BRITISH PREMIER

Hokitika Guardian, 9 October 1929, Page 5

BRITISH PREMIER

ADDRESS TO CONGRESS. A POWERFUL APPEAL. TO U.S.A. SENATORS. (United Press Association.— By Electric TelegrapU.—Copyright.)

WASHINGTON, October 7. In his speech at Washington to the Senate, Mr Ramsay MacDonald said: “ Deep down in my heart is the con- ■ viction, which 115 ’nothing will ever remove, that misunderstandings—small, but so deplorably effective—that have grown up and exist between us .do not belong to the substance of things ; but belong to the appearances of the substance. I have come, in full fuith, to try and reduce the misunderstandings to their substance, because I know that, when that is done, they will be completely charmed away. One great event, I believe, will stand up like a monument in history. That was the signing of the Pact of Peace in Paris, in the construction of which America played such a magnificent ans such an honourable part. America, united with France —Mr Kellogg alongside M. Briand—gave the word that renewed hope -and energy, and that’; ( js encouraging us to gird our loins together with more determination than ever before, to pursue the path of . peace. Where do. I find the great difference which the signature . .of that Pact madeP It is this: You . signed it; we signed it; the other nations signed it! Did they mean, when they'put their names or the names of . Jiheir representatives, at the bottom of the, ’Pact—did they mean that it, ... , should be merely an expression on. paper or did they mean it to be their, guiding policy? We do so mean it. Speakers in country, and speakers ,in , your country . innumerable, have said that war ' between the United States and Great Britain is unthinkable. What has happened, what has , made the great change in the prospects of peace, is this : that up to now, this . - proclamation has never been made solemnly;! with all the dignity, all the; authority, .all the backing that can be given when two Governments and the representatives of two Governments have made it. I think, Senators of the United States, that declaration can be made now. There can be no warnay, more, it is absolutely impossible if. you and we do our duty in making. • the Peace Pact effective, that any sec-; tion of our arms, whether by land, sea • or air, can ever again come into hostile conflict. ■"Think upon that. When we face many of our problems, they all disappear, and in virtue of the fact that they have disappeared, we have met - together, and we have said * What is all this bother about parity? Parity—take it without re--6erve/'-liS&ped-'up,- l aiid'- flowing over!-;''

That was the only condition under which v competitive ...armaments could stopped, and we’could’create a public psychology which- could pursuefruitful and successful avenues of peaceful co-operation. That is one of the-results of this visit. Another ’is that we have come to understand each ~ other.” ... ••-Mr MacDonald also' addressed the u. House of Representatives briefly. EXCELLENT IMPRESSION. • SLADE BY THE SPEECH.

. .WASHINGTON, Hotter 7. Discussing Mr Ramsay MacDonald’s Senate speech, several members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, were most favqurable in tne comments they passed'. Senator Reed said: “ If these discussions will relieve the people of both countries of a burden which is growing intolerable, and thus lead to general world-wide self restraint, thev will bring a blessing to all humanitv.” Senator Moses said: ‘ 1 With comity, I feel sure we may have parity.” Senator Swanson declared: “The • negotiations will be productive of great good, not only in the establishment of - amicable relations between America and Britain, but will be beneficial in promoting a better understanding and more peaceful and cordial relations be- ’ tween all nations.” Senator Borah remarked : “I thought it a very happy speech.”

• NEGOTIATIONS WIDEN. ! NEW YORK, October 7. The New York “ Times ” Washington' 1 Correspondent states: The satis; faction given by Mr MacDonald’s Senate speech, and the knowledge that the Conference invitations had gone out, was furthered to-night by a joint statement by President Hoover and Mr MacDonald, as follows: “ We have frankly reviewed all of the questions which might give rise to friction between our peoples. Gratifying pro-gress-has been made, and the conversations have been continuing.” j The correspondent continues: The impression prevails that this widening of their discussions, which at first, it •was. believed, would be confined chiefly to naval matters and world peace, included such topics as the failure to renew the expired Anglo-American Arbitration Treaty; also trade rivalry; the shipment of liquor from the British possessions to the United States; and the most important question of all, though one not likely to be given any place on the agenda of the Disarmament Conference, namely, the freedom of the seas. Mr MacDonald’s reference to parity, during his Senate speech made a particularly deep impression, even though the entire address was loudly cheered, and those Senators who will pass judgment upon

any disarmament treaty to be concluded as the result of the forthcoming Conference gave the Prime Minister high praise.

MR HOOVER’S IDEA. NAVAL REDUCTIONS. WASHINGTON, October 7. There is some intimation that President Hoover is still determined to carry out a reduction of naval armaments as well as the limitation. ' The President has discussed with Mr MacDonald the problem of still further reducing the cruiser tonnage that was agreed upon in Mr MacDonald’s conversations with General Dawes, without running counter to the hostile public sentiments of the nations. It is also believed that the President and the Prime Minister have considered the

possibility of deferring the replacement of dreadnought tonnage as provided by the Washington Treaty, although the is not likely to be included in the forthcoming conference agenda.

NAVAL RIVALRY.

LORD LINLITHGOW’S VIEWS

(Received this dav at 9. a.m.) LONDON, October 8

“We have no desire to disparage Mr MacDonald’s and Mr Hoover’s attempts ffo obliterate Anglo-American naval rivalry, but it cannot be too plainly stated that the time has not yet arrived when the British naval coat can be cut to America’s cloth, for the storms from which our garment shelters us do not threaten American shoulders,” declares Lord Linlithgow, the Navy League’s President, in the course of a letter to the “Times.” He states: “Our requirements in fighting ships do not hear relation and cannot be compared with those of auy other power, and should be determined solely on the standard of our Security, due to the discharge of our manifold responsibilities.”

MR HOOVER’S REPORT. WASHINGTON, October 8. Mr Hoover said to-day that the conversations with Mr MacDonald were being carried on in an atmosphere of absolute frankness and that “ neither of us has anything in reserve,” he said. Since there w’ere no controversies between United States and Britain to be settled at this time it was possible to carry on talks with the perspective of the future in a broad sense. The two were searching for those things that would promote good feeling between American and British peoples. Mr Hoover said more important than the conversations themselves v r as the reaction of the American people and the great friendliness they had shown to Mr MacDonald and through him to the British people.

MR MACDONALD’S BUSY DAY

(Received this dav at 10 a.m.) WASHINGTON, October 8.

Mr MacDonald and his daughter roue early and appeared on the back lawn of White House, shortly after Mr Hoover and a group of intimate friends concluded a forty minutes vigorous handball play. Sir MacDonald, told a newspaperman he was feeling fit and he looked :t. Neither he nor Miss Ishbel appeared tired from the round of engagements they have indulged in since their arrival in the capital. Mr Hoover and Mr MacDonald spent half an hour together in the President’s study after breakfast. Then Mr MacDonald and Miss Isl hql left for the British Embassy, while MlHoover went directly to his office in the west wing, where Mr Stimson joined him.

The Prime Minister intended to spend most of the afternoon after lunch with the Canadian Minister and Mrs Massey, and answering correspondence which has accumulated since his arrival, after which he and Miss Ishbel will prepare for a formal dinner in their honour al the British Embassy. Forty-one guests will attend this function, including the Secretary of State and Mrs Stimson, the Australian Commissioner and Mrs Brooks.