BRITAIN AND AMERICA.

Evening Star, Issue 20139, 2 April 1929, Page 8

BRITAIN AND AMERICA.

At ono time tho name of tlio Hev, R. J. Campbell was muck featured in the Press of the English-speaking world. Now, as incumbent of Hol.y Trinity Church, Brighton, it is seldom seen. Born and roared in a theological atmosphere—for his father and grandfather were , Nonconformist ministers—ho achieved distinction at Oxlord University. In 19U3 ho was appointed to the important charge of the City Temple, London, and for the twelve years that ho remained there his preaching and his writings attracted much attention and caused acute controversy. He had become immersed in a sea of theological doubts, and in 191 G ho emerged Irom it as a minister of the Church of England. On the occasions when lie does .speak to the outer world wh.it he says still commands attention. His latest utterance reveals His customary courage. He has just made in extensive tour of tho United States, and ho ventures to disagree with those placid people in Great Britain who declare that an Anglo-American war is unthinkable, citing as an analogy the case of Germany, for the fame thing was commonly said about the possibility of an Anglo-German conflict. In considering the huge population of the United States we have to think of its origins. Eor a century a human stream flowed west from Europe, every country contributing its quota, and much, of it being from tho submerged populations of Eastern Europe. The result is that to-day in the forty-eight States, with. 1*25,000,01)0 -people that comprise tho union, there is perhaps the strangestracial mixture that the world has ever seen. In the eastern seaboard much culture and idealism are evident, hut in many of the other States tbs people are ill informed of worfd affairs, and exhibit little concern in events that occur outside their own borders unless tho interests of the United States are involved. j America as we see it to day is rich and powerful, and determined to place American things arst. Air Campbell points out that, although there are more idealists in Aiueiica than in any other part of tho world except Britain, there is an element which hates Britain, and would welcome the thought of an attack. This may be an extreme view, for it is hard to believe that this dement is a largo one, hut that there is some justification for it will be agreed by those who are familiar with the sentiments of a section of the American Press and politicians. Air Campbell is on sure ground when lie declares that there is another element that does not particularly want war, hut is fully determined that America shall replace Britain as. mistress of tho seas. T hat has been made abundantly clear from the discussions at tho abortive ThreePower Conference and in tho debates since in the American Legislature on the naval building proposals. Seeing that tho United States is practically immune from attack .by a foreign Power, that tho country is self-con-tained. and that a cardinal point of its policy is to “ keep out of Europe,” it may he wondered why there should be this demand: Hot only for a strong navy, bub for tho strongest navy. But it must he remembered that the “ keep nut of Europe ” cry doss not extend to trade and linancc. Great Britain in the last few years lias shown America the most .studious consideration, fu the war debt settlement, in tho concessions that she made to tho United States m the efforts to check rum-running, in her ready acceptance of Air Kellogg’s proposals for tho Peace Pact, and in various other matters the British Governments have shown an earnest desire to create and maintain good relations between ihc two countries. Air Camnheil has perhaps given the dangers too much emphasis. The existence of a feeling of hostility to Britain by a considerable section of the American people cannot bo denied. T here may be disagreements and tense moments between the two countries, hut it is hard to believe that diplomatic negotiations will altogether fail. The knowledge that it was an American Secretary of State who instigated the pact condemning recourse to war for the solution of international controversies, and renouncing it as an instrument of national policy in their relations with one another, must surely convoy to the American people a sense of their obligations to the world at large.