The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-11-23
TWO AMBASSADORS
SPEAK AT WALDORF
Chamber of Commerce Gives
Annual Banquet
DRINK HEALTH OF RULERS
Baron Won Sternberg of Germany and
Sir Henry Mortimer Durand Rep
resenting England Deliver
Addresses, Also Elkins.

New York, November 22.-The ambassa-
doris of two world powers to the United
States. spoke at the annual banquet of the
New York chamber of commerce at the
Waldorf-Astoria tonight. They were Ba-
ron Speck Won Sternberg of Germany and
Sir Henry Mortimer Durand, representing
the British government. The POSTMASTER
of the banquet was Morris X. Jessup,
president of the chamber of commerce,
When he proposed the health of Presi-
dent Roosevelt he read letter from the
chief executive expressing regret that ne
could not be present, but stating that
when the banquet took place he would
be at Panama on business in which all
the countries chambers of commerce are
much interested-the work on the great
canal" A message of regret from COM
mander Peary was also read.
Toasts to the health of King Edward
of England, Emperor William of Ger
many and President Fallieres of France
were drunk by the diners. The first toast
of the evening was responded to by Ba-
ron Won Sternberg, the German ambassa-
dor His theme, 1.-THE Commercial Rela-
tons Between the German Empire and
the United State Should be Reciprocal,
had been looked forward to as being pecu-
liarly apt at this time, as the German
tariff questions are under consideration.
The topic of the latter ambassadors re-
marks Diplomacy and Commerce. was
anticipated with interest because OF MS
intention soon to leave Washington ana
to retire from public life, after years in
II IL esnfI in
This being the last time l shall ad-
dress this chamber or any great Amer
lean audience as British ambassador. L
ask your indulgence il l go beyond the
terms of my toast. | am about to re-
tire from the diplomatic service and Tor
many reasons greatly regret doing so, ana
especially having to leave America where
/ have made many good friends. From
the day 1 entered the service 1t was my
wish to become ambassador at Washing
ton I regarded this embassy as the most
desirable post in the service.
az had inherited from my father warm
feeling towards Americans and | can say
with all truth that after three years
spent here | am leaving the country
with that feeling greatly increased. You
have made me thoroughly at home mere,
and | shall always think of Americans
as the most kindly and warm hearted OF
people.
Still mans public service must come
to an end some day, and / have had
nearly thlrty-four years sof it-spent al
most constantly out of my country. l
told an audience of my countrymen few
| days ago. and I repeat it to you, that my
regret in leaving America is tempered by
one great satisfaction, the belief that at
no time since the war of the revolution
has the feeling between the two countries
been as friendly as now. The old era OF
misunderstanding and prejudice is pass
ing away and It is right to recognize the
fact and rejoice in it,
Yet another speech of tho evening or
note was that Of Senator Stephen b.
Elkns of West Virginia, who spoke on
the toast, 1.-THE Senate Of the United
States in It's Relation to Good Govern
ment." Senator 1Ilkins took pains to
refute charges that the higher branch of
Congress is not representative of the
people or equal in ability to former SEN
ates. Commander Robert F. Peary was
on the programme to respond to The
Flag of the United States, the Symbol OF
Liberty, Education and Progress but he
had not returned from his arctic expedi-
ton.