The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-29
ANCLO-AMER|CAN ARb|TRAT|ONIS FULLY ADOPTED London Pledges Itself to Support Treaty of Uni
 versal Peace STRONGLY INDORSED
 BY HIGH OFFICIALS Premier Asquith and Opposition Lead- CT Balfour, Lord Mayor of Lon-
 don and Other Big Men
 Hold a Meeting


 London April 2S-What Premier As quith described as this venerable Guild hall without whose seal of ap- rroval, no popular movement in London | is really launched" witnessed today d meeting for the adoption of resolutions p1edging the city to the support of Anglo-American complete arbitration. The lord mayor of London in his scarlet robes and with the mace in front of him, held the center of tenn rorary stage On his right was thea prime minister, at his left former Pre- mier Balfour, leader of the opposition in the house of commons, while grouped about the mayor were the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Arch bishop of Westminster, Lord Loreburn. the lord High chancellor; Lord Strath- oona high commissioner of Canada. Sir Joseph c. Ward. premier of New Zealand and other notables. over their heads the union jack and stars and stripes were entwined. MT. Asquith and Mir. Balfour spoke eloquently of the treaty first proposed by President Taft, declaring that it would mark a new era in civiliza- ton, but both pointedly disclaimed that peace pact between Great Britain and the United States providing for the submission of all differences to ar- pitration would mean an alliance be- tween the two countries.
 MT. Balfour warned his hearers, than whom he said none in the world felt mo tbea ht1r of afip fOr
 that the treaty would not mean the i'm mediate reduction of armaments. The meeting represented the democ- racy of England rather than the aris- l tocracy. Among those on the platform
 were the Bishop of Hereford, the Earl l of Aberdeen. lord lieutenant of Ire l land, Sir George H. Reid, high com
 missioner of Australia; agents of all
 the other British colonies, along with representatives, Of the banks, the rail- ways and the steamship companies of l England.
 | Asquith's Speech 1 Premier AsGuith said In part: "The unique situation which we have met to recognize and welcome has not been organized engineered by the ap- paratus of diplomacy The seed which the President of the United States cast fell on ground prepared to receive it. That which a few years ago. even a few months ago, might have been regarded as the dream of idealsts, has not only passed into the domain of practical statesman ship, but has become the settled purpose of two great democracles.
 The profound significance of the new departure is that between Great Britain and the United States. whatever the gray ity of the issues and the magnitude of the interests nvolved whatever poignancy of feeling may be aroused. there will be a definite abandonmentt of war as a possl- ble solution and the substitution of argu- ment for force: and the super session by judicial methods of the old ordeal of bat tie"
 After declaring that their proposed agreement implied no menace to the rest of mankind and did not provide for an glo-American alliance. aggressive or defensive. the premier continued: But we may hope and believe that other things will follow. It Is not for us to distate or to preach to other nations. but if the United States and Great Britain renounce war. a step will be taken of immeasurable and incomparable signif1- cence in the onward progress of hr- manity."
 Mir. Asquith then moved the following resolution:
  don, assembled in Guild hall, cordially welcome the proposal of the United states for a general treaty of arbitration be- tween that country and the British em- pire and pledges it's support to the prin- ciples of such treaty as serving the highest interests of the two nations and as tending to promote the peace of the world
 Greeted With Applause
 The resolution was received with tre- mendous applause which continued until Mir Ralfour arose to second It.
 The opposition leader said that the Anglo-Amercan treaty was nearer fruiticn at this moment than ever before in history. Some, he said. regarded 1t as realistic dream, and believed that when the clash of conflicting interests came all paper barriers would be swept away, and he continued
 ..It is true that it is folly to make in- ternational law to go far in advance Of public opinion. I cannot imagine a great CT blow to civilization than If, or l will rather say, when such a treaty was made, either party should break Ii. But as far as can read opinion both sides of the Atlantic. l cannot indorse these pes simistjc views. I believe the great mass of public opinions on both sides favors this move If the skill of diplomats can embody this feeling in treaty, do not believe that when the stress Of interna- tional difficulties comes, 1t will be broken. "some ask if public opinion Is thus, why a treaty is necessary. I do not believe that these logical dilemmas represent what actually happens. grant that paper formulas are useless in themselves, but if they represent the settled convic- tions of the people, they are valuable" International agreements with no more power of enforcement had made warfare more civilized in the past the speaker said. and asked why they could not make war impossible entirely.
 Mir. Balfour added that he was not optimistic regarding the prospects of the treaty, but he watned his hearers that they should not confuse the question of morality with war and the methods of avoiding it with the question of reducing the burdens of armament. England would have as great responsibility in all parts of the world. which the treaty between English speaking people could not lessen, but the determination of these communi- ties in joining to set an example to the world at large would not only make for certain peace between them but would mark a significant epoch in the progress i of civilization.
 Following many speeches the resolution was adopted enthusiastically and unanl- mously.