A GREAT EMPIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 August 1921, Page 5

A GREAT EMPIRE.

UNITY OF THE BRITISH. SPEECH BY MR. HUGHES. FAREWELL AT LONDON. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, August 22. Mr. W. M. Hughes was tendered a farewell luncheon by the British Empire League at Claridge’s Hotel. Mr. Winston Churchill presided. In the course of a speech Mr. Churchill referred to Mr. Hughes as one of those Empire statesmen who, rising above the accident of party, constituted one of the pillars upon which the great structure of the Empire and Commonwealth was erected. He came to London in days when the tragic perils of the great war were at their worst, exerting his influence for good. But whether in peace or war they could always count on Mr. Hughes. They knew that he set before all other objects of his life, the maintenance of the solidarity of the Empire, the great organisation without rival in history, that instrument for good without precedent. Mr. Churchill, continuing, said they had at the conference men of great distinction from the Dominions, statesmen of long-standing and ripe experience; on the other hand the British Government was represented by five Ministers whose executive experience averaged 15 years. Mr. Meighen was the youngest of the visitors, but even then their services in high office averaged 11 to 12 years. Mr. Hughes was one of those Empire statesmen who could be relied on whatever the weather. On his journey home he wished him God-speed. Received August 23, 5.5 p.m. London, August 23. Rising to reply to the toaet of his health at the farewell luncheon, Mr. Hughes received an ovation. He said he was glad to be among friends and was soryy to leave them. Mr. Churchill’s references recalled the tragic days when the Empire walked in the very shadow of death. It had been his privilege to meet again around the council table in peace tjiose colleagues and friends from the Dominions and the Government of Britain, that citadel of our race. The conference just concluded was memorable. It had done its work without fanfare of trumpets or beat of drums, but it had been work that would endure. The conference enunciated those doctrines, subscribed to decisions and confirmed principles which, in veritable truth, are the foundations of an enduring Empire. We were struck during the war by the interdependence of various parts of this Empire, one upon the other. While it was true that without Britain in the war we would have perished and the Dominions would have passed away, the converse was also correct, for without the Dominions victory was also impossible. The future depends upon unity. The conference solemnly indicated to the world that though selfjgoverning and in every way independent ‘the Dominions were really not many nations, but one. This was an epitome of bur race, marking the fullness of its development—first from a tribe to a najtiorj and then to an empire.

The security of the Empire depends upon the navy, but no navy can be maintained except upon the wealth of the people, which in turn depends upon the people of this country and every other part of the Empire eschewing the poisoned cup of Bolshevism. Yet there are many both in England and Australia who practised its doctrines, who would spurn its very name. The people of Russia had ploughed through a bloody morass of murder to a wilderness of .famine. Twenty-two million would per--ssh unless the world came to their aid. ut was not what was done to the bodies of the Russians that had destroyed them, but what had been done to their minds. Religion had been cast out and Bolshevism stood for the destruction of civilisation, which rested upon certain ideals. These were being broken down and civilisation must inevitably decay. “If I were asked how Russia might be saved I would say the Church must eave it,” he added.

It .should not be forgotten that the Dominions bought more from Britain in 1920 than America, Japan, China and Germany massed together. Here was a permanent and stable market for the British manufacturer feaay to hand. In fifty years he had nd doubt the population of the Dominions will out-number that of the British Isles. Concluding. Mr. Hughes said: “You have many problems to solve and I wish you good fortune in solving them. It may cheer you to know that I <*oo have many.”—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.