FRIENDLY AMERICA

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 904, 22 February 1930, Page 9

FRIENDLY AMERICA

OPTIMISM OF SIR ESME HOWARD CESSATION OF “TAIL TWISTING” NEW YORK, Friday. The retiring British Ambassador, Sir Esme Howard. made a farewell speech at a banquet given by the Pilgrims’ Society this evening, at which there were many leading persons present. He said: “Wherever I went in my first travels in the United States I found hospitality and great friendliness for the individual Englishman, but also perfectly open and undisguised suspicion of England and everything British.

“But on the ojher side of the water at the same time the general mental attitude toward the United States was one of complete ignorance and incredible interest.” * Sir Esme continued: “It is as certain as that I stand here that the sentiments of our two countries toward each other are growing not worse, but better, all the time. If you ask me for specific evidence, I would say that never was there so little ultrapatriotic denunciation of Britain as during the last presidential elections. Tail-twisting appears no longer to be a popular pastime. “I would point to the immense popular interest taken in the illness of King George and his miraculous recovery. Lastly, I would refer to the really wonderful welcome given everywhere to the British Prime Minister, Mr. MacDonald, when he visited this country last autumn.” Sir Esme will leave for England tomorrow.