PRINCE IN CANADA

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 118, 9 August 1927, Page 11

PRINCE IN CANADA

GREAT PEACE BRIDGE BUFFALO TO FORT ERIE DEDICATION CEREMONY (British Official Wireless. — Copyright) Reed. 11.45 a.m. RUGBY, Monday. The brief speech delivered yester, day by the Prince of Wales in opening the Peace Bridge, which links Canada and the United States at tho southern neck of the Niagara River and Lake Erie, was relayed from America by wireless, and broadcast in Britain. After referring to the fact that tha bridge commemorates a peace that has happily endured between the British Empire and the United States for more than a century, the Prince said: “May this bridge be not only a physical and material link between Canada and the United States, but may it also be symbolical of the maintenance of their friendly contacts by those who are on both sides of the frontier. May it serve also as a continual reminder to those who will use it, and to all of us, to seek peace, and ensure this as the first and highest duty, both of this generation and of those that are yet to come.” A DISTINGUISHED PARTY The British Prime Minister, tho Right Hon. Stanley Baldwin, together with the Prime Ministers of Canada and the Ontario province, was among the British and Canadian party at the function. _ .. , The Vice-President of the United States (General Dawes), the Secretary of State (Mr. F. B. Kellogg), and Governor Smith (New York). with whom was the British Ambassador at Washington, attended to represent the United States. PRAISE FOR CANADA Yesterday’s ceremony attracted immense crowds of spectators from both sides of the frontier, and the distinguished English visitors were accorded a stirring welcome. Their arrival on Saturday at Toronto was the occasion of a great outburst of loyal feeling. Mr. Baldwin made a speech at the official dinner, in which he referred to the place of Canada in the Empire. After remarking that Canada was the pioneer of the Empire in the exploration of constitutions and Government, he turned to the future and spoke of the responsibilities which equal status within the Empire involved in Its external affairs. He said all policies must commend themselves to the different Governments and Parliaments. The brotherhood of nations had yet to be worked out. THE SUPREME DUTY Canada had succeeded in achieving nationhood by the success of the practical working of a compromise of different elements in the national life. They must apply the same principles to Empire problems. There was no precedent for the British Commonwraith. Its history was one of constant change. Greatness lay in remembering the best service to mankind. The supreme duty was not to foster Imperial trade, great as that was, but to further peace and freedom, and by generous protection of , weakness might we be just in our power. The opening of the Bridge of Peace linking Canada and the United States across the Niagara River is regarded by the British Press as having taken place very opportunely, so soon after the break-up of the naval conference at Geneva. —A. and N.Z.