The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, JANUARY 17, 1927. ANGLO-AMERICAN RELATIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 January 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, JANUARY 17, 1927. ANGLO-AMERICAN RELATIONS

Tuk amount of publicity given theDominion Prime Ministers when passing through the United States and Canada, on the homeward trip, must go a long way to create more intimate Anglo-American relations. To see and ; he seen, to hear and to explain, will lie very helpful in regard to the United States, a vast country so near to both Australia and New Zealand. And • jvi tli 'Canada, part of the Empire family, and a potential trader with the Antipodes, the direct intercourse of the past week or two must he of value particularly in regard to trading possibilties. As to the commercial and political relations with the United States, in. regard to which the Prime Minister of the Australian Commonwealth lias been particularly verbose, a northern, newspaper remarks it is not in any way a reflection, upon. Mr Bruce’s sincerity to suggest. that in England he may have received a hint in high quarters that he might do something to better Anglo-American relations. Detached from English politics speaking as the political head of a young nation., and about to visit the United States, lie was in a position to say things that could scarcely have come from an English Minister. Ho has said them frequently and emphatically—some of them too emphatically for the tastes of some Britons, who think he has over-flattered the Americans. Bnt however much one may disagree with some of his utterances, there is no doubt that his line of speech has conformed with traditional British policy. This policy is discussed in one of those weighty but clear articles for which the “Bound Table” is noted. Ever since the Revolution, so the writer says, it lias been an axiom of .English statesmanship to keep on good terms with America. This policy was pursued with ‘difficulty at times; it broke down completely when, war came in 1812, and it was strained severely during the Civil War-; but on the whole it was followed “with a singular persistence, uncommon in the foreign policy of any nation.” During that time Americans more or less regarded Britain as . an hereditary enemy and a tyrant, “the one great Power against whose blandishments every good American had to he on his guard. Then the grievance was with America. Now it is with Britain. The war and the years that followed put Britain in a better light in America, and the old legend Ivegan to fade. But the American repudiation of President Wilson, the deliberate policy of aloofness, and insistence upon payment of debts, have annoyed Englishmen, and the “Round Table’’ writer evidently thinks that the greater danger to Anglo-American friendship lies in England not in the United States. He therefore urges British public opinion—and no doubt be would include the Dominions in this—not to allow itself to become generally antagonistic to American policy, but, remembering how different conditions are in America from conditions in Britain, to bo patient and forbearing. We are asked to remember that whereas Britain has long been well educated in international politics, America has Pot- The

utriter is convinced, however, that American education is proceeding and that pressure of circumstances Will compel Americans to tt'ke more interest in world affairs, To assist this process Britain must show “her traditional patience, sagacity and good humour.’’ Much could bo written on this one sentence, hut we have only space now to note this plea, and to remark that in its conclusions the Article appears to represent fairly accurately Mr Bruce’s views. Air Bruce realises the enormous importance of Anglo-Ame-rican friendship, and is sincerely striving to strengthen it.