WEDNESDAY JUNE 22nd, 1921 Patea & Waverley Press AMERICA AND BRITAIN

Patea Mail, Volume XLV, 22 June 1921, Page 2

WEDNESDAY JUNE 22nd, 1921 Patea & Waverley Press AMERICA AND BRITAIN

Many who were opposed to Mr. Massey going Home will hold a totally different view now, on reading of the opposition that is being shown to the renewal of the Anglo-Japanese Treaty. History just now is in the making and the deliberations of the Imperial Conference which Mr- Massey is attending may be fraught with tremendous possibilities for the world at large. America for example is jealously watching-Brit-ain’s action with regard to Japan and may be relied upon to do her best to prevent a renewal of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. There arc many who declare that America would not be unwilling to resort to extreme measures to prevent Japan being in a position to challenge her to a trial of strength in the near future and the result may be Avar between Brintain and America A writer in the Metropolitan magazine points out that there are real and serious possibilities of Avar breaking out betAveen these lavo countries. It is no use he says, in declaring that Avar betAveen America and Britain is unthinkable for only sixty years ago ci\’il Avar Avas raging in the United States and surely civil Avar is more unthinkable than Avar betAveen lavo nations separated by more than 3,000 miles of Avater. The same Avriter goes on to remark—“ England and the other Allies oavc America ten million dollars Avhich they have not yet arranged to pay” but it is perhaps permissible to state that there is an unrecognised but none the less questionable contra account Avith America. For example lioav Avas the huge debt of Britam and her Allies to America incurred? Ans Aver; By putting up a buhvark of flesh and blood against the German menace to the Avhole AA'orld. The brunt of the terrific bloAv dealt by Germany Avas met by

France, Russia, Belgium and ourselves. That the war was fought by the Allies not only to protect themselves, but to protect America, was admitted by America on that day in 1917 when she herself entered the fight. One million. Britishers were killed in the war. C'jn.-iderably more than one million Frenchmen were killed. Considerably more than one million Russians were killed. Enormor numbers of Italians, Belgians and others were killed. In addition many millions of Britons and their Allies were blinded or crippled for life. All these appalling sacrifices were made not merely for Britain and Allied freedom, but for American freedom. The number of Americans Idled in the war was about 50,000, but no complaint is made by Britain that America did not bear her full share of the Avar, as the British people realize that had America been nearer to the danger zone, she Avould have entered the Avar sooner Avhen probably American losses Avould have been doubled America to-day realises that if it had it not been for the buhvark of British, French and Belgian flesh and blood put up against the German hordes, a German representative Avould have been found occupying the seat that President Harding occupies to-daw. Whether Britain reneAvs her Alliance Avith Japan or not it Avould be as avcll if Americans the Avorld over AA'ere to bear in mind the debt in lives that they oavc to Britain and the Allies—a debt Avhich dwarfs the ten million dollars in cash Avhich the Allies oavc to America through the Avar. If there is such a thing as gratitude on earth America should be found standing shoulder to shoulder Avith Britain instead of flying at her throat After all, blood is thicker than Avater and the Anglo speaking races should be found in agreement if they want the peace of the Avorld maintained.