LORD BIRKENHEAD ON THE U.S.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1925, Page 3

LORD BIRKENHEAD ON THE U.S.

TDK LION’S TAIL AND THE EAGLE'S EKATIIKRS. LONDON. May 80. Lord' Birkenhead presided at a luncheon to the new t’nired States Ambassador. Mr A. B. Houghton, given by the English-speaking Union at the Connaught Rooms. Kingsway. V.C.. yesterday. Proposing Mr Houghton’s health, he said : The English language is a bond uniting lac great Republie ol the ( idled States with that Empire of which we arc so proud. You have at tempted a lew minor emend, 'il ions in matters of spelling—(laughter ) —which have uni lately rceninmended themselves In my nun individual taste, hut in rcsnect of which t recognise your full right to discrot binary choice. Rut" the English, language as spoken and written in the United States differs in no material degree I rout that winch has nurtured so many centuries of English thought, and while I would be slow to make predictions I would not conceal mv opinion, that the language of the world that is to come will be the language iu which Juliet whispeied her love and Romeo sobheo out the agonv of death. (Cheers). THE LION'S TAIL.

In perspective it. almost appears to iM'loim to remote history when it ■should have "been almost common form «*t an election in the United States In perforin that process which is commonly described as “twisting the lion’s tail. (Laughter). I do not recall that the boo was ever seriously inrmninoTicd by this process-, (laughter) hut the mere use ol the expression, the mere habit ol minuting a plank in the platform which could lie described in the terms of tins picturesque metaphor showed that at that lime it. was considered quite quality in the I'uited States of America to make an attack on or to sneak unfavourably ol Great Britain. We in Hds country never venture to attempt to pluck a leather from the Great Eagle. (Loud laughter). I have never doubted that the greatest safeguard for the peace ol 1,10 world was. and is. the fact that our conception and yours alike ot international morality are the same. The toast was supported by .Mr .Neville Chamhe plain, the Minister of Health, who said that we went so lar as to put up statues to America’s great men. just as we did to ordinary common statesmen of our own. (Laughter). Whether she liked it or not. America was in the future hound to he much more concerned with Europe tnan she Replying. Mr Hougton said : M by so maov American semne over here eacli year’ is to me an over-recurrent wonder. They come for a thousand and j one reasons —some to study, sotm work, some to play. Some ot them come because the coming has heeomt ■ sort of habit. Others who prelet to remain quietly at home. come. 1 suspect, because their wives make Hum come. (Laughter). We English-speaking peoples hare inherited certain traits of character and fundamental yoneeptons of government and certain ideals , , But we would do well. I think, tread a little warily, when we begin to think of ourselves as a unity, tor *'•- are not a unity. We may be mom hoof a family, hut we are first ol all ouiSl? Each of the English-speaking 1*“>l> les has its own problems to solve its own difficulties to meet. Each will lend naturally to become absorbed m it. own problems and' difficulties, and tend to regard them as all-important In the nature of things, theietnu. P-u-h will develop along lines which more or less diverge, and international affairs Horn a slightly deferent angle.