New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-07
A DINNER TO Mr.. BRYCE.
PILGRIMS BID GOODBY.
Ambassador Reid Speaks on Duties
Of the British EnUoy Here.


pritain TO the United States, was a notable
.neIo-American entertainment which was at
tended by the most prominent members of the
eovernment and representatives of all branches
:, English official. social and literary life
The dinner was held ar the Savoy Hotel. un-
der the presidency OF Field Marshal Lord Rob
srts The dining hall was superbly decorated
with flowers flags and national embIems and
the colors Of Great Britain and the United States
we're intertwined. Mr.. Bryce occupied the post
Of honor at the right of the president Ambas-
ssdor Whitelaw Reid sat at Lord Roberts's left
while Richard Burden Haldane, Secretary of
state for War; Lord Fitzmaurice Of Leigh
Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
and other members of the Cabinet, parliamen-
4srans and diplomats, including Sir Mortimer
nurand. the recent British Ambassador at
washington; the Japanese Ambassador and
many others made up an assemblage Of cxcep-
tonal brilliancy. The japanese Ambassador, re-
plying 10 the toast, THE Guests" made a signi-
hcant reference TO American relations
Il am glad" the ambassador said. "to be pres
.nt ar this demonstration to the new Ambassa-
dor 70 the United States. with which country
both Japan and Great Britain have maintained
the most cordial relations
THE SPEECH OF AMBASSADOR REID.
Ambassador Reid, in proposing the health Of
Nj Bryce. referred TO the presence Of the Pri-
mate Of All England. the Right Rev. Randall
Thomas Davidson, Archbishop of Canterbury
and Of conspicuous representatives Of the gov
ernmeut, Parliament, the great universities,
English literature Journalism and business. all
testifytng 10 the pride with which his country
men saw Mr.. Bryce set forth on his new duties.
The ambassador added
The good will Of the hour will not create any
Illusions as TO the nature Of those duties lie
r,.-Fr hot sF1or &c
first TO look scrupuously after the interests of
his own country. We should not give him half
so hearty q welcome ourselves If we did not eE-
pect that Of him. But next, he knows just as
well that those interests in this country, as in
ours. are best promoted by keeping the peace.
OF course any diplomatist who does not steer
his course by that North Star in these days is
e mere anachronism. But duty is nowhere else
SO clear SO oyerpowering. as with the diplomat
ist in any way intrusted with responsibility for
the relations between the TWO great nations
nearest u each other in the whole world, in his
tory, language blood, belief and common ideals
and aspirations- That is an honorable task TO
Notwithstanding the tendency Of these
great nations to keep IN friendly touch with each
other There is none more so IN the whole round
OF public service.
Circumstances make it also for your guest an
easy task. At the heads Of the two governments
stand TWO statesmen with unsurpassed records
as peacemaksrs-His Majesty King Edward VII
and Theodore Roosevelt. 1t is not too much TO
his own people but of the world, alike in his
desire for peace and his knowing how TO secure
T.. How well they are supported IN their re-
spective foreign Offices is known 10 all VINO
have business with them. Your Ambassador
viii find our Mr.. Root very much the same man
your Sir Edward Grey, with the same elevated
views. the same calm lucidity of thought, and
that habtuaI fairness Of temper and habit in
looking a subject over all its sides before
reaching a conclusion about II which may be
uermitted TO call by the large name or Anglo
cevoT T-nder such chiefs discussions proceed
with the idea Of discovering justice, and con-
clusions are facilitated by absolute candor There
has never been time when the two peoples
were so glad to be friends, or when they looked
with such impatienCe On the idea of permitting
ANYTHING 10 prevent Il. Incidents which rev
years ago would have set both countries IN A
blaze now haSttr2lly brushed away or
laughed out Of sight. The two peoples have bet
ter business than watching each other for causes
Of offence and they better read the destiny 10
which they are both tending
Mr. Reid said in conclusion:
The selection Of Mr. Bryce has been accepted
as a compliment from the mother country TO her
giant offspring in the West. ] can assure nm a
welcome as cordial as ever fell TO the lot or a
British representative. and 7 wish him in his
new field as 7 confidently anticipate, another
distinguished and successful career
RESPONSE OF AMBASSADOR BRYCE.
Arr. Bryce. responding to Mr.. Reid, confessed
he had not words TO acknowledge the great
Kindness shown him. He sometimes wondered
he said. II whether in going 10 the Western
Hemisphere he was not going TO another ana
better world He expressed himself as deeply
sensible 10 the warm welcome, and thanked the
American Ambassador for the good auguries
with which he cheered him on in undertaking
new and responsible task. The difficulty would
be. Mr.. Bryce said to live up TO It. OF all the
duties q man could undertake, none were higher
or more difficult Of fulflment than those given
him. and if he had not been encouraged by SO
many friends In both countries he might have
hesitsted in undertaking them.
NJ Rrvce then rapidly reviewed the relations
of Great Britain and the United States for the
last century, and referred to the steady growth
Of better feeling between the two countries since
the time of his first visit 10 America in 1870
saying:
The United States have grown 50 great that
tbsZ no longer need. as they did a century ago,
70 he self-assertive. Having become the largest
and the most wealthy among civized communi-
ties they are respected everywhere ana knoW IT,
During the last forty or fifty years Great Brit
ain and the United States have come TO know
srd understand each other better and 10 read
one snother's writings With these guarantees
.bers :. n Tefter chance that their friendship be
durable Neither has any cause to quarrel with
the other Each country has as much territory
as she possibly require ana @ eaGn I g couCI & J, J;
is proud OF the other. We In England are prouo
of having such a child as America, ana the
Americans are proud that the carrier achleVe-
mente Of Great Britain. in which they shared
ba,-o 80, sustained since the separation. This
Is tfe sentiment Of pride and brotherhood that
the English envoy is required 10 represent III
the United states. Never mas me sPIilL ol Ps 60,
bee more conspicuously the ruling spirit OF both
peonies II a tunnel under the Atlantic ocean
was suggested, objection TO II Would pe
raised in this country.
Mr. Brvce added that he was encouraged oy
The thought that the message he had TO denver
was a plain and simple one 1t was a message
he said. Of true sympathy in veal ana woe
message of friendship between Great britain
and America. which. both countries trusted
agIfE -peg