Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-04
BANQUET TO MIR. cHoATE.
Fourth Year as Ambassador Celebrated
Minister Newel's Remarks.

Minister Newel's Remarks.
A dispatch from London last night says:
The Pilgrim Club gave a banquet tonight to
United States Ambassador Choate to cele-
brate the completion OF his fourth year as
ambassador to the court Of St. James. It
was given in the Hyde Park Hotel, and was
a highly elaborate function, over 100 guests
being present. Earl Roberts presided, and
two stalwart Indians in native costume an
nounced the guests, who were received on
their arrival by the earl. The dinner was
served in the ball room A novel feature
in the decorations was four carved ice
blocks representing respectively Ambas-
sador Chaote, the Sphynx, the American
eagle and the British lion, which were
placed in the four corners OF the room ana
illuminated by electric lights. Inc .aoies
were decorated with profusion OF red.
white and blue flowers, and the union jack
and the stars and stripes were draped about
the walls, making a pretty decorative eject.
A striking feature Of the dinner was the
distribution of the guests among fifteen
round tables instead of all sitting at one
board, as is customary at English public
dinners. This innovation, which was at
tended by the happiest results brought to-
gether curiously dissimilar personalities
whose names are well known on both sides
of the Atlantic. .,-... ...
Earl Roberts, the chairman, in proposing
the toast of 1.-The President Of the United
States and King Edward VII" said that
Mr.. Roosevelt was the President of the
most enterpriSing republic that the world
had even seen, and that King Edward was
the sovereign of an empire on which the
sun never sets. Their most earnest desire
was that America and Great Britain should
continue to prosper and flourish, and that
they might ever continue the same fast
friends. The toast was drunk with en-
thusiasm, the orchestra playing God save
the King and ''The Star Spangled Ban
ner."
Mr.. Choate, in happy response, said that
no warrior ever donned the garb of pill
grim with more grace than when the fore
most soldier in Great Britain put Off the
sword to lead the holy palmers he saw
around him to great triumph of peace
more glorious than any victory Of war. 1t
was a great and clear indication to the
world, he continued, that the greatest SOL
der was the greatest peacemaker, and that
the armies and navies Of Great Britain and
the United States, to whatever proportions
they might grow, would never be turned
against each other.
Minister Newell, in proposing the toast OF
England and America" created a stir by
frankly declaring that any better Anglo
American relations must be based upon In
terest and not on sympathy.
In a Enthusiastically American speech
Mr. Newell reduced the after-dinner speak
ing to a practical basis. sIn 1885," he said
81 noticed 1 was a citizen Of the best-hated
nation on the earth. Misery loves company;
perhaps that has something to do with the
Anglo-American friendship Of today. Never
theless, we find in you the man, and we
like men. Whatever criticisms or reserva-
lions we may have regarding each other,
we are too big and you are too big to care
for them"
Minister Newels frank enunciation Of
especially from the most prominent Eng
iShmen present. .-.-....