“THE PERSONAL TOUCH”

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12620, 3 December 1926, Page 7

“THE PERSONAL TOUCH”

DUKE OF YORK’S TOUR WILL BE HELPFUL TO EMPIRE £ULOGY BY EARL BALFOUR HE AND THE DUCHESS ARE SINGULARLY GIFTED FOR THE TASK’’ The value to the of the forthcoming tour of the Duke and Duchess of York was emphasised at a meeting of The Pilgrims.

Bv Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received December 2, 8.20 p.m.) LONDON, December 1. There was a distinguished assemblage at a dinner . given by The Pilgrims of Great Britr.in. in the Hotel Victoria. Viscount Cave was chairman, and the Duke of York sat on his right and tiie Prince of Wales on the left. Earl Balfour, proposing the Duke of York’s healthy said the Duke was going on a mission which was neither administrative nor diplomatic, but was no less important to the Empire on that account. None could accomplish it so well as the members of his House in achieving personal touch, and thus uniting every part of the Empire. Earl Balfour referred to similar missions of the King and Prince of Wales, but said he doubted if either knew the incalculable value of his seiviccs. The Duke of York’* tour would supply a vital link, because it would occur after the Imperial Conference. It was said there was nothing new in the resolutions at which, they had arrived, “but what has never been explicitly stated is the moral and emotional base upon which tho whole fabrio exists. That has now been unanimously accepted. The new thing is not that there is no control by the Mother Country of tho self-governing Do-

minions, but that the self-governing! portions of the Empire explicitly regard themselves as elements in a great unity which does not depend on control but on common ideals. AN EMPIRE WITHOUT CONTROL (< lt is hard to accept the belief that a great empire can exist without control. For the first time we have announced to the Empire that we are an Empire of which the self-governing portions are united by something greater, sublimer, and more effective. “It is only now that the Empire begins to be what it was predestined to be. It is only npw brought home to its constituents that it is their business to manage their business as they please, but that they are all parts of a greater whole. *‘l am certain the Dominions will always bo ready to offer their services to tho Empire whenever the need arises. An empire in which control no longer counts must depend upon personal intercourse, and for this reason the services which the Duke of York is about to render will be immensely helpful. He comes of a family to which all citizens of the Empire loyally turn. He and the Duchess are singularly gifted for tho task they, have taken upon themselves. The services they will render cannot in the existing circumstances of the Empire bo too highly over-valued. Therefore we^

not only give them God speed, because we love and esteem them on their own acoount, but because of th“ great service they are about to render , to the Empire of which they are devoted children.” THE DUKE’S REPLY In replying, the Duke said he hoped that in the next six months he w r ould justify the claim to the title “Pilgrim.” He said: “The Pilgrims’ Society’s object is the same as that of my journey, namely, furthering good-feeling between the different portions of the Anglo-Saxon race. The Premiers of the Dominions ma% their first public appearance in England during the first Imperial Conference at the Pilgrims’ Dinner in 1901. “I share your belief that the way to promote mutual understanding is by bringing people together. _ Tlje main principle in finding a solution of great problems, whether political or industrial, is the personal touch, and learning to understand even if you do not agree with the '‘other man’s viewpoint. Lacking this atmosphere, suspicion is apt to arise among strangers. Personal contact must broaden the ' mind. That is why the Duchess and I are so keenly anticipating our Australian and New Zealand _ tour, and we hope, apart from official cere- ; monies, to see for ourselves the peo- ■ plo’s life and to share their successes ■ and difficulties.

[ “We are being given a great opportunity of partaking in the cementing of the Empire, and we intend to avail ourselves of it to the utmost. My brother the Prince of Wales has shown us the way. “I regret that circumstances present including in our journey any American territory except Panama. Who is there who does not believe that genuine lasting Anglo-American friendship is essential to the peace of the world and the progress of humanity? I hope some day that X shall be enabled to promote this spirit. It will be a proud day when, like my brother, I can say that now, indeed, I am a true Pilgrim.” ASSURED OF WARM WELCOME Mr Stanley BrUce, Prime Minister of Australia; paid tribute to Earl Balfour’s services at the Imperial Conference. He said the conference’s report was one of the most valuable documents ever presented in our history. “There is no necessity to stress tho unity of the Empire. It will be even greater than in years that have gone. It rests upon our shoulders to take advantage of that.” In wishing the Duke and Duchess of York God speed Mr Bruce offered them a warm welcome in Australia, particularly in view of the fact that they would be opening the Commonwealth Parliament at Canberra. Among the messages of goodwill read at the gathering was one from Mr Coates.