AMERICA AND BRITAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18021, 21 February 1922, Page 7

AMERICA AND BRITAIN.

TIES STRONGER THAN EVER.

PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRACY.

VIEWS OF METHODIST BISHOP.

" Great Britain would havo won the war without the help of the American armies if our country had continued to furnish munitions and money. It is a matter of deep regret to a fast number of American people that we wore not with the Allies right from the start, for the valour of the British soldiere and the conduct of the British people during tlio war won our highest admiration."

These sentiments were expressed yesterday by Bishop C. E. Locke, head of the American Methodist Episcopal Church in tho Philippines, who a. rived by tho Niagara, and who will convey to New Zealand Methodists at the forthcoming centenary conference tho greetings of the American Methodist Church. Delegate of the Board of Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Bishop Lucke brirgs with him the good wishes of the whole of Methodism on the American Continent, and as the first Methodist Bishop who has visited New Zealand, will be assured of a very cordial welcome from Methodists of the Dominion. '

" I hope that my visit may do some thing toward establishing the relationship of Methodism in New Zealand more ii timately with that of America," continued tho bishop, " anj I wish also to assure al! British people in this country that the rank and file of the American people nro heart and soul with British ideals and with the great progress that has been made by British people m the principles of democracy."

Reverting to tho topic of the war, Bishop Locke averred that the American Republican party en masse was in favour of the United States entering the war long before declaration of war was made. " In California, which is overwhelmingly Republican, there was a strong feeling that the declaration should have been made two years earlier, and that American soldiers should have been fighting in France side by side with the Allies," he said. " When war was finally declared, there was great enthusiasm,and a feeling of satisfaction that America ha/I at last done the right thing. But for the pacificist and pro-German element, whicli was greater than is generally realised, wo should have been in, with you long before, although I firmly believe'that the Allies would have won tl rough without our help, had we continued to supply money and munitions." The bonds between America and Great Britain were now stronger than ever, continued the bishop. There were still a few jingoistic spirits in both countdes who were trying to stir up trouble, cynics and fault-finders who seemed influenced by some psychic condition of antagonism ajid unrest, probably an aftermath of war. A certain section of the press, on the lookout for anything sensational, was onlv too willing to give prominence to the utterances of such people, while it certain undefinable antipathy, based upon misunderstanding ardl mistrust, helped the unworthy antagonism along. It therefore devolved upon those who stood for peace and progress to do all in their power to cement the present bonds of good feeling between the two countries, and to grasp every opportunity of clear- | ing away misunderstandings and friction.