ENGLISH SPEAKING UNION

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4945, 1 March 1926, Page 2

ENGLISH SPEAKING UNION

AMERICAN RELATIONSHIP.

MR. JUSTICE ALPERS’. REMARKS.

“What’s the good pf Ipving anyone if you don’t let them know about it ?” asked Mr Justice Alpers at the first luncheon of the English-Speaking Union which was, held in Wellington on Monday last. He was referring to the existing relationship between the United States aihd England. “Although the English are very fond of Americans,” he said, “they should dp what Mark Twain asked of them on his. la£t visit to England. That was. ‘Love me and tell me so.’” His, Honour went on tp say that it was only by accident that he was an Englishman himself. (Laughter.) “You see,” he said, “I did not know whether my father h,ad naturalised me before I wqs* 21 years old or not. Fortunately for me, however, he had done so when I was twenty years and nine months. That makes me an Englishman by three months.” (Laughter.)

Mr Justice Alpers, said .that the wall of misunderstanding that sometimes came between England and America should be .broken do-wn for all time. , Both nations spoke the same language, though ■ the United States, thrpugh having a different climate, different ways, etc., had at times a slightly different method of pronunciation. That, however, was nothing. Racially ,we were all the same. The Americans might have comprised sixty per cent, of foreigner's., but we were forty, anyhow. The two great nations had always stood side by side in the interests of fair play. That was a great thing ,to remember. America, had provided many great men in art and. literature, and Shakespeare and Milton belonged just. ( as much to America as they did to England. “It is indeed pleasing to see that the English-Speaking Union is doing a great deal .towards cementing the friendship of these nations?’ he added, “and' I only hope the good work will continue for ,all time.” Mr J. C. Hudson, Vice-Consul for the United' States, .who was also a guest, warlily thanked the union for having him present. “I greatly appreciate the remarks of .Mr Justice Alpers,” he said, “because it is really the same as we Americans feel towards England. lam also very pleased to be here ,to-day, because it is. the anniverjsay of George Washington’s birthday, a day that is near and dear to everyone in America# for we can never forget the truly great man he was.”