IMPROVED RELATIONS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 3, 28 September 1918, Page 7

IMPROVED RELATIONS

BETWEEN AMERICA AND AUSTRALIA INCREASED POSSIBILITIES OF (Rec September 1 . 27,' 8.30 p.m •) Washington, September 26. ' "Mr. : ¥'. £.'. Line. ' Secretary' of tha. lilterrori interviewed by the' Australian • Press -Association's correspondent, ■ said he was delighted-at Australia's decision to establish offices int America. Such a step would bo a tremendous advantage to' Australia", "whose possibilities tie- United States was only beginning to realise. "We regard Australia, as a fullrbro.ther. ... . Our relations .during the next .few;.years will improve more rapidly than in the last fifty years. The Anzacs' magnificent wo'rk ••in the war has'forged a link with ourselves which can never, be broken. One year hence we, shall probably have four.-million of our boys on the Westi front mixing with Australians, and thus understanding one another better, and strengthening the common ties... . The Panama C anal bririgs Australia nearer in a shipplng'sen-tie, and greatly increases the possibilities of .trade." We expect Australia.-.to cooperate with us in developing this "lommerce. Mr. Hughes's brilliant speeches and-activities made uiin cm of the most prbmirient visitors on this side of the Pacific, and his efforts on behalf of Australia wiil. have far-reach-ing results. ' 1 am deeply interested in Australia's timely plans for. repatriation after the war, and also in the work of. the British l Imtri'gration League. Amerk'i is -' contemplating .''similar."measures,-' and is applying a ' .'millidin dollars to the preliminary pro-gramme."—Aus'.-N.Z. Cable Assu. SPACES '. CAPABLE OF GREAT DEVELOF- . MENT. . ..,,... "(Rec. September 27, 11.15 p.m.) •

Ottawa, September 27. Mr. W. C. Eedfield, Secretary of Commerce, .said that' since Mr, Hughes's visit and his announcement .of.. Australia's intention to have special representation in the United States, .the officials at Washington had taken a greatly increased interest in the 'possibilities of trade between (Australia and America. '"., "I believe that Australia's waste spaces are capable of great development. Forty years ago we'had: large tracts of country that were pronounced to be desert and absolutely worthless. .This laud now represents several prosperous States. Australia, by "the' application of ■ scientific methods of development and'greatly increased population, can 'expect similar results.; -The plans to repatriate soldiers after the warshould help to provide a rural population, as the: majority of the men will not return to city avocations. More people will be. attracted to. Australia by the increased trade through the Panama Canal. One of our first tasks, as soon as ships are available, will be. the removal of Australia's tremendous surplus wheat. The visits of Mr. Hughes, Sir Joseph Cook, 'Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward will lead to, a better understanding. I am : hopeful that return visits of American statesmen-will be paid-to Australasia."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ■■