MacDONALD LEAVES.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 231, 30 September 1929, Page 7

MacDONALD LEAVES.

Crowds Cheer Prime Minister On Journey To U.S.A. IMPORTANCE OF MISSION. ("Times" Cables.) LOXDOX, September 29. A wonderful send-off was given to . the Prime Minister, Mr. Mac Donald, yesterday on his historic mission to the United States. Crowds of people gathered at Waterloo station in the evening to witness his departure to Southampton to join the liner Berengaria. Distinguished people had to fight their way through thousands of spectators to reach the platform, and during the struggle Mr. Tom Shaw, Secretary of State for War, lost his watch. The United States Ambassador, Mr. C. G. Dawes, and many members of the Cabinet were waiting when the Prima Minister and Mi&s Ishbel Mac Donald arrived. There were resounding cheers when Mr. Mac Donald and his daughter stood together to have their photographs taken. Then the Prime Minister ard Mr. Dawes faced a battery of cameras. The train slowly steamed out of the station fifteen minutes late, amid redoubled cheers and singing of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." This completely drowned "The Bed Flag," which was sung by a few people in the crowd. "Tired But Well." On his arrival at Southampton Mr. Mac Donald looked tired but otherwise well. He was conducted to a luxurious, self-contained suite on the liner, which was intended for the ex-Kaiser before the war when the Berengaria was called the Imperator. Before the Prime Minister sailed he left a message for the Labour Party Conference at Brighton to be commenced on Monday. Mr. Mac Donald warned liis party in reference to home legislation that time was needed to study the various problems and to prepare plans which would be capable of withstanding the most severe test of criticism in the ' House of Commons. Significance of Visit.

The New York Press hails the depar ture for the United States of Mr. MacDonald. The "Herald Tribune" says: "There is something momentous in tho thought that the Prime Minister of Britain is now on his way to the United States. Only the historian wih be able to assess the full significance of his visit. The moment, indeed, is auspicious and the statesmen of both Powers should strain every nerve to take full advantage of the visit." The "New York Times" deplores the tendency of France to see in the friendship of Britain and America an AngloSaxon domination over the world. It says a rapprochement between Britain and America would be an enormous gain for security. When the two countries agree among themselves they will make an enormous contribution to general peace. The "New York World" says: "The visit involves a recognition of the profound community of interest between the United States and Britain, which lies beneath the surface differences about cruisers, debts and the like." A message from Washington says Sir Esme Howard, British Ambassador to the United Statee, in an interview, said: "As I sense the prevailing sentiment jf this country toward Mr. Mac Donald's visit it is one of warm welcome to him personally combined with the sincere hope that he and the President, Mr. Hoover, may completely succeed in their negotiations." Most of Mr. Mac Donald's time in America will be spent with Mr. Hoover, either at White House or at the President's new fishing camp in Virginia. It is proposed to leave the two leaders much together so that they may smooth away the existing difficulties and prepare for a final agreement if possible at the coming naval conference. ■