The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-27
RECORD OF
LATE LORD
PAUN CEF0TE.
Endeared Himself TO the Amer
lean People but He Scored
Few Actual Victories.

Washington, May 27.-Lord Paunce-
fote who died in this city recently. had
been connected with the diplomatic life
of Washington since 1883. His actual
work as diplomat was confined 10 the
American capital. No other interna-
tlonalist enjoyed a reputation of equal
brilliancy nd yet, when estimated by
actual victories Lord Pauncefote has
little TO show.
At the time OF Pauncefote's arrival In
this country, President Cleveland was
urging a retaliatory policy by which the
Canadian Pacific railroad would have
been deprived of much patronage from
the United States
Lord Pauncefote attempted TO COM
pose the difficulties. but his efforts were
negatived by the intolerance of the Ca
nadians, and the outcome was an execu-
tive order that a discriminating tonnage
rate of 20 cents on all British and Ca
madam freight through the Sault Ste
Marie canal should be levied. Lord
Pauncefote only saved the situation by
an absolute surrender
Then quickly succeeded the seal ques
ton, which Lord Pauncefot was com
PEELED TO submit to arbitration on the
demand of Mr.. Blaine. That Great
Britain triumphed In that arbitration Is
not due To the diplomacy of her repre-
sentative at Washington, who strongly
opposed that disposition OF the matter.
Lord Pauncefote then proposed a gen
eral treaty of arbitration between the
United States and Great Britain. The
failure OF that treaty is a matter OF his
tory, but IL had the effect OF causing the
car 10 bring about The Hague confer
ence, which finally proposed general
scheme of international arbitration.
The mooted treaty of alliance with the
United States was a dismal failure.
The negotiations which resulted In
what was known as the high joint COM
mission proved abortive Of gain TO Eng
land. and only served to fix Sir VIII
fred Laurier. French Canadian. firmly
i'm power over the Dominion of Canada
Even as late as last year Lord Paunce
fote was laboring to reopen the delibera-
tions of the high joint commission, but
without the assistance of either the
American or Canadian governments.
One thing which Great Britain held
dear as to the United States was the
Clayton Buwer treaty. Time and again
the British government asserted that
this treaty should never be surrendered.
The result of two proposed treaties con-
cerning the isthmian canal is that the
Clayton Bulwer treaty has been oblit-
Grated without recompense to Great
Britain.
These incidents practically involve the
sum OF Lord Pauncefotes efforts in
diplomatic field lie has, however. tri-
umphed as no other of his contempora-
ries In winning for himself a warm per-
sonal regard from the American people.
His gennai character and gracious
manner endeared him and the simplicity
Of his life was easily understood. His
work may not have resulted i'm specific
trophies, but none may compete with
him i'm the triumph Of cultivating good
will between the English speaking peo-
pies.
A popularity OF Lord Pauncefote was
that he never gave an interview TO an
American newspaper. He had, however,
a method OF impressing his views upon
the public mind without personally voic-
ing them.