Evening times-Republican., 1903-11-10
LIKES alaskan AWARD
Premier Balfour Says 1t Will
Be a Great Factor In Pre-
serving Peace
KINGS BIRTHDAY BANQUET
'RTHDAY BANQUET
British Leader Says He Sees No I'm
mediate Danger of War in the Far
East Too Many Influences for
Peace - Peril in the Balkan situa-
tion-other News.

| Peace - Peril in the Balkan Situa
tion-Other News.
London. Nov. 10.-Congratulations Il
Great Britain and the Alaska bounda
ry dispute has been settled amicably
altho the result was unfavorable to tht
side of his country. was the keynote O.
| the speech of Premier Balfour las
| night at the lord mayors banquet II
honor of King Edwards ed birthday
In discussing this matter the premier
said:
The danger arising from the uncHr.
tain and disputed frontiers In the case
between the British empire and the
United States has been decided for al
time. l regret that the decision has moi
been favorable to the claims of this
country. but the two small islands, the
loss of which to Canada has aroused
such great feeling, are really valueless
from a strategic and military point OF
view.
I'VE regret the exact tenor of the de-
cision, but the way the balance OF ad-
vantage went. the gain to the United
States or the loss to Canada, is moth
ing compared with the final removal
OF this subject Of dispute between the
two great countries. The decision must
be loyalty accepted. for the removal or
SO serious controversy is an inestima-
BILE boom"
Mr.. Balfour said that the growth OF
the international spirit and the tenden-
cy towards frank dealings between the
western powers was we'll exemplified in
the treaty recently concluded between
France and Great Britain. The nations,
he declared. must feel that it was j
crime to enter into war.
Mr.. Balfour carefully avoided refer
ring to party politics and said he would
endeavor not to even touch the fringe
OF the fiscal question.
Concerning the situation in the far
east. Mr.. Balfour said there was every
reason to feel sanguine that it would
have no serious outcome. He based
this assurance on the desire of the
czar of Russia to promote the genera.
peace and on the fact that Japan, as
the ally of Great Britain, would be cer-
tain to display moderation, discretion
and judgment in Its demands as well
as firmness in enforcing them.
Mr.. Balfour said that the Macedonian
question raised issues more difficult
and more complicated than even those
of the far east because 1t touched the
almost perennial difficulty OF the prob
lem of the government OF its European
subjects by the sublime porte. This
question had been the cause of Infinite
political complications and serious
wars. bringing anxiety to every court
in Europe. 1t was impossible, said the
premier. that disease OF such long
standing could be lns,antaneously
question must be ultimately settled by
the concert OF Europe, which would
more effectively carry out its designs
than thru the medium Of those great
powers, Russia and Austria, which had
undertaken to deal with the situation.
Ambassador Choate. responding to
the toast OF "The Foreign Minister'S"
invited the lord mayor to go to the
United States and visit the ST. Louis
exposition.
The ambassador said the Alaskan
boundary decision was "a happy end
Ing to the only matter of controversy
that threatened at any time to create
mischief and distrust between those
two great English speaking peoples"
While he believed that ample justice
had been done, the result. Mr.. Choate
said, was due more than anything else
to the good sense, Justice, courage and
devotion to duty OF Lord Chief. Justice
Alverstone. The speaker paid tribute
to the magnanimity Of the Canadians
and said that the termination of the
controversy had made both countries
better friends.
Mr.. Choate paid graceful and feel
ing tribute to the memory of the late
British ambassador at Washington, Sir
Michael Herbert. He suggested that
the United States and Great Britain
unite in honortng Sir Michael Herbert
by selecting some magnificent noun
tain peak on the line Of demarcation
of the Alaskan boundary and "affixing
thereto the name Of Herbert, SO that
for all time to come, 1t may stand as
a monument to his splendid service,
noble character, and great achieve
ments."
"The Bench and Bar" was responded
to by Lord Chief Justice Alverstone,
who referred briefly to the Alaskan
boundary question, saying he declined
to justify or explain his conduct. be-
cause such course would be a death
blow to the confidence and repose in
the British bench.
Twelve hundred persons attended the
lord mayors banquet in the historic
Guiidhall.
King Edward celebrated his birthday
at Sandringham, where there was the
usual dinner to the tenants OF the es-
tate, at which the king and queen and
other members Of the royal family
handed round the dessert.
Sir James Thompson Ritchie, brother
of the former chancellor of the ex-
chequer, was Installed as lord mayor of
London yesterday. The lord mayors
procession was shorn of some of the us
ual gingerbread attractions and smaller
crowds lined the streets than usual.
COLOMBIA LODGES A PROTEST.