FRIENDSHIP DESIRED

Southland Times, Issue 18824, 18 May 1920, Page 3

FRIENDSHIP DESIRED

UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN. PEACE TREATY DILEMMA. MISLEADING NOISY SECTIONS. Interesting obesrvations on conditions in the United States were made by Professor Newton, in an interview in Wellington. He is the professor of history at London University, and after spending six months in the United States, is visiting New Zealand as the special travelling commissioner of the Royal Colonial Institute. Professor Newton stated emphatically that he found nothing but the greatest friendliness and respect for Great Britain, except, of course, on the part of the extreme Irish and pro-German elements. He admitted frankly that his first impression of conditions in America had been most depressing, but added that after further investigation he had found a much more satisfactory state of affairs than appeared on the surface. “The whole political situation there seems to be in a state of chaos,” said Professor Newton. “Nothing seems to be being done; the various sections of the machinery of Government are engaged in no constructive work; on the contrary, each one is devoting its energies to impeding the others. The President refuses to agree with the Senate, the Senate sticks political pins into the President, and the House of Representatives worries both. The net result appears to be that the people have arrived at a despairing condition. There is little doubt that the rejection of the Peace Treaty is regarded with the deepest regret by the best elements of society, who feel that the strictures upon them are justified in that, after promising to do a thing, they practically refused to assist in clearing up the mess. “All that seems very' depressing, but I do not think it gives a fair indication of the real state of affairs; in fact, my carefully matured view after looking below the surface is much more encouraging. I believe that the American people, as distinct from the small, but very noisy, extreme Irish and pro-German elements, are quite determined to do their duty to the world as a whole. They want the Treaty with the reservations, which, after all, as Earl Grey said in his letter, have a great deal to be said for them. Americans as a whole are convinced that the constant bickerings ami conflicts which take place between the various agents of the State are detrimental to the national interests. The press of America does not seem to me to represent properly the attitude of the American people to the British Empire. I found nothing but the greatest friendliness and respect for Great Britain and her peoples, except, of course, on the part of the elements which I have already mentioned. The extreme and noisy Irish section, however, even in such an Irish centre as San Francisco, is antagonising the American people to itself. The Irish element seems to have ‘shot its bolt,’ and very severe things were being said about the issue of the Irish bonds on behalf of the Irish Republic. “I feel that the general impression conveyed to me is that the old antagonism between America and the British Empire is truly a thing of the past. There is a genuine desire for a thorough friendship between the two countries, for it is realised that the burden of the future will lie upon the shoulders of the Anglo-Saxon race.”