The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-11-10
Points Out to Audience at
Lord Mayors Banquet That
North Sea Dispute Was
Settled by Arbitration
PAYS COMPLIMENTS
TO UNITED STATES
Some Of His Remarks Taken
by His Hearers as Fav-
vOring Russia and Are Met
With an 0minOus Silence

LONDON, Nov. s.-Lord Lansdowne,
IN the absence Of Premier Balfour, at
the historic Lord Mayors banquet, held
tonight, made a strong plea for peace
and arbitration on behalf Of the Brit
ish Government Lord Lansdowne
pointed out TO a large audience that
arbitration was the only way in which
the North Sea dispute with Russia
could have been eQuitably settled, and
almost in the same breath drew q
vivid picture Of the horrors of the
struggle now proceeding in the Far
East Between the lines Of his speech
the Foreign Minister made an urgent
plea, amounting almost 10 a demand,
that the Russo-Japanese quarrel might
be settled by arbitration 1t was a
carefully prepared statement made be-
fore what is conceded the most repre-
sentative gathering Of leading men Of
Great Britain, and what is generally
interpreted a holder bid for interview
ton than has yet emanated from any
neutral power. America was writ large
in this speech, for which Great Britain
has been waiting for many days
The Foreign Minister prefaced all his
remarks by saying:
That great statesman, John Hay,
recently remarked that war was the
most futile and fallaciOus of human
follies'
Then came an impassioned review Of
the North Sea affair. Although Lord
LansdOwne was unable to announce the
signing Of the convention, he emphati-
caIly confirmed statements made in
these dispatches. namely, that Great
Britain had found no difficulty in ar
irving at q solution in principle OF the
dispute" and only supplemented what
is already known by the statement
that Russia has guaranteed the punish
ment of any other officers in addition
10 those already detached from Ad-
IniraI ROJestvensky' squadron, who
might be proven TO have been imph-
Gated
BY most Of his hearers, who tonight
had their first opportunity Of hearing
the Foreign Offices views and who.
hitherto, had based their ideas on Mr..
BalfOur's much-criticized Southampton
speech, and belligerent editorial aru-
cles in the newspapers, Lord Lans-
d0wne's utterances were regarded al
most as q plea for Russia
A dead silence greeted him. as. after
pointing out that the two Governments
in good faith believe In contradictory
statements OF facts. he asked
Gould we have done better than get
fun apology and compensation and
leave the question Of facts to an in
ternational tribunal with a guarantee
found guilty2"
Lord LansdOwne, in connection with
the question Of contraband seriously
reminded the audience that Great Bri-
tain as the greatest naval power might
some day be the greatest sufferer by
restriction Of belligerent rights on the
high seas.
After referring to "the widely prevail
ent desire" that arbitration might be
resorted to, in 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 received from
President Roosevelt, whom all must
congratulate (cheers), a message invit-
ing US TO participate IN a second inter
national peace conference at The
Hague. Tt was needless to say that the
invitation has not been refused. only
we have reserved to ourselves the right
10 consider the subjects that should be
discussed. We hesitated not a moment
in informing America that we were
ready to participate and in wishing
President Roosevelt GOdspeed in this
undertaking. Arbitration" concluded
Lord LansdOwne, after a sympathetic
reference TO Frances assistance in the
North sea dispute, has become the
fashion -