AUSTRALIA & AMERICA.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1921, Page 5

AUSTRALIA & AMERICA.

MR. HUGHES’ MESSAGE.. CO-OPERATION IN PACIFIC. ENGLISH-SPEAKING UNITY. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. New York, August 13. The Washington correspondent of the New York Times reports that Mr. Edward Eagle, of Selma, Alabama, who describes himself as a “plain American citizen,” has just presented to the Secretary of State (Mr. C. E. Hughes), written statements /signed with the names of the Prime Ministers of the British Empire. There are five such statements, and it is supposed that the fifth is from Mr. Lloyd George. Mr. Eagle, who lately returned from London, would reveal only the statement of Mr. W. M. Hughe4, which is as follows: — After outlining the problems confronting the statesmen of the world who are engaged in composing universal bonfusion and national difficulty, Mr. Hughes .states that complete unanimity of opinion among the nations is only possible by the persuasion or pressure of minority nations who refuse or delay needed decisions by majority nations who desire those decisions. ‘‘There is ready at hand,” he continues, “the very instrument needed, namely the English-speaking peoples of the world. They are already united in a natural confraternity whose oi’igin is derived from common ancestors and language, and similar ideals, aims, faiths, hopes, habits, and tastes. Most of the Eng-lish-speaking nations in one aspect, that of the British Empire, are united in a loosely organised but effective form or solidarity.” Mr. Hughes points out thht the nations of the British Empire are fundamentally one people, though they live separate, independent, and individual lives, and continues: “The British Empire is but part, since the Eng-lish-speaking family owns as its most populous and most powerful asset the peoples of the United States, and union for the greatest good is possible in so far as the nations of the British Empire and of America unite in one effort for one aim.” ANGLO-SAXON’ CONSOLIDATION. Mr. Hughes then stresses the nobility of the task of forming a consolidation of Anglo-Saxon people, and declares that he at every opportunity has urged the wisdom and even the necessity of a close understanding between Australia and the United States, and has encouraged the friendship of the two peoples. Mr. Hughes indicates two outstanding matters in regard to which the United States and Australia are concerned, namely, the race ideal known as “White Australia” and a common share in the problems of defence in the Pacific. He points out 1 ' that the race ideal does not need any recommendation to the people of the United States, who do not wish to bring on themselves another problem arising out of diversity of peoples. Australia’s aim is the prevention of the creation of such a problem.

Within this problem are the factors of standards of life, work, and wages, but firstly, the desire of Australians is the establishment within a continent for the first time in history of kindred peoples of the white race. This is an inspiration that cannot be easily realised, and is beset with problems, but the record of Australia’s history is one of triumph over difficulties. “The position of Australia in the Pacific is obvious,” Mr. Hughes continues, “bni it cannot be too often and too earnestly urged, that in the event of a future war the fate of the world as much as the future of Australia will be decided on the waters of the Pacific, nor can it be doubted that in the catastrophe of a naval war in the Pacific, the United States, as well as Australia, will be involved. We Australians, therefore, are alive to the value of the support of the United States in measures wo take for the defence of our shores, and we believe that the United States welcomes Australia’s activities in this matter. DEFENCE AND ELEMENTARY DUTY. “Australia and the United States desire to remain at peace with the world, but in our case we cannot forget the grave responsibility resting on us .as the furthermost outpost of the British Empire, with half the population of the globe living nearer to us than the nearest people of European race, while similarly a grave responsibility attaches to the position of the United States in the Pacific. Neglect of defensive preparation against the possibilities of an unknowable future would, in respect of our countries, be criminal neglect of the vastest scale.

“Protective measures, on the other hand, are the elementary duty of the United States and Australia. The whole world must face the possibilities in the Pacific without the slighest leaning towards an offensive menace, but with our whole weight upon the side of peace. There is no more promising way.of safeguarding ourselves than that of consolidating into permanency the friendship and mutual esteem of Americans and Australians. It is a natural bond. It exists by reason of the many attributes common to both peoples, and it is a bond suggestive of the value to the world of that wider-spread and infinitely desirable solidarity, namely, the friendly unity of the whole family of English-speaking peoples.” Mr. Hughes’ statement is entitled: “A Message to the American People.” Mr. Eagle, explaining the statement, said that following the precedent Mr. Wilson fixed in the Fiume Note to tn» Italian people, the British Ministers have sent messages to the American people. This is a forecast of the new diplomacy when we see -frank and free discussion of foreign political questions and an ordinary citizen used by Hie British Ministers as the bearer of their greetings of friendship to the United. States.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.