BRITAIN’S HEAD

Hokitika Guardian, 6 November 1929, Page 5

BRITAIN’S HEAD

MR MACDONALD REPORTS

UPON VISIT TO AMERICA

GREAT VALUE OF THE TOUR

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received this day at noon.)

RUGBY, Nov. 5. Mr Ramsay MacDonald to-day, in the Bouse of Commons reported upon his visit to United States of America and Canada. He said what success .the visit had was largely owing to the hearty support of all parties in this country. Be went out not as party leader but as a national representative. Ho took the opportunity of thanking President Hoover and his Cabinet and both Senate and House of Representatives for the welcome they give him and the honour paid him as representative of this country. He spoke of the candour with which difficult questions were raised and discussed, and though some of the matters he had to deal with might easily have aroused prejudices from beginning to end, he found nothing but thoughtfulness and a desire to cooperate in placing facts and positions justly before the country. No Government could have opened .the doors of' their minds and hearts wider. The purpose of his visit was to try, by personal contact, to establish new relations between the two peoples based on mutual understanding net only ox common objects to be pursued, (but of the natural differences to be respected. The results must be left to fruitfy in policy and action. The conversations ho had had earlier with General Dawes had already removed a fear that, linbridged differences between the United States of America and Britain would doom the international conference'to failure. Those conversations with President Hoover studying with him the ways and means of filling in the narrow gaps still in the building program tie which would at the same time Veogm-e both a parity of strength and variety in the use of tonnage. Both rccog T nised that the agreement they were seeking was one, not merely between themselves, but one which would have to fit into a wider co-operation and final settlement, and depended on the Five Power Conference.

Other Powers would probably have much to say from their own viewpoints on the naval problems they were discussing. Preliminary conversations with other Powers are now

proceeding. Above and beyond the definite subject of a naval agreement said Mr MacDonald, there was a desire to make it clear to everybody that in our mutual relations, the Peace Pact was a re.inity and so in a joint statement a declaration to that effect was made for the first time officially by representatives of the two muons speaking together. That declaration stated both of onr Governments had resolved to accept the Peace Pact mot only as a declaration. of good intentions, but as a positive obligation to direct national policy in accordance with its pledges. In the light of such a declaration. the solution of old problems had become possible in ways satisfactory to both countries.

United States, continued Mr MacDonald, pursued with vigilent jealousy its historical policy of keeping free from all world entanglements, and is therefore not in the League of Nations, We are in the. League of Nations and we have contracted obligations and we shall remain loyal to them.

On neither side was any attempt made to change these facts. In the course of discussions the President raised some of the major historical causes of difference such as belligerent rights, so-called fortified bases and so on, which wore still active in forming public opinion, and it was ag cod to examine them. He believed that nothing but go<»-.l could come from the change of views on tlie-'e ouestions.

Mr MacDonald concluding, expressed great appreciation of the welcome be received in Canada where ho discussed with Air MacKonzie E'.ng matters which had arisen in V. ash• ineton of secial interest to Canada, and political and economic subjects of mutual concern. Mr Baldwin and Mr Lloyd George cordially congratulated Air MacDonald mi his tour and agreed- as to the inestimable! value of the contract thus established with the United States.