The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-16
A RECEPTION TO CHOATE
A Royal Welcome by the Cham
ber of Commerce.
HE MADE BRITONS LAUGH
One of His Characteristic Respons ses
Wit, Humor and England
and the United States Can Keep
the Peace of the World,

-oIluoll. MdfCn 1o-JOSeph ii. th0ate,
| the United States ambassador to the
court of st. James, made his first pub
lie appearance in England at the BAN
| quet of the association of chambers of
which was held at the Metropole ho-
tel this evening. There was a brilliant
and distinguished gathering. about $50
persons having been invited to meet
the ambassador. including the lord
chief justice of England, Baron Rus
sell of Killowen: Sir Henry Staf-
ford Northcote. the president of the as
sociation; the prime minister, marquis
of Salisbury; the earl Of Jersey, the
earl of Dartmouth, Lord Rear Admiral
Ritchie, president of the board of trade:
James r. Carter, second secretary of
the United States embassy. and many
members of parliament.
Mr.. Choate, who was welcomed heart
lily, sat in the place of honor, on the
right of the chairman.
Rear Admiral Lord Charles Beres-
ford, who replied to the toast to the
navy, declined to be drawn into a dis
cusson of the Chinese situation. He
concluded his speech by saying:
THE company is waiting to hear a
distinguished guest. the new ambassa-
dor Of the United States, whom every
man of the fore and aft in this country
is delighted to see, but cannot be seat
ed without saying that I took every op-
portunity to see the fleet of America
in both the Pacific and the Atlantic.
I saw very excellent fleet not only
in the way the ships are built, but in
respect of general organization and
preparedness.
Il need not extol it's officers and
men. They are of the same blood as
ours, and have proved what they could
do when called upon. l hope the time
will very shortly come when there will
be such an understanding between the
two countries that if anything occurs
disagreeable to us or affecting our hon
or and safety, these two fleets will be
together. That will make for peace"
Vice-President Harper then submitted
the toast of Our Guests coupled with
the names of Mr. Choate and Baron
Russell of Killowen. He expressed his
keen pleasure at the advent of Mr..
Choate at time when there is every
disposition to strengthen the bond of
the Anglo-Saxon race, whose only OBJ
jects are peace, prosperity, freedom of
trade and progress"
The toast was received with loud
cheers, the company standing and
shouting the name of Mr.. Choate, who
was thrice cheered Mr. Choate, on
rising to respond, receive an ovation,
The United States ambassador began
jokingly, protesting that he was over
whplmed with embarrassment at beina
called upon to respond in priority to
the lord chief justice. He felt that
when the British lion was about to roar.
even the American should hold his
peace. He was delighted, he said, to
receive and accept the invitation to the
banquet, although he was not at liberty
to discuss British commerce. His gen.
eral instructions from his government
We're not to discuss politics, or only at
extraordinarily festival occasions.
Laughter)
After a few words on the subject of
commerce, which he characterized as
truly the mainstay of the British en-
pire," he concluded as follows: Il have
felt, however, that might properly avail
myself Of this first public occasion to
express the appreciation of my country
men for the forbearance, good will and
friendship manifested to them so freely
by the British people. 1t is true, gen
tlemen, that peace between the United
States and Great Britain is the first in
teIeSl VI llOl D1lS llltSe lNu idllDllS,
but of the whole world
In expressing his gratitude for the
cordial greeting he had received from
all sorts and conditions of men since
his arrival in England, Mr.. Choate said:
Everywhere l have been treated as a
friend and as the representative of your
friends and brothers. In fact, l have
actually discovered the open door. open
to such an extent as would satisfy even
has made the circle of the globe in
search of it. I think l may say. as a
testimony to the good feelings sought
to be encouraged on our side of the
water that the president gave the best
Illustration of it when he said in my
letter of credence, he replied with conf
dence upon my constant endeaVor dur
ing my stay in Great Britain to pro-
mote the interest and prosperity of
both nations (Cheers, cries of
"Bravo.D
After another reference to the open
door and the enlarged sphere of intlu-
ence which cordial brotherhood has
opened up the amba ssadOr continued:
Il beg that you will not mistake my
meaning. | do not believe that, al
though friends, we shall ever cease to
be rivals. In the future as in the past
we on our side and you on your side
will still press every advantage that
can fairly be taken; but it shall be
generous and loyal rivalry. and all
questions disputes and controversies
arising shall be settled by peaceful
means: by negotiations. by arbitration.
by any and every possible means eX-
cept war"
After pointing out that this was no
new sentiment, Mr.. Choate remarked:
While the last conflict between Great
Britain and America failed to settle
any of the great questions upon which
either side took up arms, showing that
between brethren war is the worst pos
sible means of settling any contro-
versy, yet in the S4 years that have
since elapsed tremendous questions
heated words, threatening demonstra-
tions which would inevitably have
brought two other nations into open
and frequent conflict, have occurred on
either side and have all been arranged
and adjusted without resort to arms"
Referring ia the Venezuela imbro-
Clio, he observed; You know that on
our side of the water we love OCCASION
ally to twist the lions tail for the mere