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Washington Goodwill Debating Tour

Sponsored by numerous organisations in America, Mr. Robert K. Burns and Mr. Lyle M. Spencer are conducting an extensive world tour, debating with the principal Universities and Youth Groups in the countries they visit. At the same time they are giving lectures on a wide range of subjects. Both visitors come from Washington University, Seattle.

Mr. Burns, a major student in the economic class of 1933, the manager of the team, has participated in "Varsity debating for three years and has won distinction in a number of inter-collegiate forensic contests. He is a member of the Tau Kappa Alpha National Forensic Fraternity and a ranking student in economics. This is his second tour around the world, and he was awarded a trip in 1930 as a result of a national competition.

Mr. Lyle M. Spencer, secretary of the tour, is a major in philosophy, and has had three years' experience in inter-collegiate debate. A graduate of the class of 1933, he is a member of the Tau Kappa Alpha Forensic Fraternity, Alpa Kappa Delta Sociology Honorary, Phi Bita Kappa National Scholastic Honorary Fraternity, and has held important editorial posts on the University of Washington Daily, Student Newspaper.

It was New Zealand's misfortune that Mr. Lyle M. Spencer was forced to undergo an operation in Sydney, leaving Mr. Robert Burns to tour New Zealand alone. New Zealand's misfortune, we think, must have been a great relief to our debaters for although unaided except by a local debater at Canterbury College, Mr. Burns won every debate he took part in. This feat necessitated three speeches of 20 minutes, aproxi mately, for each debate. To maintain the same high standard throughout required ability of an order that is very rarely possessed; and it is significant to note that it was usually his second or third speech which the judges declared to be the high light of the debate.

Arriving in Wellington on the morning of Friday, August 3rd, Mr. Burns was easily recognised by the select band on the platform by the artistic setting of his hat and by his broad and cheery smile. Soon he was in the middle of things. At mid-day the English Speaking Union gave a luncheon in his honour at which he delivered an excellent speech on Pacific Problems. The reception recorded this speech can best be judged by the congratulatory remarks made afterwards. One person hailed (or heiled) him as a second Roosevelt. Another offered him the dictatorship of New Zealand; we hasten to assure our politicians that he declined—with thanks. During the course of the afternoon and evening he gave two short talks over 2YA on American Youth.

On Saturday evening was held the first debate in the Town Hall. The subject was "That the United States should agree to the Cancellation of Inter-Allied War Debts." Prof, von Zedlitz was in the chair and H. H. Cornish, Esq., acted as judge. A. H. Scotney and C. M. P. Brown represented Victoria and were beaten in a very interesting debate in which Burns' per-suasiveness and ready pointed humour was much more convincing than their heavier methods of "dragooning" the audience.

A. H. Scotney opened the debate for Victoria and, after pointing out that the debate was taking place on the 20th Anniversary of Britain's entry into the War, he proceeded to propound "six deadly delusions" in the current American conception of this subject. The vigour of his presentation was rivalled by the force with which he slammed one sheet of notes on the judge's table at the conclusion of each point. The table squirmed at each blow; we could hardly bear to imagine the effect on Mr. Burns. With a stirring peroration he sent the table down for the count and we shifted our eyes carefully, fearfully to what must be by now the mangled corpse of his opponent. To our relief Mr. Burns was still alive; he hardly seemed hurt! Smiling and conciliating he came forward and told us two jokes -one about his little sister's prayer, "Good-bye, dear God, I am going to New Zealand."

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Then, miracle of miracles, he told us—and we believed—that the Allies could pay and that they had all expressed willingness to pay.

Max Brown, seconding the motion, pointed out that America had not really received a cent in payment and that if she were to accept payment it would mean greater unemployment, greater distress in a country already suffering a terrible strain. Justice and equity, he seemed to think, also demanded cancellation.

Mr. Burns, in two speeches, and Mr. Scotney then proceeded to exchange blow for blow on the subject material already presented, till Mr. Cornish was forced to intervene and award the palm to Burns.

On Sunday afternoon Mr. Burns was the guest of the Institute of Pacific Relations, and in the evening he addressed Weir House, suggesting the formation of a Youth Movement for Recovery and Peace similar to one already functioning in America. Definite action has been taken towards the formation of such a movement and it is hoped that it will soon be doing active work. The aim of the movement is purely educative; it is definitely non-partisan and aims rather at the hastening of reform through the education of public opinion. Once a body of opinion is created policies will take care of themselves.

The movement has also started at the other three Universities and it is hoped to organise it on a national basis early next year. Meanwhile the local organising committee is going ahead.

On Monday Mr. Burns was the guest of the American business colony at lunch, and in the evening was held the second debate, in the College gymnasium, on the subject "That the political salvation of the world depends on Dictatorship rather than Democracy."

Victoria were represented by A. T. S. McGhie and I. D. Campbell, who had finally to bow before the all-conquering career of their opponent. The debate was extremely good and the interjections at times of a very high order. Mr. Burns again showed himself a master at controlling humour and subordinating it to his arguments; this combined with his lucidity and conciliating manner made him much more convincing than the frontal attacks of Mr. McGhie's declamation and Mr. Campbell's massed statistics.

On Tuesday, after delivering a speech to the Rotary Club, he sailed South to complete his victorious tour. He paid us a short return visit during the vacation before he left for Australia, during which more details of the Youth movement were settled, the soul was solaced and the "light fantastic" trodden.