The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-07

London, Feb. "a farewell dinner TO
Mr. James Bryce, the new Ambassador
TO the United States. who sails for New
York on February 13, was given by the
Pilgrims Society at the Savoy Hotel 90
night It was, perhaps, the most brilliant
function in the history of that organiza-
tiou.
It was attended by more than 200 guests
including leading Englishmen of all call
ings and resident Americans Lord Rob
erts presided The speakers were AM
bassador Reid, Mr.. Bryce. eZ-C0loniaI
Secretary Lytellon, Secretary of War
Haldame, ex-Ambassador Durand, Baron
Komura, the japanese Ambassador. and
Lord Roberts
AIr. Bryce's health was proposed by Mr.
Reid. who said.
The good will Of the hour viii not
create among us illusions as TO the nature
of his duties. lie knows perfectly. none
better, that he Is sent first to look scrupu-
lOusly after the interests of his own
country. We should not give him half
So hearty welcome ourselves IF we did
not expect that of him. but next he
knows just as well that those interests
IN his country, as i'm ours, are best pro-
moted by keeping peace.
There has never been "a time when the
two peoples were SO glad 60 be friends
as when they looked with such impa-
tience ON the idea of permitting anything
10 prevent it,
Not even the amateur diplomatists.
chiefly foreign. whom Thackeray sketches
50 charmngly in his Book of Snob=,'
with all their portentous ratiocinations.
their endless pertinacity their fertility
of suggestion and invention. are able to
embron us"
Reception Is Enthusiastic.
Mr.. Bryces reception was most en-
thusiastic. After thanking his entertain
ers and Mr.. Reid. Mr.. Bryce briefly re-
capitulated the offices he has filled He
continued by saying that of all the duties
man could undertake ne did not think
there was higher, more responsible or
more difficult one than that now given
TO him. and il he had not had the en-
cOuragement of many friends here and I'm
America he might have hcsitated TO un-
dertake il.
As it was. nc doubted whether he was
going TO the western hemisphere or 10
another and better world.
He had the good fortune to know Presi-
dent Roosevelt. whom the people of this
country so heartily admired. and be knew
some of his secretaries, including Mr..
Root. He also knew great many pro
fess0Ts at the universities, and not few
leaders Of commercial life
Referring TO a reference by Mr Reid
20 his book. ''Tuc American Common
wealth. Mr. Bryce said he thought the
reason why tho book had been well re-
ceiyed I'm the United States and gained
for him kind reception was because IL
expressed seventeen years ago what was
really the sentiment of the English pao-
pie, which then. perhaps. was not o7lita
So well known To be their sentiment the
real wish To understand America. her
people, and her institutions, and 10 appre-
ciate chem
lie could not take credit for any merit
Of the book, except that Of having wished
10 understand America and having let
America understand that that was the real
feeling. Even in 1870. when he first Wis
tied the United States, there was still "a
great deal Of bitter feeling against Eng
land. not toward persons. but toward the
government. There We're then still alive
men who remembered the war of 1872
Good VIII Has Increased.
Since 1872, when The first arbitration
treaty was signed, the feeling Of good viii
had constantly and steadily increased. |
that ought TO have always existed. and
the reason it had not was that 132 years /
ago, people in this country fell into the /
hands Of a group OF men who had little
foresight and less capacity. who did not
understand that the great task of the /.
time was TO endeavor TO bring the reIa- /
tions of the mother country into due ac- /
cord with the great rising community.
which was imbued with the same feelings
Of freedom that Englishmen possessed.
Many things have happened since 1-7e I
and now in both countries the same prin-
ciDles Of freedom are equally houored ana
equally applied.
Both Great Britain and the United .
States, during the last forty or 6ftv
years, have seen more of one another
known more of one another. read more
of one another's writings, and understood
one another better.
With those guarantees OF friendship
that friendship. he said would be parT,a
nent. Never was the spirit Of peace more
conspicuously the ruling spirit of both
peoples. It was certainly the ruling spirit
here.
we desire peace he said. with all
the states of the world and believe that
peace with any state helps to make peace
with others, and is a guarantee Of world