Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-11-25
The American Society Oh.
serves Thanksgiving,
Ambassador % Reid Among the
Prominent Speakers.
4 Happy Speech, Touching on vari-
j. tous Phases Of Diplomacy.

| made the occasion of a demonstration
liz honor OF Rear Admiral Murdoch
and the other officers of the American
fleet at present in English waters. AM
[ bassador Reid and Mrs. Reid and the
men bers of the American colony with
their wives had gathered in force to
welcome the American officers and
prominent British naval men had been
inVl!ed TO rect them. Among the lat
ter present we're Admiral Sir Edward
Hobart Seymour, Rear Admiral j. r.
Jeilicoe and Sir William Henry White
the famous naval constructor.
Admiral Seymour. in proposing the
health of President Taft, said the visit
81 the American fleet was an indication
mat America at last was coming out
OF the diplomatic shell to take the in
terest which she should take in ma =
IONS on this side of the Atlantic. If
she did this, he added, it certainly
would be in the interests of peace. Mr.
Reid replied ty toast to The Ameri-
can Ambassador"
he began by acknowledging
the cordially with which they receiv-
ed it as we'll as the kindness of the
But what he specially wished he
sdio. To thank them for, was for yield
ing to his repeated requests and for
the first time in six years leaving him
10 pear only his own burdens, and not
loadlhg him also with the duty of a
SET Thanksgiving speech. He really
didn't Know bow many he had made
over hNre on such occasions He was
only sure that the last was the fifth in
regular, annual succession. in the same
place. before the same audience. on
TN" same subject. He had been sur
prised ct this continued requirement.
as We'll AS amazed at the patience. with
WhiCh they had endured what they had
invited; and he was now grateful for
their mercy to him as well IS to them
selves in giving him a rest from double
duty. He then continued:
Il suppose | ought really to hest
tate now about any further response. I
saw last year. in Il popular and OK
iremelN clever book on England and
tn" English. which a great many of
YOU We're reading about the same time
dlscoufa@iEg view as to any after
dlnnNr speaking whatever by ambaSsa-
doris The author often shows much
JudlclOus appreciation and clover in
sight: but OF or luckless appearance
on occasions like this he declares that
"a clawl"ss kitten is not more harm
less or uninformng than a foreign am
bassador at banquet 1t is not for ME
10 dispute this d:ctun1. or ignore II
And yet one wonders what precise role
this American citizen thinks his for
q tn ,,lo
such an occasion. Does he want him
to appear as a cIaWing and scratching
old cat.
MANY q people may have thought
itself isolated. and, may wish to re-
main So. But. wien it has passed the
first raw stages of national existence.
and attained something of the higher
civilizat ton that comes with age. edu-
cation ard above all with wider ex-
pericnce 0nd interests. it realizes more
ard more the inevitable necessity of
foreign relations Of some sort and of
business with all the world. 1t finds
accordingly its interests no less than
its duty in making these relations
peaceful and pleasant if possible. It's
diplomatic corps thus becomes and
must become more and more the right
arm Of it's foreign service. while the
navy and army must be relegated to
the place of left arm. They. in fact.
are to be called into vigorous use only
on extraordinary occasions, if at all.
and ontv as last resort. But The duty
OF the right arm is constant and vital.
Il suppose what an ambassador is
sent abroad for under modern and civ
lized conditions is a very simple and
straightforward work. 1t is to look
out Cor the interests of bis own coun-
try and to protect and promote them so
lar as he can by honorable and peace
full means. For this purpose it may
BE- that telling the simple truth with
good will may often be quite as use
fcl TO the country that sends nm as
craving and scratching at the couu-
try to which lie is sent.
1.-THE pursuit of honorable American
diplomacy. sir. finds its type neither
in the claWless kitten nor in the
scratching cat. First protect and pro-
mote the interests of yOur own coun-
try Next, keep the peace. These are
the two great commandments. If there
is q higher service to be rendered ones
country, or humanity no man has yet
Dointed it out. If there is nobled pro-
fession connected with merely hui
man affairs. no man has Vet found 1t.
Rear Admiral Murdoch expressed his
| thanks for the reception he and his
men had received in London, and Sir
Henry White and Admiral Jellicoe
paid high tributes to the efficiency OF
| the American navy.
\ G.
sador Reid and Mrs. Reid gave 81
| Thanksgiving reception at Dorchester
House today. The guests included the
| officers of tie American visiting fleet
I and MANY persons from the American
| colony in London
| EIevens from the battleShlps ldah1
| and Vermont played game OF fopt'
| bali at CRYSTAL Palace this afternoon
for silver cup given by local paper