EMPIRE'S LOYALTY

Grey River Argus, 9 January 1941, Page 2

EMPIRE'S LOYALTY

AUSTRALIAN NAVAL OFFICER. TELLS GREEK PRESSMEN. (Received January 8, 10.5 p.m.) RUGBY, January 7. A special correspondent, describing a visit of Australian sailors, in a Greek newspaper, "Ehnos,” writes: “Why is it that for so many generations that Australians remain so steadfastly loyal to the idea of Empire ?” ‘'ll is not only sentimental reasons, common bonds, language and blood, that unites us,” answers an officer. “England is the Mother Country. We have kept so many spiritual bonds with her. But a big percentage of our population are not of British extraction. Canada has a great number of French. South Africa is full of Boers. Australia has emigrants from all over the world. But to-day wc are fighting for the Empire, and the Empire has clear and distinct material meaning to all the inhabitants of the Dominions. Within the fold of the Empire wo have found wonderful prosperity. I have heard it said that England exploits us, sucks us dry. Rot ! I need only to tell you that the incomes, per head, of the inhabitants of Australia, New Zealand and Canada are greater than those of the Mother Country.”