Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-04
SMALL, BUT ENTHUSIASTIC
Attendance at the London Arbitration
Meeting Disappointing.
MANY ENCOURAGING LETTERS WERE READ
Resolutions Urging the Negotiation
of an Arbitration Trcnty-Ar-
ranged for n Permanent In
tcrnationnl Organization.

tcrnntionnl Organization.
LONDON, March 3.-The demonstration
at Queens hall tonight in favor Of permanent
arbitration between the United States and
Great 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 caused
pending the arrival of the speakers, when
the girls who were to sing in the choir
trooped upon the stage in patches, which
were arrayed alternately in sashes formed
of the Union Jack and the stars and stripes,
until a 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 played Hearts of Oak" "Our Ships
that Sailed" columbia" and kindred airs.
The choir also sang the well known patriotic
air, which is to some extent common to the
two countres one-half of the choir singing
the words God Save the Queen" and the
other 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.
r. Stead Lady Henry Somerset, Rt. Hon.
A. ]. Mundell, radical member of Parliament
for Sheffield; Prof. James Bryce, Rt. Hon.
George Shaw Lefevre, Mrs Hall Caine, Rev.
Hugh Price Hughes the bishop of Rochester,
and Others Mr.. Stead, after the opening of
the meeting, read letters of sympathy with
its purpose from A. j. Bafour, first lord of
the treasury; Mr.. Gladstone, Rt. Hon. Henry
Asquth, home secretary in the liberal gov
ernment; Mr.. Labouchere, George Meredith
the author; Mr.. Henry Norman, who went
to Washington on behalf of the Chronicle at
the time the Venezuelan question was at its
acute phase and who wrote strongly from
there in behalf of international arbitration,
and many Others
Mr.. Bafour wrote: my sympathy with
the object of the meeting has been more
than once expressed in public and / trust
1 need not emphasize. There are no doubt
questions that nation could not consent to
have settled by any tribunal; but this argu-
ment is not against arbitration but against
it's rash and unconsidered use"
GLADSTONE ENDORSES DISCUSSION.
Mr.. Gladstone wrote: 81 am glad the dis
cussion Of arbitration is to be separated
from the Venezuelan question, upon which L
do not find myself in full possession of the
facts that / should wish. My views
on arbitration in place of war were gathered
from the part l took in the Ala
bamaAmerican claims. / will only add that
my sentiments grow in strength from year
to year, in proportion to the growth of the
mcnstrous and barbarous militarism. in re-
gard to which consider that England has
to bear no small share of responsibility"
= The letter from George Meredith said:
"Since the benignant conclusion of the great
est Of civil wars l have looked upon the
American people as the leaders Of our civili-
zation, and whatever may be said of them,
am not alarmed by the thought of their
w mt nj will p1v nul,, toIx; x;,,o
a step to shatter it,
Mr.. Henry Norman said in his letter: "The
Americans are practically unanimous for ar
bitration on all subjects. The overwhelming
majority of the British is the same. Only
official conservatism blocks the way. Is this
the moment to pigeonhole in the foreign
office draft of treaty of arbitration with
the United States?'
Sir John Millais the distinguished artist
and lately made president of the Royal acad-
emy, wrote, suggesting that Edwin A. Abbey
or Johns Sargent, the well known American
artists, might be some day president of the
Royal academy as a practical proof of the
art brotherhood of the two nations.
Several letters were read from Herbert |
Spencer Holman Hunt, Wilson Barret, the |
actor. William Watson, the poet Vlscount
Peel ex-speaker of the House of Commons: |
Watts, DR.. Parker and several bishops. The |
reading of these letters excited vigorous |
cheers from the audience.
Sir James Stansfeld, the chairman, in his |
opening speech, said that if it were only |
fcr the hearing of the letters, the meeting |
would not have been in vain. The Venezuelan |
question, he thought, was a blessing in dis |
guise, because he believed the result would |
De treaty Of arbitration.
William r. Cremer, ex-member of Par |
Lament, VINO visited Washington last year
with a petition in favor of international ar |
Ditration, signed by the members of Par
lament, related the history of the present |
movement
MOVES A MEMORIAL.
Mr.. Shaw Lefevre moved a resolution in |
'tructing the chairman to sign memorial |
IN behalf of the meeting to President Cleve- |
and, the marquis of Salisbury and Mr.. Bal
our, urging that the time was opDortune !
o conclude treaty of arbitration. Mr..
Shaw Lefevre then made a speech on the |
listor7 Of the Alabama case and subse-
luent cases of arbitration, referring 10
Americas vigor in negotiating treaties con-
aiming arbitration clauses. He urged the
of the Venezuelan question with
'ut any reservation whatever.
The bishop of Rochester seconded this
notion and Lady Henry Somerset supported
t with an mpassioned denunciation of
var between England and America.
Mr.. Hall Caine, Rev. Price Hughes and
thers spoke on the resolution, which was
hen carried by acclamation.
Rt. Hon. A. j. Mundella then moved a
esolution requesting the committee be con-
ened in a meeting to reconstitute itself
IN national bass with view to cooperate
With the Washington movement. Mr.. Mum
ella, in the course CT his speech, read a
elegram Of sympathy and concord from
america. He urged the Importance of grasp
ng the hand of fellowship thus extended ]
nd he advocated the formation of great
association to promote the
noyement and to perpetuate the principle
v means of a permanent standing commit,
ee on both sides Of the Atlantic.
This motion was carried unanimously and
he meeting ended with the singing Of ma
ional anthems.
SEALS NOT BECOMING EXTINCT.