EMPIRE BANQUET

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 122, 25 May 1937, Page 10

EMPIRE BANQUET

MR. BALDWIN ACCLAIMED

HIS LAST PUBLIC SPEECH

HELP TO THE WORLD

United Press Association- By Electric Tcl»erapli—Copyright. (Received May 25, 2.20 p.m.) LONDON, May 24. Mr. Stanley Baldwin made his fastpublic speech as Prime Minister when he was a guest, with the Empire Prime Ministers, at the Empire Day and Coronation banquet arranged by the combined Empire societies at Grosvenor House. One hundred and twenty distinguished people of the Empire sat at the top table, which were draped with the flags of the Dominions and colonies. The guests included the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. J. A. Lyons, and Mrs. Lyons, the Australian Treasurer, Mr. R. G. Casey, and Mrs. Casey, the Federal Minister of DeXencerSir ArchdaleParkhill, and' Lady Parkhill, the New Zealand Prime Minister Mr. M. J. Savage, the New Zealand Minister of Finance, Mr. W. Nash, Mr. M. F. Bruxner, Deputy Premier of New South Wales, and Mr. Stanley Bruce, High Commissioner for Australia, and Mrs. Bruce. After the loyal toasts had been drunk, permission was given to smoke. Mr.' Baldwin, producing his familiar brier, was the only man present smoking a pipe. The gathering of 1200 persons was representative of the whole Empire. There was a- notable demonstration when Mr. Baldwin was called,on to propose the toast of the British Commonwealth of Nations. The audience rose and pounded the tables, shouted greetings, and sang "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow," and gave three cheers for the Prime Minister. Mr. Baldwin, who was deeply moved, thanked the assembly, saying that it could show no greater faith - and affection than in singing that popular national air before a speaker made a speech. He,could be given no greater honour than to be asked to propose the toast of the British Commonwealth, of Nations in such company. HELP' IN GOVERNING COLONIES. Mr. Baldwin gave a lengthy survey of the Empire's growth and of its tasks, and expressed the hope that soon some of the best men, haying been trained- in' the Dominions, would assist in governing the colonies, than which they could perform no finer work. Mr. Baldwin referred approvingly to the ardent; desire, newly expressed at the Imperial Conference, that the Empire may well exist to help the world besides ourselves, so demonstrating British ideals to the world that they may -ultimately triumph. ' He urged the necessity for concentrating on points of agreement rather than on points of difference, and added; "The country can do without logic, but not without common sense. Therefore we shoulcP not be too keen to define our Constitution. If we attempt to define it too much we may split the Empire into fragments." He added that the British people at the time of the Coronation had opened their hearts, into which the Empire visitors had walked, causing. such a family feeling that it would continue throughout history, and might prove to be the most binding force, under the headship.of the King. . • '-~ . The Prime Minister of Canada (Mr. W. Mackenzie-King), in replying,-(raid an eloquent tribute to Mr. Baldwin's unsurpassed understanding of the Dominions.- . ■■ _,