PREMIER AT NEW YORK

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 270, 14 October 1929, Page 8

PREMIER AT NEW YORK

3 P-M- EDITION

DISCUSSIONS WITH PRESIDENT. SINCERE PURPOSE. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received October 14. 10.50 a.m. RUGBY, Oct. 13. Mr Ramsay MacDonald was a guest at a dinner given by the Council of Foreign Relations. On this occasion Mr MacDonald addressed in effect the people of the United States. His speech was broadcast by 70 stations throughout America. The veteran American statesman, Mr Elihu Root, presided. Mr MacDonald said that He wanted the world to know that during the entire course of the conversations between President Hoover and himself there had never been any idea of an exclusive understanding between Britain and the United States. Nothing had been discussed which the two Governments would not be happy to see discussed on the same basis with all the Powers of the world. The understanding they had beeq trying to establish -would always bo incomplete and unsatisfactory until it became the common possession of all nations of the earth.

Referring to the suspicions regarding his conversations with President Hoover, the Prime Minister said : “These suspicions arise because the people who entertain them have no conception of the new spirit that is making up its mind to govern and dominate the world—the spirit of open diplomacy, the spirit of men coming together not, for the purpose of dividing the world into alliances and groups, but for the purpose by their own agreement of helping the world to come to an agreement that will be universal. The Prime Minister continued:

“Our navy is the very life of our nation. We have romance surrounding it. We are a people of the sea. We are a small island. Europe is at our doors for good or ill. The lines of our Empire have been thrown all over the face of the earth. We have to import our food. A month’s blockade effectively carried out would starve us all. Britain’s navy is Britain itself. The sea is our- security and our safety.

“I hope that your imagination will enable you to see the affection, a real understandable human affection, that is gathered around our ships and how hard it is to jjet tho British people to feel security if their naval arm is limited in any way whatever. i

“I put that in front of you not as the final word, but as a plea for understanding, patience and goodwill.

Mr MacDonald spent a quiet weekend in New York. He has had a strenuous time. He and his party will leave for Canada to-morrow morning.