NATURAL AFFINITIES

Waikato Times, Volume 101, Issue 16946, 8 November 1926, Page 7

NATURAL AFFINITIES

AUSTRALIANS AND AMERICANS MR BRUCE’S RECENT SPEECH. MADE FOR A TWOFOLD PURPOSE, (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Received November 8, 9.15 a.m.) NEW YORK, November 7. The Times in an editorial says tho natural affinity of Australians for Americans to which Mr S. M. Bruce, the Australian Prime Minister, gave picturesque expression, by remarking that Australia would have sided with American colonists in the revolution, is a factor in world peace which some of us are prone to overlook. Mr Bruce’s words are said to have caused surprise to some British Tories. It is unfashionable these days in Europe for, anyone in authority to express sympathy for America’s attitude. Mr Bruce was killing two birds with one stone. He reminded the American audience before whom he spoke that on many questions his people and ours feel alike, lie was, at the same time, expressing to the English people the strong sentiment of the Australians that they are entitled to the fullest measure of autonomy within the frama of the Empire. That Australia possesses independence in everything but the label of government ha 6 long been obvious. Trouble-mongers occasionally have endeavoured to .pretend that the natural relations between Australians and Americans might ultimately •lead the Australians, to -cleave to tha United States rather than England.”