FRIENDSHIP DESIRED.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 May 1920, Page 11

FRIENDSHIP DESIRED.

UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN. PEACE TREATY DILEMMA. Interesting observations on conditions in the United States were made by Professor Newton, in an interview in Welington. He is the professor of history . London University, and after spend"ig 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 ho being done; the various sections of the machinery of Government are engaged in no constructive ,work; on the contrary, each one is de'voting its energies to impeding the others. The President refuses to agree with the Sen-\ ate, the Senate sticks political pins into the President, and the Houso of Representatives worries both. The net resuit 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 tiling, they practically refused tri nnsist. in "Iriiri'"- up t.l>e 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 and conflicts which take place between the various agents of the State are detrimental to the national interests. The Press of America does not eeem 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 ivhich 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 Irisli 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 Umpire 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 "