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Hokitika Guardian, 18 November 1933, Page 4

Speaking recently in London, Sir John 'Simon, Secretary of Stole for Foreign

Affairs, said that whenever he went to Geneva he never omitted the meeting Detween tlie representatives of the Uommions and India and tlie United Kingdom delegation. Views were exchanged with one greatest frankness, and while the .British Government recognised to the fullest extent the right of the Dominions to be regarded as seif-respecting self-governing States, that happy association, which was nowhere hotter illustrated than in the realm of international affairs, was of immense influence. He would urge his fellow-countryme u not to take too gloomy a view of tlie international held. It was full of anxiety and perplexity, and constantly presented grave features of disappointment; but he believed that there were qualities in British policy which were going to. contribute mightily to peaceful solution. He had referred to the quality of British policy.' He did not mean tlie judgment of 20' people sitting round tne Cabinet table. The strength of their country in international affairs at the moment depended on the fact that the foreign world recognised that Britain was united. The Government was not a party. Government maintaining its existence against challenge and assault, but it was a microcosm which represented the united spirit and attitude of the whole people. He would go so far as to say that when they looked back to the present time there would he found the hegimtiiig of a certain change in the attitude of the individual toward party politics. People did not forget the grave situation which had to be faced two years ago, Credit for that was not given by tlm citizen to any particular man, but he regarded the way in which all parties joined to make a common effort as a great, practical, up-to-date example of the common sense of the British people as a whole. He realised more and moic that in this modern world co-operation was a far better method than controversy. That was happening inside the miin-d and soul of the individual Briton. There was no one who felt himself so exclusively a- party man as he did two years ago.