The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-07
JAMES BRYCE GIVEN
FAREWELL BANQUET
New Ambassador of Great
Britain to United States
REID PROPOSES HEALTH
Representative of Japanese Govern
ment Speaks Significantly of Cor
dial Relations-A Notable
Anglo-American Event.

London, February 1.-The farewell ban
quet given tonight by the London Pill
grlms In honor of James Bryce, the new
ambassador of Great Britain to the
United States, was a notable Anglo
American event, the most prominent
members of government and represen-
tatives of all branches of English Off
cial, social and literary life participat-
ing.
The banquet was held at Savoy hotel
under the presidency of Field Marshal
Lord Roberts. The dining hall was beau
tifully decorated with flowers, flags and
national emblems, and the colors of Great
Britain and the United States were en-
twined Ambassador Bryce occupied the
post of honor at the right of the Presi-
dent, Ambassador WhitelaW Reid sat at
his left The japanese ambassador reply
ing to the toast 1.-The Guests" made a
significant reference to Japan and Amer
lean relations.
Il am glad" the ambassador said, TO
be present at this demonstration 10 the
new ambassador to the United States,
with which country both Japan and Great
Britain have maintained the most cordial
relations"
Ambassador Reid, in proposing the
health of Mr.. Bryce, referred to the
presence of the primate of all England,
DR.. Davidson, archbishop of Canterbury,
and of conspicuous representatives of
the government of parliament, the great
universities, English literature journalism
and business, all testifying to the pride
with which his eountrymen saw Mr..
Bryce set forth on his new duties and
added:
Good Win of Hour.
1.-THE good will of the hour will not
create any illusion as to the nature Of
those duties. He knows perfeetly-none
better-that he is sent first to look scru-
pulously after the interests of his own
country. We should not give him half SO
hearty a welcome ourselves if we did
not expect that of him. But next he
knows just as we'll that those interests
in this country as in ours are the best
promoted by keeping the peace. OF course,
any diplomatist who does not steer his
course by that north star in these days
is mere anachronism. But duty is no.
where else so clear-so oyerpowering-as
with the diplomatst in any way intrusted
with responsibility for the relations be-
tween the two great nations nearest 10
each other In the whole world, in history,
language, blood, belief and common
ideals and aspirations. That is an HON
orable task to undertake promoting tie
tendency of these great nations to keep
in friendly touch with each other. Cir.
cumstances make it also for your guest
an easy task
'At the heads of the two governments
stand two statesmen with unsurpassed
records as peacemakers-his majesty,
King Edward VII, and Theodore Roose-
yelt 1t is not too much to say that each
has the confidence not only of his own
people, but of the world alike in his de-
sire for peace and his knowing how to
secure it. There has never been a time
when the two peoples were so glad to be
friends, or when they looked with such
Impotence on the idea of permitting any
thing to prevent 1t. The two peoples
have better business than watching each
other for causes of offense, and they bet
ter read the destiny TO which they are
both tending"
In concluding Mr.. Reid said:
THE selection of Mr.. Bryce has been
accepted as a compliment from the moth
er country to her giant offspring. | can
assure him a welcome as cordial as ever
fell to the lot of a British representa-
tive and | wish him in his new field as
all confidently anticipate another distin-
guished and successful career
Mr.. Bryce responding to Mr.. Reed con-
fessed he had not words to acknowledge
the real kindness shown him. He some
times wondered, he said, If whether in
going TO the western hemisphere he was
not going to another and better world.
He expressed himself as deeply sensible
to the warm welcome, and thanked the
American ambassador for the good au-
guries with which he cheered him on in
undertaking a new and responsible task.
The difficulty would be, Mr.. Bryce
said, to live up to it. OF all the duties
a man could undertake none was higher
or more difficult of fulfillment than those
given him, and if he had not been en-
couraged by so many friends in both
countries, he might have hesitated in un-
dertaking them.
Mr.. Bryce then rapidly reviewed the
relations of Great Britain and the United
States for the past century, and referred
10 the steady growth of better feeling
between the two countries since the time
of his first visit to America in 1870.
During the last forty or fifty years
Great Britain and the United States have
come to know and understand each other
better. and to read one another's writ
ings. Neither has any cause to quarrel
with the other. Each country has as
much territory as she can possibly &C
quire, and each country is proud of the
other.