The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-11-11
APLEA FOR ARBITRATION


downe. in the absence OF Premier Bal
four. at the historic Lord Mayors ban
quet, held tonight, made a strong plea
for peace and arbitration on behalf OF
the British government Lord Lang
downe pointed u to a large and rath-
er unsympathetic audience that arbi-
tration was the only way in which the
North sea dispute with Russia could
have been equitably settled, and al
most in the same breath drew a vivid
picture of the horrors OF the struggle
now proceeding In the far east. Be-
tween the lines of every reference the
foreign minister made to the Russo
japanese war was an urgent plea,
amounting almost TO a demand, that il
might be settled by arbitration. Il
was a carefully prepared statement
made before what is considered the
most representative gathering of lead
ing nen Of Great Britain. AS such, 1t
was generally interpreted as a bolder
bid for Intervention han has yet en-
anated from any neutral power. Amer
lea was writ large in this speech. for
which Great Britain has been waiting
for many days.
The foreign minister prefaced ali his
remarks by saying:
THAT great statesman, john Hay re-
Gently remarked hat war was the most
futile and ~fallacious of human follies.'
Then came an imprisoned review OF
the North sea affair. Although Lord
L~ansdowne was unable to announce the
signing of the convention he emphati-
cally confirmed statements made in
these dispatches, namely, that Great
Britain had found mo difficulty in ar
irving at a solution in principle of the
dispute" and only supplemented wha
is already known, by the statement
that Russia has guaranteed the pun
ishment of any other officers in add
ton to those already detached from
Admiral Rojestvensky's squadron who
might be proved to ave been implicat-
ed.
by most of his hearers, who tonight
had their first opportunity of hearing
the foreign officers views, and who
hitherto had based their ideas on Nj.
Balfour's much criticised Southampton
speech and belligerent editorial articles
in the newspapers, Lord Lansdowne's
utterances were regarded almost as q
plea for Russia. A dead silence greet
ed him as, after pointing out hat the
two governments in good faith believed
in contradictory statements of facts, he
asked:
Gould we have done better than get
full apology and compensation n
leave the question of facts to an in
ternational tribunal with a guarantees
of punishment of any who may be
found guilty?"
Lord Lansdowne in connection with
the question of contraband, seriously
reminded the audience that Great Bril-
tain, as the greatest naval power might
some day be the greatest sufferer by a
restriction of bellligerent rights on the
high seas.
After referring to the widely pre-
valent desire that arbitration might
be restored to the case of the present
war in the Far East, Lord Lansdowne
added:
"Mr. Choate walked into my room
yesterday and asked if we would sign
an arbitration treaty with the United
States. simultaneously. 1 received from
president Roosevelt, who we all must
congratulate (cheers), a message in
viting us to participate in a second i'll,
ternational a conference at The
Hague. 1t is needless to say hat the
invitation has not been refused, only
we have reserved to ourselves the right
to consider what subjects should be
discussed. We hesitated not a moment
in informing America that We were
ready to participate, and in wishing
President Roosevelt G~od-speed in this
undertaking. Arbitration" concluded
Lord Lansdowne, after a sympathetic
reference to Frances assistance in the
North sea dispute, has become the
fashion,"
"At this moment" said Lord Lans-
downe, contemplating the progress of
the terrible struggle between two
brave and gallant nations in the Far
East, can one of US contemplate with
out regret the legion after legion of
brave men being led forth to meet their
fate and the ruined homes and broken
hearts? We a conceive no>more ter
rible punishment than the remorse of
any minister or body Of ministers who
from loss of temper or desire of popu-
larity brought upon the country the
scourge and calamity of needless war.