resolutions a„t‘ which they hau. arrived, continued Earl Balfour. “But what has never been explicitly stated,” lie said, “is the moral emotional base upon which the whole fabric exists and that has now. been unanimously accepted. The new thing is not that there is no control by the Mother Country. The self-gov-erning portions of the Empire explicitly regard themselves as elements in a great unity, which does not depend on control, but on common ideals. It is hard to aecept tlie belief that the great Empire can exist without control. For the first time we have announced to the Empire that we are an Empire of which the self-governing portions are mured by something greater, sublimer, and more effective. It is only now that the Empire. begins to be what it was pre-destined to be. It is only' brought home to its constituents that it is their business to manage their business as they' please, but that they 'are all parts of a greater whole.

IMPORTANCE OF PERSONAL INTERCOURSE.

“I am certain the Dominions will always be ready to offer their services to the Empire whenever the need arises,” file (continued. “An Empire in which control no longer counts must depend upon personal intercourse, and for this reason the service which the Duke of York is about to render will be immensely helpful. He conics of a family to which all the citizens of the Empire loyally turn. He and the Duchess arc singularly gifted for the task they have taken upon themselves. The services they' will render cannot in the existing circumstances of the Empire be too highly over-valued. Therefore we not only give them God speed because we love and esteem them on their' own account, but because of the great "service they are about to render to the Empire, oi which- they are its devoted children.”

DUKE OF YORK’S REPLY. OBJECT OF COMING TOUR. FURTHER CEMENT FOOD FEELING IN ANGLO-SAXON RACE. The Duke of York, replying, said lie hoped in the next six months to justify his claim to the title of “Pilgrim.” He said: “The Pilgrims Society’s object is the same as my journey, namely, the furthering of good feeling among different portions of the Anglo-Saxon race. The Premiers of the Dominions made their first public appearance in England during the first Imperial Conference at a Pilgrims’ dinner in 1901. I share your belief that tlie way' to promote a mutual understanding is by blunging the people together. The main principle in finding a solution of great problems, whether political or industrial, is by personal touch, learning to understand, even if we do- not agree with the other man s viewpoint. Lacking this atmosphere, suspicion is apt to arise among strangers. “Personal contact must broaden the mind. That is wliy' the Duchess and I so keenly are anticipating the Autralian and New Zealand tour. We hope, apart from tlie official ceremonies, to .see for ourselves tlie people’s life, and share their successes and difficulties. We are being given a great opportunity of partaking m the cementing of the Empire, and intend to avail ourselves thereof to tlie utmost. Mv brother, the Prince oi Wales, has shown us the way. we regret that the circumstances prevent our including in our journey any American territory, except Panama. Who is there who does not believe that a genuine lasting AngloAmerican friendship is essential to tli© peace of tlie world and »tne gross of humanity ? I hope kbjne day' that I shall be enabled to-'promote this spirit. It will be a proud day, when, like my brother, I can say, ‘Now, indeed, am I a true Pilgrim. —A. and N.Z.C.A. a MR BRUCE OFFERS WARM WELCOME TO AUSTRALIA.

Mr Bruce paid tribute to ■ Earl Balfour’s services at the Imperial Conference. He said the Conference’s report was one of the most valuablo documents ever presented in our history. “There is no necessity to stress the unity of the Empire, he said. “It will be even greater than in the years that have gone, and it rests upon our shoulders to take- advantage thereof.” In wishing the Duke and Duchess ot York God speed Mr Bruce offered them a warm welcome in Australia, particularly in view of the fact that they are opening the Commonwealth 1 arliament at Canberra. ' .... Among the messages of goodwill road at the gathering was one trom Mr Coates. —A.N.Z.C.A.