THE BRITISH PEOPLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22196, 24 February 1934, Page 13

THE BRITISH PEOPLE

FREE AND SELF DISCIPLINED INFLUENCE IN THE WORLD. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, February 21. (Received Feb. 23, at 5.5 p.m.) In a speech to the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce Sir John Simon referred to the increased interest which the British public was taking in the foreign policy and international relations. He said the greatest of all contributions that the Government could make to trade was to promote the peace of the world and a spirit of confidence between peoples. In cvei-y great State confronted with social and economic difficulties which were the aftermath of the war, an effort was being made to concentrate national authority and work more effectively for what were believed to be the great national needs. Whereas in other countries much had been accomplished at the price of immense sacrifice of constitutional tradition, they in Britain were endeavouring to do it with the smallest compromise with freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and with parliamentary government and everything that stood in the name of civil liberty. He thought it added to their influence in ■'the world that the British nation remained and would remain • free and self-disciplined people.