The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-11-11
ARBITRATION PLEA.
LansdoWne Talks to Ears That Hear
Not
(Rv fha Assnciated Press !

kby the Associated GieSS.
London Nov. 9.-Lord IIansdoWne
in the absence of Premier Balfour at
the historic Lord Mayors banquet hel1
tonight made a strong plea for arbi-
tration on behalf of the British gov
eminent Lord LansdoWne pointed
out to q large and rather unsympa-
thetic 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 a vivid picture of
the horrors of the struggle now pro-
ceeding in the Far East. Between the
lines of every reference the Foreign
Minister made to the RusSo-JapaneSe
war was an urgent plea, amounting
almost to a demand, that it might be
settled by arbitration 1t was a care
fully prepared statement made before
what is considered the most represent
tative gathering of leading men of
Great Britain. AS such, it was gem
orally interpreted as a holder bid for
Intervention 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:
sThat great statesman, John Hay.
recently remarked that war was the
most futile and fallac1ous of human
foIlies.'
Then came an impassioned review
/ of the North Sea affair.
| Although Lord LansdoWne was un-
able to announce the signing of the
convention. he emphar1caIly con-
firmed statements made in these dis
| patches, namely. that Great Britain
had found mo difficulty in arriving at
a, solution in principle" and only sup
| plemented what is already known by
the statement that Russia has guar
anteed the punishment of any other
officers in addition to those already
detached from Admiral Rojestvensky' s
squadron who might be proved to
have been implicated.
\ Desd Silence.
BY most of his hearers, who to-
night had their first opportunity OF
hearing the foreign officers view and
who hitherto had based their ideas
upon Minister Balfours much critl-
cised Southampton speech and bellt-
gerent editorial articles in the news
| papers. Lord Lansdowne's utterances
were regarded almost as a plea for
| Russia. A dead silence greeted him
as, after pointing out that the two
| governments in good faith believed Ia
contradictory statements of facts, he
asked: Gould We have done better
| than this policy and leave the
tquestion of facts to an in
| ternational tribunal with a guaran-
tee of punishment of any who may
be found guilty?'
Lord Lansdowne in connection with
the question of contraband seriously
reminded the audience that Great
| Britain, as the greatest naval power
might some day be the greatest suf-
| ferer by a restriction of belligerent
rights on the high seas.
After referring to the widely pre-
valent desire that arbitration might
ent war in, the Far East, Lord Lans-
Idowne added: MIR. Choate walked
into my room yesterday and asked il
we would sign an arbitration treaty
! with the United States. Simultane-
Eonly l received from President Roose-
! Welt whom we all must congratulate
/ (cheers) a message inviting us to par
ticipate in a second international peace
conference at The Hague. 1t is need
/ less to say that the invitation has not
been refused, only we have reserved
! to ourselves the right to consider
what subjects should be discussed. We
lhesitated not q moment in informing
America that we We're ready to par
ticipate, and in wishing present gov
eminent good speed in this under
taking. Arbitration concluded Lord
Lansdowne, after q sympathetic ref
erence to Frances assistance in the
North Sea dispute, has become the
! fashion"
At this moment" said Lord Lans-
| downe, contemplating the progress OF
1.-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 ard the ruined homes and
broken hearts? We can conceive OF
no more terrible punishment than the
remorse of any minister or body Of
ministers who from loss of temper or
desire of popularity brought upon the
country the scourge and calamity of
| needless war