The times., 1897-11-21
Mission of w. Randall Cremer
TO This Country.
TALKS ABOUT HIS HOBBY
Denies That He Is I'm the Employ
of the British Government ana
Sent Here TO Promote Arbitration
Schemes Repre- sents Movement
That Is Almost Universal.


ton, is exciting considerable interest among
the foes and friends of his theories by his
third visit Co this country He has beea
in Washington, at the Riggs House, for a
week pow, and IL is supposed that he is
at work. 1t is announced that he brings
a monster memorial signed by the OFFICERS
and representative men OF all the labor
and industrial organizations in the united
Kingdom and all the benevolent and provi-
dent associations This memorial recites
the beauties OF universal peace, the par
ucular and peculiar ties between 5hs
peoples OF America and Great Britain, and
a great desire to see treaty of arbitra-
tion which forever shall prevent blood
shed between these nations or the same
race ard linea ge-
Nevertheless, it has been mtimated aud
even buIdly asserted that Mr.. Cremer
does not really represent the people of
England, or, II he does, only seeondarily,
and that his cal mission is as an emissary
OF the British government. In support OF
this assertion it is said that the British
foreign office has been working for many
years for such a treaty, but wishes the
States, and hence has employed Mr.. Gre
mer to come ostensiDly as a private cfti-
zen entirely and without its sanction. The
two other visits TO our shores made oy
this gentleman in former years, both times
being at the instance OF members OF Far
lament, are cited as corroborative evi-
dence.
The reasons wny Great Britain should
desire such treaty have been given in
The Times heretofore. In the first instance
1T has been pointed out by opponents of the
treaty in this country that in any su6-
mission OF questions TO arbitration between
these two countries, one d republic and the
other monarchy, the final arbitrator
would be tie crowned head OF some mon
arohical European country 1t is asked
why a republic should submit its questions
70 a man with mOHarchical hehefs and
fealuies and friendship, and what possible
advantage there could be in such course
over the submission OF them TO the win Of
| the people Of America,
The other reason why England might
desire to tie cur hands is a more direct
aud personal one. 1t is matter OF policy
and part OF game Of astute diplomacy
| England's food supply comes now from
| Russia and the United states. In the event
/ OF a war with Russia, England would be
| dependent on this country for wheat. II
| our hands We're tied by a peace treaty
| England would be safe. III we We're
/ not t:ed il IS quite conceivable that in
dispute between England and Russia
the interests OF the United States would
be so largely with Russia that we might
| take sides with her. The present seal
fisheries discussion is cited as such a
| possible condition OF things, though it is
not 3y any means the only one.
reporter for The Times called on Mr.,
| Cremer last night He was most conr
| municative as to his history and antcce
dents and those Of the measure he repre-
sents. His evident desire was to be agree
able, and IL possible TO allay the sus
picions that have arisen against his project
He is plain man, OF unadoned speech
very evidently an Englishman. de is small
and has bald head. The impression tina
lie is sincere and a thorough believer il
! universal arbitration is strong as one
listens TO him.
Nj. Cremer said Il am a trades union
ist myself. l was formerly a meehani
and have Kept in touch with the iaborias
men Of my country while 1 have been il
Parliament. l represent them there.
am Radical. l am q democrat in th'
sense that l am a believer in the right
Of the people above everything else.
Il have fought the foreign policy }
Lord Salisbury, the Conservatives aud 5h'
Tories bitterly, by speeches and by haTt
work. 1 fought the annexation of Burma
| and the continued occupation Of Egypt, an'
the huge expenditure for our Navy, 921,
600 900.
My views have been always differen
and opposed TO those of the present govern
meut. l make this statement TO show yo
, how preposteTous, how really Iudicrous /
Is to suppose that l am an employe @
/ the government. The foreign office, whe
1t sees come OF the editorials THAT Ia =
been printed in American papers about nI
Will be forced to smile broadly.
L come To America representing move
, ment aud a sentiment which is almos
uniyer sal among the common people 1
England though our plan was for a lon
time opposed by the British governmeI
itself. II there was ever peoples move
ment as distinguished from a diplomat
! | game this desire for arbitration is on,
And 1 believe that the great mass Of tt
J | people In this country is strongly In fave
of arbitration.
Some of the few opponents of this pIa
of arbitration seem to forget the beginn:n
! of its history, though they recount the Ia
! ter part with great fluency.
} "a reference to the archives Of so
; foreign office will show you that lon
prior to 1887, when our people first &
) tated the idea, many bills and resolution
had been introduced in Congress by meI
bers Of both houses in favor of settlIr
, all disputes between -speakin
peoples by arbitration. There was
= strong sentiment in favor of peace bet>vA'
6 America and England then, as these mea
ures showed.
THE simple truth of the matter is tht
cur people, and mostly the laboring class.
[ caught the idea ftom you. They were fir
& by it and have believed in 1t ever sin
It It began at the bottom of the peop
e Our government threw cold water on
S being actively, though diploma tically, {
posed 30 it.
u parliament finally took up the pIa
d despite this opposition. A concurrent res
luton was carried unanimously in 1S9
d | Nothing was done by your country, DO,
j ever, and the matter was partially DIR.
IS ped. Then the second memorial w;
signed Unofficially by many members
IS Congress- 1t expressed the hope that Ii
United States would take the initia tive al
e gave an empha tic promise that the sig
e ers would Go everything in their pow
Z to aid the measure In Great Britain. t
e history Of the movement after that ever
3 body knows.
The sentiment that war should cea
) as a barharous and disgusting relic of u
n civilized times is growing in Europe eve
i year. The movement is already a Gre