EXPLORATORY VOYAGE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17068, 28 September 1929, Page 5

EXPLORATORY VOYAGE

PREMIER’S U.S. VISIT GREAT POSSIBILITIES GOOD WISHES OF ALL PARTIES. (British Official Wireleiir.) Roc. Noon. RUGBY, Sept. 27. Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, who leaves London for Southampton to-night, and will sail on the Berengcria early tomorrow morning, will take to the United States the good wishes of all his countrymen for the successful termination of his mission, The Manchester Guardian , to day states: “People of all parties join in the belief that the forthcoming Washington understanding, of .which the foundations were laid by all British parties, will lie marking a -date in history. The visit is to be in the nature of concord between the two nations, and something should bo settled at ‘Washington for a five-Power conference —-the problem that lies ahead, ami which must he held before disarmament in earnest can be launched.” The Guardian concludes from the absence of any naval expert from the Prime. Minister’s party, that a full agreement has. been reached and accepted by the Brit’sh Admiralty. Those accompanying Mr. MacDonald are Sir Robert Vansittnrt, who is his principal private secretary, as he was to the ex-Primo Minister, Mr. Baldwin, and who is also Under-Secretary at the Foreign Office,-.and late head of the American department there; Mr. Thomas Jones, who has been deputySecretarv to Cabinet during the terms of office of tho last, four Prime Ministers; and Mr. Robert Ciaigio, present head of the American department at tin; Foreign Office; while the ladies of the party are Miss Ishbcl MacDonald, ■ the Prime Minister's daughter, and his private secretary, Miss Rosenberg. EFFORT FOR, SECURITY.

The Daily Herald to-day reproduces a letter from Mr MacDonald in which tho latter, referring to his inability to attend tho anual conference of the Labor Party, which will take place dining his absence, says : “I go on a voyage of exploration. The greatest contribution which this generation can make to tile history of the world is to establish peace amongst tho nations, and induce them to feel a sense of security. The United States and ourselves, having the same objects, should proclaim them with a united voice. Good and cordial relations between us two can change the outlook for peace, and give the world energetic faith, instead of hesitating scepticism. 1 go away to see what can be done, and with the help of my colleagues in the Labor movement, and of every influence making for peace, who dares to* say that success is impossible?” Prior to his departure the Prime Minister made the following statement to the press: “I am looking forward very much to my visit to the United States and Canada, and to the renewal of, and making of new friendships there, but, of course, this is an official visit, and is concerned with public affairs. Ido not expect my stay in Washington to lead to spectacular developments. One reason for this is that the current negotiations concerning naval disarmament have been carried so far that they have now to be brought to a wider international stage. “Before there could bn any progress in naval disarmament, it was necessary for Washington and London to devise a means for terminating the deadlock which had arisen between them at the Geneva Conference in 1927. I am glad to say that we have made such good progress in this work that the moment has, we hope, come when the five naval Powers who signed the Washington treaties can bo invited to join and ensure a common happy, issue to the conference. FIVE-POWER CONFERENCE “If all goes well, the five-Power conference will be held early in the new year. If it succeeds it will supply the Preparatory Disarmament Commission of the League of Nations with a substantial contribution 1o naval disarmament.’ The preparatory commission would then be free to proceed with its general work, and it will later on be possible for the League - (if Nations .to summon a general disarmament conference of all nations; towards which it has long been working.” . The Prime Minister added: “Such, briefly, is the situation regarding disarmament, but that is not the only impulse that moves me to go to America. I want very much to see President Hoover once again, and meet other American public men, many of whom 1 know already. We have so much work to do which cannot be done unless we understand and have confidence in each other. The history of the Anglo-Ameri-can naval situation during the past three years proves, if proof is needed, that the 'closest possible understanding between the two nations is of greatest importance, not only for those nations, hit for the world. I have always felt that personal contact between those responsible for the government in Washington and London is essential if tha. understanding is to be developed as fully as we all wish it to be. Both nation's have a great role to nlay in the advancement, not only of disarmament, but of many other democratic and moral issuewith which their history is associated. T ant off in tip: hope of being able to dsomething to narrow the Atlantic. ’