PEACE MISSION

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 15, 7 October 1929, Page 5

PEACE MISSION

MR MCDONALDS VISIT THE ARRIVAL In AMERICA IMPRESSIVE WELCOME GIVEN NEW YORK, Oct. i, Mr Railway Mac Donab 1 was enthusiastically acclaimed as he set liis foot on American soil this morning. The Berengaria was escorted in by the cruisers Memphis ai'd Trenton. The welcoming committee boarded the liner. Mr MacDonald, Miss Ishbel MacDonald and party wore taken on board the city tug Macoin, proceeding to the tip of Manhattan Island. At the Battery, vessels of all descriptions gave a mighty whistle in salute while the guns at Port Jay on Governor's Island thundered nineteen guns. When interviewed ne said: "The United Spates and ourselves are really making an appeal by example to arl nations to gather Wand the council board of peace so that whilst cherishing their historical past and engaging all the healthy rivalries of genius, skill and work, they will remember the wider unities of humane civilisation.'' While on board the city tug Mr MacDonald answered . questions informally and frankly and when asked regarding the reaction of other Powers to the British and American reapproachment he replied; "If we stood side by side for peace who could stand against us? Any mutua; understanding reached between our countries will be welcomed on the Continent. The thing that makes Europe afraid is the enmity of other peoples. They are not afraid of friendship." After Mr MacDonald's arrival ho was given an official welcome and escoted to the City Hall where he was presented with the freedom of the city. Crowds that lined the streets to

obtain a glimpse of the Prime Minister were not as numerous as those which Welcomed the Trais-Atlantic airmen, but they were nevertheless obviously , sincere and* proferred a warm greeting. Mr MacDonald issued a ■ statement saying: "At the moment of arrival, when I greet my hosts, his Majesty lias honoured me by telegraphing his good wishes for the success of the missioni which is to have a benefit far beyond the boundaries of o'ur two countries." .Mr MacDonald, in the course of, his statement to the newspapers said: *'You almost make me afraid by the boundless hospitality you seem to be preparing for me, I hope I shall be equal to your kindness. The problem of armaments is full of hidden diffi\ culties and patient working at the details in an atmosphere of mutual confidence is required to overcome them. I c?ave judgment from you as generously sympathetic as your welcome is tat be generously lavish. When I return and it is all over, I pray that I shall leave behind me some memories which will make it easy for you to think well of Great Britain and be a v reason for close co-operation between your country and mine in the great causes of democracy and liberty, which inspire the peoples on both sides of the Atlantic." ; An accident was narrowly averted at the quarantine when the hawser holding the Macom to the Berengaria, parted as Mr MacDonald wiis preparing to step on board. The Macom slid back several feet, almost pulling the gang plank off the deck. The Premier was Earned back and the hawser was readjusted by the police. The band in the accompanying tug played "Rule Britannia." Among the first to grasp the Premier's hand as he stepped ashore was the secretary, Colonel Stimsot, who was with Sir Esme Howard 'and had waited at the pier. The Civic Welcome An Anglo-American mutual understanding will be welcomed in Europe. Mr MacDonald told the newspaper men. He said that the British Government was facing unemployment with Time would tell with what gress.Thousands of people who lined tho route to the City Hall showered ticker tape on the procession. There was an even greater crowd at the City Hall park. '''^'''^WWgj The Premier, with his cheeks glowing and sparkling, seemed in high • good humour as he bowed, smiling and waving his hat in greeting. He was escorted" to. the aldermanic chamber, where the Mayor (Mr James Walker) and the Secretatv of the State of New York (Mr "Edward Elynn) greeted him in the name of the city and State. Mr Walker presented the Premier with an embossed scroll from the city to which Mr MacDonald made a brief response. The Mayor then escorted him and party to automobiles, which whisked them to Pennsylvania station, where he will board a special train for Washington. . SIMILARITY OF IDEALS FUTURE CO-OPERATIVE ACTION WASHINGTON. Oct. 5. Mr MacDonald and Mr Hoover spent 12 minutes in conversation at White House to-day and no matter how informal it may have been one cannot lose sight of the fact that the Prime Minister in the innumerable times he has been interviewed from the moment he landed at New York

