MR. MASSEY AT HOME.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 March 1919, Page 3

MR. MASSEY AT HOME.

ADDRESS TO AMERICANS. London, March 13. Official.—Mr waa the guest, of the Y-M.O.A. on 'Monday night and addressed about 2uCO American soldiers who were entertained by the ""ruts'' (New Zealand Division) concert party. Mi". Massey, who was most cordially received, referred to the manner in which the war had removed the past friction between America, and Britain and had brought the two great Englishspeaking nations together in effective co-operation for the triumph of honor and liberty on the battlefields of Franc:. He hoped they would never again be estranged and that the existing good feeling and spirit of unity would be maintained as aids to prosperous development, that Ihe best interests of both would Ik> kept above and beyond party polities. and that there would be" no political interference by either tmtios in the domestic affairs of the other, so that the lessons of the war would have an influence for permanent good on the life of each nation. Both nations had fought with the gallant citizens of France for the highest ideals and had won. All must now- strive to be worthy of the great victory and thus secure the victories of peace.

Both Ministers attended the New Zealand YM.C.A headquarters in Paris on Tuesday and were heartily welcomed by tiie soldiers on leave and by the staff of the excellent organisation The Ministers spoke of the splendid reputation of the New Zealanders both as soldiers and as men who everywhere iiad made good and the great name and fame of New Zealand. A royal welcome awaited them. As regards the peace settlement it was impossible to speak dc> finitely, but tiie lessons of Prussian warfare emphasised the need of demanding a full measure of reparation and indemnities for the nations uoon whom the destructive war had been thrust-

The New Zealand delegation, during the week-end, visited Kheims and Soicsons and saw the appalling devastation and wanton destruction which Germany had deliberately done. Rheiins and scores of villages are now desolate and deserted ruin*, while the former fair vineyards are grotesque c<-meteri«s.