The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-03-11
THE LEADING LIGHTS Of England
FAVOR ARBITRATION.
This Method Of Settling the Venezuela
Question Asked For.

The demonstration at Queens Hall, Lon
don, March Q, in favor OF permanent arbitra-
tion between the United States and Grent
Britain was disappointing from the point OF
view Of numbers, the audience, which was
not large, being mostly made up Of women.
Much enthusiasm was occasioned prior TO
the arrival Of the speakers for the evening,
when the girls who were singing In the choir
trooped npon the stage In patches which
were arrayed alternately In sashes formed OF
the Union Jack and Of the Stars and Stripes,
until complete blending Of the flags Of the
two countries was effected, intended TO be
symbolic OF international harmony, which
the promoters OF the meeting are seeking to
establish.
Before the meeting opened the organ play
ed ''Hearts Of oak, T"0ur Ships That sail
cd, )" "Columbla," and kindred airs. The
choir also sang the well-known patriotic air,
which is to some extent common to the
two countries, one-half Of the choir singing
the words, "God Save the Queen" and the
other half, "My Country 'Tis Of Thee"
simultaneously, the audience joining In the
dual anthem
Sir james stansfeld presided over the
meeting, and he was supported by Mr.. w.
4. Stead, Lady Henry Somerset, RI. Hon.
A. J. Mundella Radical member Of Parlia-
ment for Sheffield; Prof. james Bryce, Rt.
r..
Rev. Hugh Price Hughes, the Bishop Of
Rochester and others.
Mr.. Stead. after the opening Of the meet
ing, read letters of sympathy with its pur-
pose from Mr.. A. J. Balfour, First Lord OF
the Treasury; Mr. Gladstone, Rt. Hon. Henry
Asquith, Home Secretary in the late Liberal
Government: Mr.. Labouchere, George
Meredith, the author; Mr.. Henry Norman,
who went TO Washington on behalf of the
Chronicle at the time the Venezuelan ques-
tion was Mt its acute phase, and who wrote
strongly from there In behalf Of international
arbitration. and many others.
Mr.. Balfour wrote; "My sympathy with the
object OF the meeting has been more than
once expressed in public, and hope I need
not emphasize IL. There are, no dOubt,ques-
tions that n nation could not permit to be
settled by any tribunal But this argument
IL not against arbitration, but against It's rash
and unconsidered use.
Mr.. Gladstone wrote. az am glad that the
discussion OF arbitration Is TO be separated
from the Venezuelan question, upon which
do not feel myself In final and full possession
of the facts that | should wish. NY views on
arbitration In place of war were gathered
from the part took IN the matter OF the Al
ALBANIA claims
q" will only add that my conviction and
and sentiment ON the subject grow in
strength from yeaI to year, In proportion to
the growth of the monstrous and barbarous
militarism, In regard TO which l consider
that England has to bear no small share OF
responsibility.
The Rt Hon. George Meredith said: "Since
the benignant conclusion Of the greatest OF
civil wars, have looked upon the American
people as the leaders of our civilization, and.
whatever may be said among them, am
not alarmed by the thought of their wanton-
ly, willingly or consentingly taking step Ia
shatter IL. 3"
Mr. Henry Norman said In his letter: "The
Americans are practically unanimous for ar
bitration on all public subjects. Overwhelm-
ingly majority Of the British are the same.
Only official conservatism blocks the way.
Is this the moment to pigeon-hole In the
Foreign Office draft of n treaty of arbitra-
tion with the United Statcs2'
Similar letters were read from Herbert
Spencer, Holman Hunt. Wilson Barrett, the
| actor; William Watson, the poet; Viscouni
Peel, ex-Speaker of the House OF Commons
Leonard Courtney, Alma Tadema, q. +.
Watts, DIR. Parker and several bishops. The
| reading of these letters elected vigorous
cheers from the audience.
Sir James Stansfeld, the chairman in his
opening speech, said that II 1t were only fol
the hearing Of the letters, the meeting would
not have been in vain. The Venezuela ques.
tion. he thought, was blessing In disguise
because he believed that the result would be
n treaty Of arbitration.
Mr.. William II. Cremer, eX-member of Par.
lament who visited Washington last yeal
with petition In favor Of international arbi.
tration signed by the members of Parliament
| related the history Of the present movement
Mr.. Shaw-Lefevre moved resolution In
structing the chairman to sign memoria
on behalf Of the meeting to President Cleve
land, the Marquis of Salisbury and Mr.. Bal
four urging that the time was opportune &c
| conclude treaty of arbitration.
Mr.. Shaw-Lefevre then made a speech on
the history OF the Alabama case and subse-
quent cases of arbitration. referring TO Amer
ica's vgor in negotiating treaties containing
arbitration clauses. He urged the arbltra'
tion OF the Venezuelan question without any
reservation whatever.
The Bishop of Rochester seconded thi;
motion, and Lady Henry Somerset supported
II with an impgssioned denunciation Of wal
between England and America. Mr.. Hal
Caine, Rev. Hugh Price Hughes and other
spoke on the resolution which was then car
ried by acclamation
The ri. Hon. A. J. Mundella then moved {
resolution, requesting the committee be con
| vened In meeting to reconstitute itself on {
national basis, with a view to cooperate
Il