The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-18
Would Be Great Step For ward in Progress of
 Civilization
TAFT PRAISED BY
 LONDON LEAGUE
Sir Edward Grey Further Develops Views Set Forth in His Famous Speech--Would Be Turn
 ing Point in History

London, March 17.-Sir Edward Grey further developed his views on interns tional arbitration at the annual banquet tonight of the International Arbitration league and corrected some misapprehen- sions which had arisen regarding his now famous speech in the house of com mons in which he gave support to the suggestion of President Taft for an An glo-American treaty providing for sett'a- ment by arbitration of any question u might arise between the two goveir ments.
 "I observe" said the foreign secreta this evening, that some of the woi I used the other day are being ( strued as If general arbitration tr. between two great nations would be ta tamount to a defensive alliance between them. If a general arbitration treaty were made between two great nations and became firmly rooted in the feel ings of the people of both countries, and if one of them was, in the course of time. made the object of an attack, in dispute with third power in which arbitration had been offered to and re- fused by the third power, certainly think there would be a strong sympathy between the two powers who had made the general arbitration treaty.
 Public Opinion to Decide
 But that is matter which depends on public opinion and on which public opinion will take care of itself. "To introduce any such condition or stipulation into arbitration treaty would impair the chances of 1t here or elsewhere. It might even lead other coun- tries to suspect that the arbitration treaty between the two powers was directed against one or more of the other powers. That would completely spoil its possible effect in mitigating the general expendi- ture in ornaments.
 If an arbitration treaty is made be- tween two great countries the lines sketched out as possible by the President of the United States, let 1t be done be- tween the two powers concerned without 'arriere pensee (by purpose), but don't let them set narrow bounds to their hopes Of the bsneicent results which may develop from 1t in the course of time-results which I think must extend far beyond the two countries originally concerned.
 Would Set Good Example
 'The effect on the world at large of tho example would be bound to have benefi- cent consequences. To set good exam ple is to hope that others will follow it. and if others of the great powers did follow, there would eventually be some- thing like a league of peace. These things must. however make their way by their own weight They cannot be forced. There must be beginning before there can be any progress. and the rate of further progress must depend on crcum- stances and upon that ebbing and flowing in mems feelings and ideas which escapes analysis and which makes possible at one time things that are not possible at an- other.
 q do not wish to cumber the idea of President Taft by too much speculation upon all that might follow from it, but the thought of the future possibilities is an encouragement which should not be grudged or denied"
 The league sang praise of President Tafts suggestion for an unqualified An glo-American arbitration treaty and Sir Edward Grey's speech in support of it.
 Lord Chancellor Loreburn. who presd- ed declared that when a man who held an office such as the presidency of the United States said what President Taft had said he raised the hopes of man kind. He expressed the hope that the present would prove the turning point in history. If the great statesmen of the continent added their efforts to the move ment it would be great step forward in the progress of civilization.