“Purify The Atmosphere”

Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1921, Page 1

“Purify The Atmosphere”

LONDON, June 2

Lord Burnham, speaking on the power of the Press to further the cause of Anglo-American unity, said:—

“The time lias come when we pressmen of the two greatest commonwealths in the world ought to get together Lord Bryce, in a book lie lias recently written, has pointed to lho dangers ot the newspaper Press in exciting and in perpetuating intcrecinc hatreds between the nations o! the world. To my miml, he exaggerates our power slightlv; perhaps he exaggerates our offence still more, because the worst has been done by newspapers which have been at the hock uiul call of particular Governments, and Governments nearly always ol the arbitrary kind. At the same time, nobody is more convinced than 1 am that in these days it is public opinion that rules the world more than ever. It was said that America is the onl\ country in which public opinion wholly titled. 1 think what is true of America is true of the whole world, and public opinion, ol course, is largely formed, not perhaps at the dictation, hut the presentation, of the Press. It would he good thing if we could have an AngloAmerican newspaper conference, in which those who have in their charge and care the direction ol the Press could meet together, and could compare their views, and, si*, far as is pos. sible, arrive at a common standpoint on the things which matter most. I believe that there is not only room fmsuch a meeting; I believe there is an urgent I*ll for it. (Cheers). To-dax and here, as president of the Empire Press Union, 1 venture to tender to the newspaper Press of America a <oidial invitation to come into contcence with us here, if not next year, the year after, and allow us to show them wL it we think best in our own country, and perhaps to show them, not only tinmaterial things, which matter less, hut the spiritual things, which matter most. (Cheers). I hope that his idea may he possible of fulfilment, Al any rate. 1 am certain that in tendering the invitation 1 shall have the enthusiastic concurrence and support of all my colleagues of the newspaper Press. I can think of nothing that struck mv imagination more than when, two years ago. I was for teujjavs the guest of the .Vnierian Army in France, at the invitation of General Pershing. T felt the whole time that I was among my own people, and that in soul and spirit there was nothing between us, except that which is fair and of good report. (Cheers). Tt is in the hope that such ail Anglo-American Press Conference as suggested—in it. of course, 1 include the self-governing Dominions of the British Crown —might promote all that is fair and friendly between us and prevent the risk of mischief-making that is always apparent, and that we might still further purify and improve the atmosphere, 1 return to add the little 1 could to what 1 look upon as the sacred cause of our national friendship. ’