Japan’s Goodwill

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 422, 2 August 1928, Page 13

Japan’s Goodwill

Admiral Talks to Auckland Rotarians A PEACE-LOVING PEOPLE When Vice-Admiral Kabayashi, the dapper little commander of the Japanese training squadron, told Auckland Rotarians to-day that it was about as sensible to take wives to Japan as it was to import coals to Westport, he was greeted with prolonged laughter! New Zealand Rotarians, it is known, will be represented at the Pacific Rotary Conference in Tokio in the autunin, and the admiral’s remarks were apropos of that fact. lie hastened to assure Rotarian brethern, however, that he had “only been informed” by someone of this fact! . , _ Mr. George Hutchinson presided over a large attendance. At the official table were: H.I.H. Prince Prince Takamatsu, the Consul-General for Japan (Mr. Tokugawa), t£e Japanese Consul at Auckland (Mr. Robertson), the Consul for the United States (Mr. Boyle), and IV!i'. Wendall Phillips (Rotary Club secretary). EXCELLENT ENGLISH The admiral surprised all by his excellent English. Though his sentences were somewhat clipped and jerky, he was easily followed, and his vocabulary was by no means limited. Admiral Kobayashi’s experience among English-speaking people has stood him in good stead. It is not to be forgotten that he served m the British navy, and that on his natty little uniform were the ribbons of two orders of King George, in addition to more of his own Emperor. Commenting upon assistance rendered by the Japanese Navy to Lew Zealand during the war, of which mention had been made by the president in bis welcome, he said: "I regard that only as a duty to an Allied eounA responsive chord was struck in the distinguished visitor’s breast, notwithstanding, when Mr. Hutchinson referred to the excellent behaviour of his men on shore. „ ~ “I appreciate that remark, said Vice-Admiral Kobayaslii. Japan, he declared, was a country with a long history. For 26 generations the Japanese people had been governed by the one dynasty, Represented at the gathering by H.1.P1. Prince Takamatsu. (Applause.) The Admiral continued: “It signifies that our ancestors -were a peace-loving people: that they hated aggression. It is highly appropriate, therefore, to my mind, that Japan should be selected of an international Rotary Conference which will foster and cement the goodwill among the nations. (Applause.) Although the visit of his squadron was for the purpose of training the midshipmen as naval officers, it was also to foster goodwill and understanding among the countries visited. TRADE RELATIONS It was appropriate, too, that he should have visited New Zealand, said the Admiral, at the time of signing the new trade agreement, an important measure which should do much to better the commercial relations between the two countries. And hen, abruptly, and without any warning, the Admiral concluded his speech. “And now I thank you,” he said. “I thank you most kindly for your kindness to me. Thank you very much!” Miss Dawn Assheton (by permission of J. C. Williamson, Ltd.), in costume, sang the “One Fine Day” aria from “Butterfly,” and two charming Japanese folk songs. Ms. Laslo Schwartz explained the numbers. Mr. Barry Coney sang “Waiata Poi.” The United States Consul (Mr. Boyle) moved a vote of thanks to the Admiral for his address.