The British Commonwealth

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 17, 15 October 1943, Page 4

The British Commonwealth

Sir, —I have not read Mr. Hallett Abend’s book, “Pacific Charter,” and now that I have read “M.E.’s” review of it m today’s “Dominion” will not wast any ■precious leisure hours doing so. From observations made and talks with a large number of -Americans during a visit to the United States just prior to the .present war, and from talks with American servicemen in New Zealand, it is unquestionable that among a vast number, ot Americans there is grave misconception of the British Commonwealth of Nations. This misconception, though fostered by a certain section of the Press, is not bred, generally, from antipathy to Britain and things British, but is purely and simply due to ignorance on the subject. Would it not seem incredible that a newspaperman could ask such questions as: “Do not the New Zealand people object to being ruled by England?” “Do not New Zealanders object to paying taxes to England?” Yet such questions and more like them were asked me by a Press interviewer in the mid-west in 1939. Absurd questions like these arise from the widely held belief that Australia and New Zealand are not free, but suffer in some terrible way under Englands ruthless heel. Here in New Zealand many of Uncle ,Sam’s fighting men have expressed surprise—and the Commonwealth has been explained to them. These men yvere not prejudiced but apparently thought of the Empire as it was in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Let it be here said that we are equally ignorant of the U.S.A, and its people. What are we doing to remove these misunderstandings? Very little so far as the ordinary citizen of the States is concerned. There are one or two organizations making a worthy effort to create better understanding, but at best their achievements must be small. In Australia and New Zealand the hand of welcome and friendship has been extended to the men and women of our great ally, and yvhile there is little doubt that they reciprocate our friendly feelings toward them, they leave our shores very little more informed about us than when they came. What an opportunity is being missed I , , A book of facts placed m the hands of every American setting foot on these shores would be eagerly read and a great number of them would be sent back home to be read by others —facts about our status in the British Commonwealth, our Parliament, our institutions, our social legislation, our democratic way of life — a book not couched in the language of the propagandist, but just, honest, readable. and interesting facts. And what would bo the objection to the Prime Ministers of Australia aud Now Zealand jointly tolling the U.S.A., telling Britain, ■telling the world, that whatever plans are considered for the post-war order, any ideas of these two members deserting the Commonwealth are just nonsense. Mr. Churchill had the courage to say that he had not. become His Majesty’s chief Prime Minister to preside over tho dissolution of tho Empire. His statement was 1 imely, and just as timely would be an unequivocal statement from Mr. Fraser and Mr. Curtin that those two Pacific members had no intention of retiring from the partnership, and that. the. U.S.A, and the rest of the world had just better forget about it. —I am. etc., SECOND GENERATION AUSSIE. Wellington, October 14.