INTER-RACIAL REGARD

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17116, 23 November 1929, Page 19

INTER-RACIAL REGARD

BRITAIN STANDS WELL CORDIAL FEELING IN GERMANY TOURISTS' TREATED WITH RESPECT Among the most important considerations of the present day is the standing of the British Empire with the nations formerly allied with her or combined against her in the life and death struggle of the Great War. The past 10 years have brought many changes in the international situation, some of them temporary, and others but foreshadowing greater changes from the immediate post-war situation. There are constantly arising iew questions of policy as between, one nation and another, and confronted by the kaleidoscopic whirl of international politics the lay mind is reluctant to absorb lasting impressions. It is bv contact with individuals and groups of other nationalities, rather than by study of international situations, that the average man gains his ideas where his race stands in the world of to-day.

In his recently concluded tour abroad, Mr. W. R. Barker, of Gisborne, gathered some interesting impressions of the regard in which the British people is held in the countries he visited. For instance, in Prance, life observed no indication of the hostility to British tourists that some four or live years ago led to serious disturbances in the streets and acrimonious discussions in ti/e press of England and France. The French people are again friendly, though their regard for Britain is still tempered. and there is not the show of cordiality which British tourists were accustomed to meet with in pre-war years. RHINELAND OCCUPATION

On the other hard, in Germany there is every mark of respect for Britain and the British, and apparently the bearing of the Home Government towards the question of the Rhine occupation lias had a profound effect, enhanced if possible by the considerate behaviour of our troops during the period of the occupation. At the time Mr. Barker visited Germany, travelling through the Black Forest area and down the Rhine, the occupation was still operative, but talking with German citizens he found no feeling of irksome restraint among them, while the British ollieers with whom he had the opportunity of discussing the matter all informed him that the erstwhile enemy had takm their presence as a matter, of course, and had generally accepted the necessity for occupation in a good spirit. They would be glad enough to get home again to their own country, he heard from these officers, but they would part from their former < ncmies with the best of feeling. Mr. Barker intimated that there was no mistaking the difference between the standing of the British and the French troops of occupation, in tim eyes of the Germans. Travelling in Italy, where he spent some time on tho in the lyocaiuo district, thd Gisborne tourist found the population entirely respectful to Britain and the British, bat he received the impression that their attitude was similar to that of the french, unwarned by any special cordiality. JAPANESE FRIENDLINESS

Another highly interesting impression was recorded during the early portion of his tour when he visited Japan, for I hero he found the peoplo quite warm in their traditional friendship for the British, but entirely puzzled and rather chagrined by the refusal of the British colonies’ to reciprocate in the matter of friendliness. It was rather an awkward situation for a tourist to find these people, enjoying a culture largely British in its inspiration and an industrial development superior to those of tho majority of Western countries, demanding the reason for the colonies’ dislike of their yellow' faces. He had been asked just that question: “Why do you nob like our yellow faces?” and it had not been an easy question to answer. Japan presented a problem for the whit© races, without a doubt, for the population was increasing at an astonishing rate, and must find some outlet eventually, no matter what shifts the country made to accommodate its teeming people. The outburst might ho postponed to a time that would not .affect this generation of white peoplo, hut to Mr. Barker’s mind, it must come eventually. Under the circumstances, it. was pleasant to reflect that even the general feeling of injustice regarding the question of color hadynot yet affected the traditional friendliness of Japan lor the British people. Tho Egyptian people with whom Mi. Barker came in contact did not give any impression of hoStilty to Britain, though the relations between the two countries’ governments had been difficult at times during the past few years, it was noticeable, however, that the old-time respect for touring Britons among the lower classes met with in the maritime cities such as Port Said and Suez had waned considerably, this change of attitude being epitomised by the aggressive and assertive activities or hawkers and street salesmen m their efforts to exploit the tourist- trade However, in the inland cities there was none of this thrusting commercialism shown, and in the bazaars a (Briton under proper guidance had no occasion to fear insult or overbearing behaviour on tho part of the n< ntives.__