ENGLAND OUR ALLY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3174, 21 March 1911, Page 7

ENGLAND OUR ALLY.

AN AMERICAN DECLARATION

Saj r s the Dayton (Ohio) “Daily Ncavs” : . , England and the United Stages are allies. There is no “treaty” to that effect-; it has not been officially declared by anybody; no legislative enactment has proclaimed it, but that is what the Lord Mayor of London says about it. And a hundred naval officers in the American navy applauded the remark and said “Amen” —so mote it be! _ The occasion Avas the recent visit of the American battleships to English Avaters. The officers aa'CTC being entertained by the City of London, and; the Lord Mayor Avas welcoming the visitors. Naturally on such occasions a fclloAV is profuse in his expressions of kindliness and sympathy, and many a time before similar remarks have been heard, hut probably never before- so significantly. "In the course of his remarks the Lord Mayor "said that “if ever dishonor threatens 1 the Union Jack, or destruction threatens our nation, a voice will come from across the seas —from America erving "Halt! Woodman spare that tree. °lt sheltered me in the past, and I will protect it- now.’ ” , There Avas a tremendous burst of applause, according to the reports, and the American officers led the demonstration. Then, holding up his hand to secure silence, the Lord Mayor continued : •■We Avelcom© our guests as allies in the amenities of good citizenship. They are our friends.” And again pandemonium broke loose. It Avas (illy a little social gathering, it is true, and no official significance need be attached to the remarks. _ Over the Avine men groAv mellow and kindly, of course. But, deep down in the heart of the average American and of the average Briton there is that something which tells each that the other is akin, and there has never been a moment these past several years but each has felt that if ever trouble comes betAveen either England 1 and any other country, or between the United States and any other country, the enemy might count on an alliance betAveen the United States and Great Britain. Some time ago England and Japan entered into an alliance offensive and defensive, so far as matters in the Far East are concerned. _lt Avill amount to just about as much as the paper it. is Avritten upon if ever the United States and Japan .go to Avar. It is unthinkable that in the event of a i war betAveen the Japs and the people or this country England Avould assist the Japs. So that it comes at the hegming' of the. New Year as a sort of .hallelujah to hear the plaudits that follow the statement that England and America arc allies, even if the statement Avas made under the influence of Avine.o-r in an atmosphere whore sympathy is begotten.