BOND OF THE MOTHER TONGUE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1697, 12 April 1917, Page 2

BOND OF THE MOTHER TONGUE.

AN interesting article published recently by Mr J. F. Whelpley, an authority upon American affairs, pictures an ultimate alliance between Britain and the United States. It, says : “Washington warned his countrymen against ‘foreign entanglements/ but the present stale of the world was not within the range of Washington's vision. He had no intimation as to how small the world was to become in the jostling of nations. For weal or for woe America will soon take the path that leads to ‘foreign entanglements. ’ It is now plainly intimated that America will soon be looking for a partner or for partners Avith Avhom she may hope to influence the world's affairs to the best interests of all concerned. It has never been seriously suggested that America would consider an alliance with any country other than Great Britain, No tAvo nations speaking the same language are fighting against each other in this Avar. It is also true that there can never be a perfect alliance betAveeu any tAvo nations Avhich do not speak the same tongue. There can be strong economic and military alliances between countries, these alliances being arranged by the respective Governments, the benefits fully appreci-

ated by the peoples, and a mutual understanding existing between those individuals who are able to communicate with each other. A perfect alliance between two nations, if such a thing is possible, means that the people of each nation are able to visualise the habit of thought of the other, this not applying to the few who are particularly well informed, but to all, farmers, workmen, and business men, as well as scholars, diplomats, or social cosmopolites. Between America and England, therefore, exists a bond like that between no other two great countries in the world, with the exception of Germany and Austria, and the closeness of the alliance between those two countries is tribute to the binding power of a mutual tongue. It may seem that 100 great stress is laid upon the common tongue, but 1 his is not so for many reasons, most of which are peculair to America. The Government of that country is denied the privilege of secret diplomacy. No treaty can be made every word of which and every shade of meaning that might be put into those words are not known to every citizen and fully discussed in public before it is allowed to go into effect. The late John Hay, when the American Secretary of State, negotiated nearly thirty treaties that were rejected by Congress. To propose an offensive and defensive alliance with a country whose people spoke a language other than ’that employed in America would be a waste of time.'’