MR. HUGHES AGAIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22949, 29 January 1938, Page 10

MR. HUGHES AGAIN

SPEECH IN SYDNEY [COLLEAGUES EMBARRASSED REFERENCES TO GERMANY [from OCR OWN correspondent] SYDNEY. Jan. 22 Australia's war-time Prime Minister, and now Minister of External Affairs, Mr. William M. Hughes, is in hot water again. He made a speech in Sydney on which has embarrassed his Cabinet colleagues, and although it is expected that this episode will blow over without further comment, any further breach by Mr. Hughes may lead to a break similar to that which resulted from his publication about 18 months ago of his strong personal views on tho futility of applying economic sanctions. Mr. Hughes made a long speech to the Legacy Club, an organisation which helps the dependants of ex-servicemen, and most of it was taken up with an illuminating survey of present world conditions, the conflict between democracy and totalitarianism, tho colossal expenditure on armaments, and a warning to Australia to defend herself. But sandwiched in between this magnificent matter was a reference to Germany that his Cabinet colleagues disliked .- "If permanent peace could be bought. I would be prepared to pay for it," said Mr. Hughes, "but I would not pay for something that would be a snack for a hungry jungle tiger." He added that one causo of war was the complaint of the countries that were "have-nots" against the "haves." Germany was clamouring for the return of her colonies, but her arguments were unconvincing. Before 1914 she had those colonies, but that had not prevented 'War. In Canberra it was declared that Mr. Hughes had no authority to speak on behalf of the Cabinet and that the statements represented Mr. Hughes' own views. Some of the Ministers, it was stated, strongly resented Mr. Hughes' outspoken comments on a matter of considerable delicacy, and it is. believed that a suggestion will be made to > him that he should display greater discretion in the future. No one imagines for a moment that such a warning will keep the irrepressible Mr. Hughes tongue-tied.