IMPERIAL DEVELOPMENT

Evening Star, Issue 19793, 17 February 1928, Page 2

IMPERIAL DEVELOPMENT

CONTACT WITH THE DOMINIONS Mil AMERY'S MISSION OPTIMISTIC NOTE STRUCK. LONDON, February 15. The Empire Parliamentary Association tendered a dinner to Mr L. S. Amery at the House of Commons. The speaker (Mr J. H. Whitley) presided, and the guests included Mr Winston Churchill, Mr W. G. Ormsby-Gore, High Commissioners, and many members of Parliament. - Mr J. H. Thomas, in proposing the toast of the guest, inquired why he was asked to welcome Mr Amery. As Mr Amery’s predecessor he had set out out on a visit of the Empire, and got as far as South Africa. En route home he only reached Madeira, when he learned that the Labor Government was punctured. Now he was asked to welcome one who, after seven months’ holiday, returned to find the by-elec-tions not too bad after all. Nevertheless, personally, he believed that if ever a position arose in which the issue concerned 5 the heritage of the Empire all parties and sections would join in declaring this a fundamental matter upon which there was no difference. Though Mr Amery’s politics were rotten, he (Mr Thomas) welcomed him as chairman of the Parliamentary Association. Ho was sure the succes - of the tour was largely aided by Mrs Amery. Mr Amery, in rising to' respond, was received with applause. He said : ■“ In

his Empire’tour Mr Thomas was merely a raven that flew- over the waters to find Noah in a capsized ark, I was a more fortunate dove, and returned with an olive branch to find the ark capable of floating many seasons yet. I set out with the idea, that the British Government should, between Imperial Conferences, maintain contact with the dominions. 1 was very impressed with the growth and progress that have lifted the dominions to a new and infinitely more hopeful plane since the war. We must do everything to make migration a success. We have embarked on a wonderful experiment, in which free and independent nations shall co-operatively maintain unity. I believe it will succeed. Our defence system forbids the laying down of a rigid quantity of men, money, and ships, hut what matters is the deep sense of responsibility to the Imperial Commonwealth which was so gloriously demonstrated in the hour of trial. We, in Imperial development, must co-op-erate for the promotion of everything dignifying and improving the life of man.”—A. and N.Z. and ‘Sun’Cable.