Hughes on Imperialism

Hokitika Guardian, 24 August 1921, Page 2

Hughes on Imperialism

U'HTRAI lAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. LONDON, Aug. 22. .Mr Hughes received an ovation. Me said he was glad to he among friendsand was @ sorry to leave them. Mr Churchill’s reference, he said, recalled the tragic days when the Empire wa lied in the very shadow of death. Tt had been his privilege to meet again around the Council table in peace, those colleagues and friends from the Dominions and the Government of Britain, that citadel of our race. He said the conference just concluded was memorable in that it had done its work without the fan-fare of trumpets or beating of drums, but it had been work that would' endure. Mr Hughes raid the conference had enunciated only doctrines and had subscrilied only to decisions that were confined to the prin-. i ; pies which in veritable truth were the foundations of an undivided Empire. They were struck during the war by the inter-dependence of various parts of the Empire, one upon another. While it was true that without Britain in the war we would have perished, and Dominions would have passed away, the converse was also correct; for without the Dominions, victory would also have been impossible. The future depended upon unity. The conference had solemnly indicated to the world, he said, “that though the dominions are in every way independent nations, they really are not any, but one. This is an epitome of our race, marking the fullness of its development—first, from tribe to nation, then to an Empire. The security of the Empire depends upon the Navy, but no navy can he {maintained, except upon the wealth of the ueople, which, in turn, depends upon the people of this country and every other part of the Empire that would eschew the poisoned cup of Bolshevism. Yet there were many both in England and in Australia, who practised its dec. trines, who would spurn its very name It should not ho forgotten the Dominions bought more from Britain in 1020 than America, Japan, China, and Germany massed together. There was rims a permanent stable market for the British manufacturer ready to hand. In 50 years, no doubt the population of the Dominions would outnumber that in the British Isles. In concluding, Mr Hughes said: “You have many problems to solve. I wish you good fortune in solving them. It may cheer you to know, I, too, have many.” In the course of his reference to Bolshevism Mr Hughes said: —“The people of Russia had ploughed through a. bloody morass of murder t-o a wilderness of famine. Twenty two million would perish unless the world came to their aid. It was not what was done to the bodies of Russians that had destroyed them, but what had been done to their minds. Religion Loci been mst off. Bolshevism stood for a destruction of civilisation, which rested upon certain ideals, and these being broken down, civilisation must inevitably decoy. If I were asked how Russia might be saved, I would say “The Church, must save it.” MR HITCHES DEPARTS. 'Received This Day at 9.40 a.m.') LONDON. Aug. 23 Air Hughes interviewed by the Ausralian Press Association, expressed his intention to obtain a substantial reduction in Australia’s contribution to the League of Nations. It was flagrantly unfair that Australia, with a population of five millions, should be contributing the same amount as Britain, with forty-five. He admitted tlia* Australia agreed to the terms of membership and formation of the League, but ft was not anticipated that the terms would be interpreted to mean an equality of contributions from Britain and Australia irrespective of population. Mr Hughes left London this morning. A great farewell crowd including representatives of the British Government and Commonwealth officers, cheered, Mr Hughes waving in response,