until he dressed for the Embassy dinner, reiterated that the purpose of his ( talks with the President were "to lay a basis of good feeling and friendship j that will make less probable misunderstanding in future relations between the British Empire and the United I States." It is known, moreover, that Mr : MacDonald feels that few people realise that agreement in the forthcoming naval conference will be but the beginning of a struggle for world-wide disarmament, and will only be a prelude to even broader international effort before the League Disarmament Commission, in which Britain and the United States must play dominant roles. It may also be said with the utmost authority, that no illusions are entertained about the difficulties which lie ahead of the'disarmament programme. When a naval agreement is made the Powers will then have to take up, in relation to that agreement, problems of disarmament in the air and on the land, and in those, as in naval questions, Britain and tho United States will have to play an important " part if ultimate success • be achieved. The present English Government, and, gene-ally speaking, the people of the whole Empire, are not greatly concerned about tho number of ships America builds, but neither the United States nor Britain can leave Out' of consideration the ships other nations build, and the navies of Britain and the United States must be regulated accordingly. Both nations, therefore, are anxious to dispel any conception that they are going to lay down upon the table of the impending naval conference a signed agreement between themselves. Events at the conference itself will, in a large part, dictate the nature and kind of vessels that both Britain and the United States will agree to build or limit. While the idea of an Anglo-American alliance has not been even remotely in the minds of the statesmen, the feeling is that as far as world problems are involved, the Anglo-Saxon peoples see them in essentially the same way and that sooner or later this similarity of ideals must, of necessity, translate itself into co-operative action. UNITED BRITISH SENTIMENT LONDON, Jet. 6. . Tho whole British Press of all shades of politics approves of Mr MacDonald's mission and wishes him success. The Morning Post, which is a most severe critic of the Labour Government, endorses Mr MacDonald's claim that he represents the united nation on this occasion, and adds, "The happiest prelude had been achieved for the fructification of the negotiations when the Prime Minister crossed the Atlantic." PROCEED TO CAMP. A RUGGED SETTING. WASHINGTON, Oct. 6. The American and British peoples talk together this week-end through their elected leaders. The rugged setting is the fishing camp where Mr Hoover is host to Mr MacDonald at his summer retreat, 2500 feet above sea level in the Bme Ridge mountains, Virginia. There they are pursuing the conversations which both hope will make for an understanding between the United States and Britain and thus further international peace. Mr Hoover and Mr MacDonald rode from Washington to the camp on Saturday in the first of a dozen cars which made the trip. Mrs Hoover and Ishbel drove by themselves, with the President's wife at the wheel. The party includes the Secretary of State, Mr Stimson, Sir Robert Vansittart, principal secretary to Mr MacDonald and Under-Secretary for Foreign Agairs, Mr R, L. Craigic, chief of the American Division of the British and Foreign Office, Mr Lawrence Richey, one of Mr Hoover's secretaries, Lieut.-Comman-der Joe] T. Boone, personal physician to the President. At Washington on Saturday, Mr Mac Donald was the guest at the Stag Lunchron at the British Embassy, given by Sir Esme Howard. Ho afterwards visiter the Canadian and Irish Free State legation, the Vice-Presi-dent, Mr Curtis, and the Chief Justice, Mr Taft. Hard Nuts to Crack Mr MacDonald admits that recognition of Russia and the question of the freedom of the seas are among the hard

nuts that both men will try to crack, The last-mentioned problem, from the point of view of practical politics in America, is of extreme importance. To avoid complicating the delicate approach to Anglo-American naval accord, consideration of the freedom of seas for neutrals in time of war was avoided during tho long distance negotiations between Mr Hoover and Hr MacDonald. It is pointed out, however, that Senator Borah, in tho key to the position, has already stated that any accord which does not carry British surrender of the right to seize neutral vessels in wartime, would be unsatisfactory. However, despite these rumours ; and shadows, it is clear from the do- j velooment of the day, that since Mr MacDonald arrived at Washington, both he and Mr Hoover are in close operation toward the attainment of their broader purpose —that of advancing international relations by whatever honourable means available. In the meantime there is every indication that to the puupie of the United States and the British Empire, the conversations are the biggest news of the day. The New York Times devoted three pages tluveto to-dav, while the cable companies announce that 35,000 winds were cabled by British correspondents to England and the Dominions. LEAGUE COUNCIL AUSTRALIAN SEAT DUBLIN, Oct, Ck With reference to the Free State's claim to Canada's seat on the League Council, the Irish Times says: "Perhaps Mr Gilligan will succeed in his attempt to oust Australia from membership of the Council and perhaps lie will fail. Tin; Melbourne Argus advises him to not lo count his chickens before they are hatched, but, who will dare oppose the candidature of the nation who has gi -en a lead to the world in the matter of disarmament? Has Geneva killed our proverbial sense of humour. The Free State has become a partner in the greatest family of nations the world has ever known, yet her representatives have set themselves to weaken the links which bind the members of that family together.