HOMAGE TO ENGLAND

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10281, 16 May 1919, Page 6

HOMAGE TO ENGLAND

A GLOWING EULOGY AMERICAN BUSINESS MAN REPROVES HIS PRESIDENT. In tho January number of "Blackwood'' appears the following paragraph under the heading of "Musing-j at Random." Speaking of the part played in the. great war by England and France, the writer says: "Therefore, we cannot but regret that President Wilson, in his address to Congress, should have sunk the statesman so deeply in the politician as to profess an ignorance of what the British Fleet achieved in transporting the American Army to France. Here is Ins* one reference to oui eager co-ope-ration in' tho difficult and dangerous task of bringing two million men over to Europe. 'ln all this movement/ he said, 'only "08-meh were lost by enemy attack, 630 of whom were upon a single English transport which was sunk near the Orkney Islands.' That Admiral Sims is not in agreement ivith his President in thus slurring over tho services of England, readers of this magazine will remember. Perhaps Mr Wilson's visit to Europe has given him a better appreciation of the truth.''

If President Wilson is not prepared to pay a'just tribute publicly to England and France's efforts, it is gratifying to statu there are numbers of his countrymen who are willing to do so. In a lettor just received by a Wellington .resident from a leading stockbroker in Boston, Massachusetts, the writer says: "But the war is over. And think of England's part, her wonderful navy and her men from Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, as well as Howe. | Think of France and of her suffering and losses. Too great to comprehend, and now it is ended. The empty homes, the sorrow which is'left to be borne by one or two where at least that many have been taken away. We barely got into it. Our part was necessary to win, but at the end, when our losses could not be nearly so great; our boys did their part well, and had it lasted longer we would have had tho greater part on land to dp. We were ready for the sacrifices, whatever they might be. . ."You in England are about to pay tribute to our Chief Executive. He goes probably to receive more honour than any other man has received on earth. But without disloyalty, I say, and with all my strength, save your tributes for tho soldiers coming homty Save it for the sailors, of' all nations. Save it first, last, and -always for Lloyd George and Clenienceauj and not forgetting Foch—for to our President it least belongs. . "At tho eleventh hour, after tfilful delays and arguments for Peace at any price, 'We are too proud- to fight,' he, forced by our great people, and calling upon our business men of all parties (who accepted t'ho necessity and have given their time to pull the Administration back into lino), after two years of backing and filling, all kinds of delays—almost too late —he, I say, is now ready to take the tribute which be longs to Lloyd George, England, and France for their patience, their encouragement, their great ability. Om President is a most unusual man, per feet with his pen and in his English, Vmt not a Lincoln or a Washington* Do believe me, we have' backed him faithfully and loyally, but so soon as we can rid ourselves of his administration, hear me, we will do so. Much good has been done by him in his administration, but after delay—purpose of delay. And now ho" would sceU world recognition, when what we have done, or almost did, not do, is infinitesinial compared with the achievements, tho patience, the sacrifices of our Alliei. To tha Peaco . Conference go only our second-rate men. They will do well, no doubt, but we have greater brains hero at home, and our people well know this.

"I write you as a friend. I love my country, I believe in its deep-rooted integrity, I am forced to recognise its weaknesses, and .1 deplore its present politics. Wo have a population made up of so many nationalities, that great danger lies ahead, and we need almost perfect control and steering gear to avoid catastrophies. I repeat it is my conviction the United States should p'ay homage to England—Lloyd George as nearest of kin, who believed in and waited, for us."

Surely a more glowing eulogy than the above could not be accorded to any nation.