PATER’S CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3512, 5 July 1921, Page 54

PATER’S CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

‘ THE PAN-PACIFIC UNION, AT THE OCEAN’S CROSS ROADS: ITS AIMS AND OBJECTS.” 1 am one of two or three who are in leceipt of the l’an-Pacific Union Bulletin, and 1 see that Air F. Milner, rector of the AVaitaki Boys’ High School is to go as one of the Congress of Educationists which is to meet at Honolulu on August 11. 1 had ready a* Chat for this week and one for next week, but 1 must hold them back for one on Honolulu. The Americans are taking a great interest in the. celebrations, and it° may be that the British will allow jealously to take the place of doing. Two or three tunes I have given Chats about this “Cross Road” of the Pacific. Was it not last September that the Kduc<ition Jioard jocularly referred to Balboa as a racehorse ? Here is a. copy of the Pan-Pacific chaiter. It is rather long, hut read it through, and you will see that Honolulu is going to be a great centre, commercially and strategically : 1. To call in conference delegates from all Pacific peoples for the purpose of discussing and furthering the interests common to Pacific nations. 2. Jo maintain in Hawaii and other Pai ific lands bureaus of information and education concerning matters of interest to the people of the Pacific, and to disseminate to the world information of every kind of progress and opportunity in Pacific lands, and to promote the comfort and interests of all visitors. 3. io aid and insist those ip all Pacific communities to better understand each other, and to work together for the furtherance of the best interests of the land of their adoption, and, through them to spread abroad about the Pacific the friendly spirit of inter-racial co-operation. 4. in assist and to aid the different races in lands of the Pacific to co-operate in local fail’s, to raise produce, and to create home manufactured goods. o. Io own real estate, erect buildings needed for housing exhibits: provided and maintained by the respective local committees. 6. To maintain a Pan Pacific Commercial Museum, and Art Gallery. 7. To create dioramas, gather exhibits, books and other Pan-Pacific material of educational or instructive value. B. io promote and conduct a iPan-Pncifio Exposition of (he handicrafts of the Pacific peoples, of their works of art, and scenic dioramas of the most beautiful bits of Pacific lands, or illustrating great Pacific industries. 9. To establish and maintain a permanent college and “clearing house” of information (printed and otherwise) concerning the lands, commerce, peoples, and trade opportunities in countries of the Pacific, creating libraries of commercial knowledge, and training men in this commercial knowledge of Pacific lands. 10. To secure the co-operation and support of Federal and State governments, chambers of commerce, city governments, and of individuals. 11. To enlist for this work of publicity in behalf of Alaska, the Territory of

Hawaii, and the Philippines, Fedttal aid and financial support, as well as similar co-operation and support from all Pacific governments. 12. To bring all nations and peoples about the Pacific Ocean into closer friendly and commercial contact and relationship. It is stated in the latest issue of the Bulletin, that Dr P. p. Claxton, United States Commissioner of Education, will be tne acting chairman of the Pan-Pacific Educational Conference. He will take with him six educators of national reputation. He sets the dates down for August 11 to August 21, and the State Department of the United States has issued invitations to the governments of the 1 acific to participate, and to send delegates to the Conference. His chief assistant*, Dr F. F. Bunker will act as secretary to the Conference, until the return of Dr Henry Jackson, president of the National Community Board, who is visiting Hawaii to cie.uc it a part "of the newer education of mankind.” It will lie seen that Americans are entering enthusiastically into the arrangements to make the meeting a successful one. New Zealand statesmen are on the !,v T- I s Lie Right Hon. Air Massey one? lhe King oi Siam is now an honorary president of the Pan-Pacific Union, “and his name completes the circle of Pacific governments whose heads are officials of the Union.”

T ! le Tving of Sfam, Chao Fa Alaha Vajiravudh, was born January 1, 1881, and is now styled King Rama' VI. “The r°A al dignity is nominally hereditary,” but each sovereign has the privilege of nominating his own successor; and it was officially announced that until the new King has male issue the succession will pass presumptively through the line of the Queen mother’s sons. Therefore Prince Chao Fa, Chrakrabougs Phuvanarth, born March 3, 1881, is the heir presumptive.” 'The President, Warren G. Harding, is alvo brought into the orbit of the “Cross Roads City. Here is a portion of a tvped letter sent to the officials :

I have long been, as you suggest, deeply interested in the great problems of the Pacific country, whose development in most cases is yet in its earliest stages, the vast interests cf our country in the Pacific arc the guaranty that must always entertain a lively concern for the economic arid social development of that part of the world. I am very glad to accept your invitation to become an honorary member of the Union, and to comply with your request for an autographed photograph of myself. Ibis shows what the Americans think of it. Who represents New Zealand with Air Milner? JAPAN LOOMS UP. Last week’s Witness contains Mr Llovd George’s Empire speech which should be read with this Chat. SURVEY' OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS. I will not anticipate Lord Curzon’s statement, but should like to refer to the relations of the Empire with the United States and Japan. There is no quarter of the world where we desire more greatly to maintain peace and {airplay for all nations and to avoid competition in armaments than in the Pacific and the Far East. Our alliance with Japan has been a valuable factor in the past. We have found Japan a faithful ally who rendered us valuable assistance in an hour of serious critical need. Ihe Empire will not easily forget tnat the Japanese men-of-vvar escorted our transports bringing Australian and New Zealand forces to Europe at the time when German cruisers were still in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. We desire to preserve that well-tried friendship, and to apply it to the solution of all questions in the Far East where Japan has special interests, and where vve ourselves, like the United States, desire equal opportunities and an open door. Not the least question is the future of China which looks to us, as to the United States, for sympathetic treatment and fairplay. No greater calamity could overtake the world than a further accentuation of the world's divisions upon lines of race. Ihe Empire lias done signal service to humanity bv bridging these divisions in the past. * The loyalty of the Kings of Asiatic peoples is a proof of this. To depart from that policy, to fail in that duty, would not only greatly increase the dangers of international war. it would divide the British Empire against itself. Our foreign policy can never range itself in anv sense upon the differences of race and civilisation between the F.’-ast and the West. It would be fatal to the Empire. Think vvliat this means on differences of race, naval armaments, and general survey of foreign affairs. Last week's Witness contains enough, if seriously thought out. to last a month, and then enough will he left over for further consideration.