AMERICAN TRIBUTE.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 October 1923, Page 4

AMERICAN TRIBUTE.

PROBLK.M.S GRAPPLED WITH

I.OX DON. October "-L Colonel Ilarve.v, United States Ambassador. addressing the t’ilgiinis' Club, referred to the ti eiiiendims growth of friendship in the United Slates I’m- Britain. Alluding to the Imperial Conference the Ambassador said that, siiuy the Council of Empire had been broadened, a. famous phrase bad disappeared entiioly. Nobixlv now rested comfortably upon the assumption that Britain would ••muddle through" somehow. Ih-r pie-ent disposition was to grapple with difficult problems promptly, energetically and determinedly, and to leave as little as possible to chain e. This change of attitude was more full of promise and ho]y for Britain and Biitisheis than any oilier which ban

occurred in the past war. Colonel Harvey referred to tin- peiiod of his Ambassadorship with special reference to the Washington Conference. If that had not happened, he said, there would still have been hoveling over the world, in addition to the troubles now besetting it. the clouds of the Anglo-.lapanese Alliance which having served its original purpose, had become an actual menace to the ponce of three great nations; clouds of constant and ever-increasing peril. and possible, even though accidental clashes

in tlie I’aeilie; clouds multiplying from tile necessity of self-protection hv naval armaments to a degioe never before imagined Proceeding, Colonel Harvey emphasised solemnly and emphatically the implieajion contained in the enunciation of the Mnnrce Doctrine. “No participation by the United States in the political broils of Europe" was tlie living part of the doctrine confronting them to-day. Tlie Monroe Doctrine was still the cornerstone of United States policy. It was unchanged and unchangeable by any [’resident, or am Congress. It is implanted in the will of the American people.

"Eleven months ago our Secretary ol State, Mr Hughes, ottered to provide American adjudication on reparations. Ameiica came to the door of Eu.-ope but the door was closed. AA'e were willing to tome in’, but surely w* were not expected to smash the dooi in. The Monroe Doctrine forbids." Colonel Harvey proceeded, moved by the presence of Mr Bruce. to make complimentary reference to the development of former colonies into the Empire’s splendid dominions. lie said that, compared with the representa tivese of 1921, when he arrived in London, with to-day’s delegation, the latter appeared to be more confident of

their footing. Experience, apparently. had made them not more independent blit really more English, enabling them to express their needs in the attractive alliteration : ‘'Men. money and markets ” Air Bruce, when proposing the chairman's health, received an ovation both at the commencement and the con elusion of his speech,: He paid a tribute to the I nited States amazing courage and almost appalling initiative in calling together The Washington Conference, which, the Australian statesman said, was the only compensation for th,• denunciation of a Treatv with *‘our courageous and ever faithful ally, Japan.” Amid laughter and cheers, Mr liiuce lemindcd Air Baldwin that the latter bad received hi* inspiration about the war debt settlement from Australia, which was the first to Kind it- debt, His onlv regret was that Australia <i:d not get as good terms from Britain as Britain got from America. U "a- bis obvious duty to submit that Hr it in would not be acting ungenerously ii sue gtanted Australia similar t -:r: a- sue received from America.