Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-06
FAREWELL TO CHOATE
ENGLAND. PAYS TRIBUTE TO OUR
RETIRING AMBASSADOR.
Exchange of Testimonials to Eminent
Qualities and Excellence of Dip
lomats in Both Countries,

The last of the splendid series of farewell
tributes to Mr. Choate, the retiring Ameri-
can ambassador, was given at the Mansion
House in London last night where one of
the most distinguished gatherings ever as
sembled in London dined as guests Of Lord
Mayor Pound. Prime Minister Balfour
Foreign Secretary LanSdowne, Sir Henry
Campbell-Bannerman, the liberal leader;
the archbishop of Canterbury and the lead
ers in art, science and literature and all
other branches of British society gave Mr.
Choate a reception such as, perhaps, no
American ever before received on this side
of the Atlantic.
1t was, indeed, as Mr.. Choate said in the
first words of his response, the browning
hour of his career. His speech was worthy
of such an occasion and it held his $50 hear
ers GREATNESS with interest.
MIR. Balfour, in proposing the health of
Mr.. Choate paid tribute to his eminent
qualities and the excellence of his diplo-
macy He said the governments Of Great
Britain and the United States may not al
ways have been wise, but a common senti-
ment survived despite the official leaders
1t was a matter of gladness to think that as
time passed the old bitterness had been
lost and there had slowly emerged feel
ing of common brotherhood and a sweet
prospect of international peace and prog
reSS.
Mr.. Choate's Remarks.
When the enthusiastic cheers which
greeted his rising had subsidized Mr. Choate
expressed his thanks in felicitous terms,
which were marked with touches of humor
Altogether too much credit he said, had
been attributed to him for the happy and
delightful relations between the two coun-
tries. II he had contributed in the least
degree to maintaining and preserving what
had already existed, then the last six years
would be the proudest Of his life, but the
real credit did not belong to him. but to
the conduct of the relations, no longer for
eign relations, of the two countries, Lord
Lansdowne and Mr.. Hay.
Mt. Choate stated that he had been asked
thousand times why he going away.
He was sorry he was leaving England, but
glad he was going home. He was suffering
from inconsistencies, and ran the risk, if he
stayed longer, of contracting much more
serious disease, Anglomania, which many of
his countrymen regarded as more dangerous
and more fatal than even cerebro spinal
meningitis.
He would carry away delightful personal
memories and the highest appreciation of
the great traits and qualities which made
the national life of Great Britain, of tho
reign of the law which was supreme in all
parts of the land; of individual liberty car
ried to the highest perfection, and of the
splendid, burning patriotism which inspired
the young men when their country called on
them to risk their lives and all they held
dear for her sake. He would carry the rec
objection OF the splendid instinct of public
life which animated and pervaded the peo-
pie OF England, and the absolute purity of
public life which necessarily resulted.
He had come to England believing that
the people were cold and, phlegmatic. He
had changed his mind. He had found I'M
der their cool exterior and serene manner