LORD FISHER AND POLITICS

Patea Mail, Volume XLIII, 30 July 1919, Page 3

LORD FISHER AND POLITICS

KING EDAVARD “BACKS A AVINNEE.”

An amusing statement of his attitude towards politicians was made hy Admiral-Lord Fisher in a speech at a luncheon given in honour of Mr. Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the United States Navy. “Mr. Daniels talked to you a great deal about the League of Nations,” he said, ‘‘l think it would bo pleasant to you if I were to tell you all about America. I was there one week. He has been over here one week. (Laughter and cheers). I went over there for one week because my only son married the only daughter of a great Philadelphian. I think on account of that union of hearts you ought to have selected me as Ambassador to Washington ; but I am too young, (Laughter). King Edward, who was a very kind friend at one time—said : ‘‘Do you know you are the best-hated man in the British Empire ?” 1 said, ‘‘Yes, perhaps I am.” He said ‘‘Do you know that I am the only friend you havo ?” I said, ‘‘Perhaps Your Majesty is right ; but you have backed a winner.” (Loud cheers.) When afterwards I came out on top I said to him : ‘‘Do you remember I said you had backed a winner .' Well, you did, back one.” (Laughter.) Continuing, Lord Fisher said that when he was admiral in North America, and was at Bermuda, a deputation of American citizens came to him on July 4, and to toll the honest truth, ho had forgotten about it. (Laughter.) Ho told the deputation lie know what they had come there for. ‘‘You' know,” I said to them, “the greatest Englishman that ever lived was George Washington. Ho taught us how to rule our colonics. He (old us that freedom was the thing to give them. Why, if it had not boon for George Washington, America might havo been Ireland.” (Laughter.) “Now, as to the League of Nations, I forestalled our friend, Mr. Daniells. An American citizen whom I met took a paper out of his pocket, and asked me: “Have you read that?” I looked at it and saw that it was a speech by John Bright. That speech of John Bright is really very little known on this side of the Atlantic or on the other, but it so impressed mo at the time that I have been at it ever since. John Bright said he looked for the time when there would be a compulsory peace when those who spoke with the same tongue would have a great federation of free nations joined together Canada, Australia, Africa, America and England. But they have made the capital at Geneva, instead of at Jerusalem. (Laughter.) I have no politics. (Laughter.) When I first went to the Admiralty, the First Lord asked me my polities. I said : “Mr. Goschon, I have voted consistently for both sides.” (Great laughter.) “I vote for whoever gives most money to the Navy.” (Hoar, hear.) And I said, “You can play the fool with all sorts of tilings and very nearly wreck your country, but the one thing that you must, not play the fool with is the Navy. Therefore, whether he was a Radical or a Socialist nr a blue-blooded Tory, it was well so long as ho handed out the money” (Laughter.)