The Washington times., 1901-09-22
A STUDY OF MIR. ROOSEVELT.
Opinion of Capt. Arthur Lee. For.
mcrIy British Attache Here.

NEW YORK. Sept 21-Capt. Arthur
Lee. ex-military attaehe to the British
Embassy at Washington, who is to sail
on Tuesday next for England, declares
| that the American people have much to
expect from the new President. whom he
has known intimately for several years.
Speaking of recent events in this country,
Captain Lee last evening said:
LAS a student of the American people
1 count myself particularly fortunate in
having been In this country during the
past week. have seen them in the days
of their exultation, in the days of their
prosperity and pride, and now have
seen them in their hour of humiliation and
grief The absolutely universal feeling of
affection for the stricken President and
of genuine sorrow over his death as ex-
pressed by the highest and the lowest
presents 10 the foreigner new phase of
the national character.
''Of course the death of the Queen and
that of Mckinley are not analogous. If,
for instance. Lincoln had been elected in
1865 for life by unanimous vote, and had
been killed last week, grief similar to
that of the English people after the
Queens death might have been expected.
But for every man. woman. and child in
the street to personally sorrow over the
death of a man who was but recently
chosen President against the opposition
of considerable proportion of the people,
as has been the case here, is, to my mind,
remarkable. 1t is a striking tribute to
the virtues of Mckinley as a man and
to the homogeneity of the American peo-
pie.
II had met the President and admired
him. His death is great national loss.
But think the American people are par
ticularly fortunate In having such man
as Roosevelt to take up the burden of
office where he left off
II became acquainted with the new
President in Cuba. and practically ate
and slept with him throughout a large
part of the campaign. We became init
mate friends, and, for my part, l think
that the people of this country have moth
ing to fear. but great things to expect
from his Administration. 1 have studied
the man at close range. and it is almost
annoying to me to hear the expression
made that he is of the hot-headed type
| know him to be conservative in all his
actions, and his statements that he will
carry out the policy of his predecessor
VIII be believed in England, notwithstand-
ing the fact that much has been sent
there as information which is calculated
actions as President"
Have you ever heard it runored that
heretofore he has been inclined to sympa-
thize with the Beers in the South African
struggle?' was asked.
Il have talked with him on the subject"
said Captain Lee, ''and / think | know his
views, but of course | could not abuse his
confidence by repeating anything he might
have said. l will state positively. how
ever. that he never made any secret of his
appreciation of the helpful attitude of
England toward the United States during
the struggle in Cuba and that he has not
forgotten it, England has nothing to fear
from his Administration, and / think the
leaders of my Government are convinced
of that fact
''One of the greatest obstacles to be con-
tended with in the fostering of political
and Industrial unity between England and
America today Is the lack of information,
or rather the food OF mlsinformation,
garding the life and aims and progress of
the two peoples and their national attitude
toward each other. The great duty of ex-
changing real information. which clearly
belongs to the press of the two countries,
has been shirked in a manner that is as
distressing as 1t is enigmatical. 1t would
seem that with the development of the
cable and the telegraphic service the two
great English speaking countries should
have the most minute knowledge of each
other, but IN the light of their facilities
for getting this knowledge. they are as yet
comparative strangers. The press of the
two countries is largely responsible for
this The London service of the American
papers. with one or two notable excep-
tions. has been notoriously deficient in
supplying news of any permanent value.
The British journals are kept no better
Informed on American matters of real
Importance"
Speaking of the probable work of the
House of Commons at its next sitting.
Captain Lee expressed the hope that one
OF its first discussions would be upon the
Nicaragua Canal Treaty.
hone
States Senate will accept the new treaty
laid before IL next December" said he.
'.and l hope that the treaty will come be-
fore the English Parliament in February.
/ know that every desire on the part of
My Government is for the building of the
canal The trouble thus far over there has
not been the matter of the American case,
but the manner in which it was dealt with
in the Senate when the Hay-Pauncefote
Treaty was presented. For my part, /
will urge at every opportunity In the
House of Commons an early and favor
able settlement of the case. and believe
the outlook is bright