BOND OF THE MOTHER TONGUE

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15192, 12 April 1917, Page 4

BOND OF THE MOTHER TONGUE

An interesting article published recently by Mr J. P. Whelpley, an authority upon American affairs, pictures an ultimate alliance between Britain and the United States. It says: "Washington warned his countrymen against 'foreign entanglements,' but the present state of the world was not within the range of Washington's vision. He had no intimation as to how small the world was to become in the jostling of nations. For weal,or for woe America will soon take the path that leads to 'foreign entanglements.' It is now plainly intimated that America will soon be looking for a partner or for partners with whom she may hope to influence the world's affairs to the best interests of all concerned. It has never been seriously suggested that America would consider an alliance with any country other than Great Britain. No two nations speaking the same language are fighting against each ofnor in this war. It is also true that there can never be a perfect alliance between any two nations which do not speak the same tongue. There can be strong economic and military alliances between countries, these alliances being arranged by the respective Governments, the benefits fully appreciated by the peoples, and a mutual understanding existing between those individuals who are able to communicate with each other. A perfect alliance between two nations, if such a thing is possible, means that the people of each nation are able to visualise the habit of thought of the other, this not applying to the few who are particularly well informed, but to all, farmers, workmen, and business men, as well as scholars, diplomats of social cosmopolites. Between America and England, therefore, exists a bond like that between no other great countries in the world, with the exception of Germany and Austria, and the closeness of the alliance between Ihose two countries is tribute to the binding power of a mutual tongue; Itmay seem that too great stress is laid upon the common tongue, but this is not so for many reasons, most of which are peculiar to' America. The Government of that countrv is doni-d the privilege of secret diplomacy. No treaty can be made in which every shade of meaning that might be put into words known to every citizen and fully discussed in public before it is allowed to go into effect. The late John Hay, when tli-e American Secretary of State, negotiated nearly thirty treaties that were rejected by Congress. To propose an offensive and defensive alliance with a country who=e people spoke a language other than that employed in America would be a waste of time."