AMERICA AND BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 November 1922, Page 6

AMERICA AND BRITAIN.

GUARDIANS OF THE PEACE, OONSUL-GENtiRAL .SPEAKS. Air. D. F. Wilbup, American ConsulGeperal at Wellington, who is on a visit to Stratford for the purpose of attending the A. and P. show, was tendered a reception on Tuesday evening by the Chamber of Commerce and prominent citizens of the town at the Borough Council Chambers. His Worship the Alayor (Mr. J. W. AlcAlillan) presided. In welcoming Air. Wilbur, the Alayor apologised for the absence of Mr. R. Alasters, ALP., and several councillors. Mr. AlcAlillan said many of them had questioned attitude in the late war, but they must remember that America was a cosmopolitan nation .whose population was drawn from all parts of the globe. A nation with such a population had great problems to contend with. New Zealand had commercial interests which would reciprocate with American interests. Our first duty was to Britain, and after that to the English speaking nations. Probably with reciprocal commercial relations America would drop the cloak of isolation engendered by the Munro Doctrine. Mr. J. B. Richards, president of the Chamber of Commerce, said he had no doubt that in America they had New Zealand’s commercial figures well recorded. This was a very fertile and productive district, which was really only emerging from its swaddling i clothes. America and New Zealand had I many things in common. Each nation ! was founded on the same stock. They i were fine men who went over in the Mayflower, and it was the same class who came to our shores. We had a common language and a common liters ture, and. these factors must give common aspirations. Air. Richards asked The guest to direct American visitors to the scenic beauties of Alount Egmont and the Tangarakau Gorge, the latter being the best piece of road scenery in the North Island. In acknowledging the reception, Mr. Wilbur said he admired the grit and the ambition of the people of Taranaki. The country had good soil and good cattle, Holsteins and some Jerseys. He came to New Zealand at his own request because he had not only heard of the country but he wanted to know more of it. He had made up his mind that it could and would make good. He himself was a farmer, and he had owned a Holstein cow, Panline Paul which held the world’s record for butterfat. Taranaki had a reputation in his country, although Taranaki might not know it. If he could do anything to help that reputation they could count on him. He -was here as the representative of his Government to assist the producers to make markets in his country for their primary products. “America is a great nation,” continued Air. Wilbur, “but we are Anglo-Saxons; while New Zealand calls England the Alother Country so do we call England our mother country. Everything in America that is worth while is AngloSaxon. The future peace of the world depends upon the two great AlngloSaxon nations. The League of Nations comes to naught unless these are behind it. America knew there was only one nation in the past that -would keep its word, and that was Britain. I say this unreservedly. You may- have questioned why America did not come into the League of Nations: it was because only the one nation in it would keep its word. Britain would stand by her word, but we did not know what the other fellows would do. America has a great respect for Britain. Do not worry about the great cosmopolitan population in America: the pure Anglo-Saxons have all the say. I do not doubt but that Downing -Street and Washington have a good understanding, and that they are going to keep it up. - ’ The function was closed with three h&irty cheers for America, given at the call of the Alayor.