The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-06-24
New Ambassador Makes Happy Speech in London
LORD ROBERTS PRES'DES
MT. Reid Says Lord Roberts Will Re- eeive a Welcome When He Comes to America Such as Is
 Accorded Few.

London, June &.-Whtelaw Reid, the American ambassador, who has been officially received by King Edward and members of the cabinet and entertained socially by royalty and the leaders of English society, made his first public ap- pearance as ambassador at dinner given in his honor at the Pilgrims so- ciety of London tonight.
 The gathering included many of Eng lands most famous men, with sprink- ling of American residents of London, all of whom gave the heartiest welcome to the American representative. The large banquet hall at Carriages was crowded and presented brilliant scene. The hall was plainly but daintily decorated with the entwined American and British flags, huge bells of American beauty roses and clusters of other flowers, while the numerous round tables at which the com pany dned were decorated with red and pink roses and green climbers.
 Lord Roberts Presides.
 Field Marshal Lord Roberts presided and among the several hundred guests were Henry Watterson, Elbridge T. Gary, Professor Gildersleeve, and Bishop Doane of Albany.
 Lord Roberts. in proposing toast to King Edward and President Roosevelt, said
 ''The first toast on this vast programme is one which cannot but appeal to every one in this room. It is that of King I though that on an occasion such as this, when we pilgrims of this country assembled to do honor to brother pill grim in the person of the eminent gentle man who has come to this country to represent America at the court of St. James, 1t would be appropriate to bracket the names of the rulers of the respective countries not only because they are our rulers but because in their persons we have two of the greatest peacemakers Of the present time.
 'While we reflect on the happy re- suits of King Edwards continual jour- neys upon the friendly relations of Great Britain with other powers, and, indeed, on all and every phase of the Kings reign, King Edwards success as a pro- noter of peace and good feeling stands out pre-eminent. The same might be said of President Roosevelt who even now is giving the world the strongest proof of his love of peace and who may be con sidered to be one of civilizations truest friends.
 '-I ask you all to drink to the health, long life and prosperity of the king and that distinguished American gentleman. President Roosevelt"
 Lord Roberts reference to President Poosevet's effort to end the war was received with cheers.
 BaIfour Toasts the Guest.
 To Premier Balfour fell the task of pro- posing the toast to the guest of the even- ing MT. Balfour said that the senti- ments with which they regarded the American ambassador were different from those meted out to the representative of any other power. The American ambassa- dor represented not an alien power but power whose greatness Great Britain was proud of, and whose progress Great Britain has watched with interest Each succeeding year made the two peoples of Anglo-Saxon civilization aware of how much they had in common.
 Whitelaw Reid's predecessor had indi- oated that it was the wish of America to be little entangled in the politics of the world but Premier Balfour said he doubted whether that doctrine in it's ex- treme purity would be much longer main tained, as 1t was not reasonable to think that some great planet could be sud- denly introduced into the solar system and remain there without having an eff feet upon the planets with which 1t as- sociated. This, said the premier. was seen fin President Roosevelts efforts toward peace.
 Ambassador Reid who was personally known to most of those present and re- coived an enthusiastic reception. On ris- ing to reply the company sang Amer ca" and Hes a Jolly Good Fellow"
 Ambassador Reid Speaks
 MT Reid said:
 "Words fail me for proper acknowl- edgement of the too kind things you have been pleased to say and the too generous manner in which they have been received. Nor can I trust myself to tell you how much I value the still greater compliment implied by the gath er,nc of this extraordinary and repre- sentative company, which stands as I 
 well know, for so much of what both of our countries hold in the highest honor. q must confess that such occasions tend to promote sober humility. l have never listened to these too highly confi- dent without a prayer that hopes so little warranted might not wholly be disappoint- ed. just as heretofore I have never re- celved recognition of any bit of official work without wondering how generous people could rate my work so far above its real worth. With all my heart 1 thank you. With all my poor ability l shall try 10 do my duty. I shall not equal my distinguished predecessor in winning your plaudits What American in this genera ton can? But In one thing he shall not surpass me--in pride alike in the country which sends me and in the country which receives me, as well as in the profound conviction that what is in large way for the real interest of one will generally 's found in the long run to be in the ,ai interest of both, and that common sfructions here and aspirations must akc onr great advances to henceforth
 parallel lines.
 Now if ever is surely the time when