TO BRING NATIONS TOGETHER

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 42, 13 November 1940, Page 9

TO BRING NATIONS TOGETHER

British And Americans PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP IN PACIFIC “When two men who have been enemies, or even two who have been friends, shake hands somebody rejoices; should not high heaven rejoice if we can weld together, not two men, but two hundred million, and 1 am sure it would receive the approbation of the Prince of Peace." said Mr. A. Leigh Hunt, founder of the BritishAmerican Co-operation Movement in New Zealand, in an address to the Wellington branch of Hie League of Nations Union yesterday. "I waul to appeal in all earnestness to you who love this country and the Empire to follow what we are trying to say,” lie said. "We think the hour lias struck when we must enlist in a great crusade. We have sheltered under Hie wing of the Motherland. M e have bad a wonderfully placid life. But when Mr. Massey signed the Treaty of Versailles lie turned us into a nation. Now we must play our part as much as the soldiers.” q’he destiny of the country was the responsibility of all its citizens, not only of its soldiers and politicians, Mr. Hunt continued. The only way to counteract Hie destruction that was occurring was to act construct iveiy and, working with a star of hope in view, try to get together people ot the same aspirations as ourselves. The Empire was fighting to preserve all the ideals it cherished, and the |>eople of New Zealand were doing their utmost to help, but was there not something else they could do, not merely in the conflict, but after it? One did not have to have much imagination to see that Hie brains of Hie world would lie taxed to save civilization even if Hie war ended in a reasonable time. Americans Our Friends. 'Die milural tiling to do was to gather together one's best friends. British people knew Hie Americans, who spoke the same longue and had so much in common with them. During the war America had given not only material assistance to Britain but also moral backing, especially in Hie last six months. At many times of crisis in history Hie United Stales and Britain had co-operated as a matter of course and without prompting. Now Zealanders lived in a paradise and must not trifle with Hie country’s future. It was in danger, one reason for Hint being its lack of population, but: if New Zealanders could obtain a breathing space by co-operation with America they should put. their house in order, fi’liey should not wait till the enemy was at, the gates.

The movement was nor going to do anything that would weaken the bonds between New Zealand and tlie Mother Country. Tliere could be eo-operiition, not, only in defence but also in trade, for it was natural to trade with one’s friends. New Zealand had the use of its ports and docks to offer in return for what America could do for New Zealand. One of (lie benefits that would follow co-operation would be peace in the Pacific. By supporting the movement his hearers would be helping to build a new League of Nations that might be an example to the warring nations of Europe. "This is part of winning the war." Mr. Hunt said. “It is not: a question of waiting till the war is over and the world is in chaos. Wo have to build Hie machinery now to save the world.” The chairman was Professor L. M. Lipson, and Mr. Johannes C. Andersen moved a vote of thanks to Hie speaker.