The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1911-05-03

| ~ AAA
er Premier Balfour, leader of the
opposition in the House of Commons,
while grouped about the mayor were
the Archbishop of Canterbury, the
Archbishop of Westminster, Lord
Loreburn, the lord high chancellor:
Lord Strathcoaa. high commissioner
of Canada; Sir Joseph G.. Ward,
premier OF New Zealand, and other
notables Over their heads the In
ion Jack and Stars and Stripes were
entwined.
Mr.. Asquith and Mr.. Balfour spoke
eloquently of the treaty first propos-
ed by President Taft, declaring that
it would mark new era in civiliza-
tons but both pointedly disclained
that peace pact between Great Brit
ain and the United States providing
for the submission of all differences
to arbitration would mean an alli-
ance between the two countries. Mr..
Balfour warned his hearers, than
whom, he said, none in the world felt
more the burden Of preparing for
war, that the treaty would not mean
the immediate reduction Of arma-
ments.
The meeting represented the Dem
ocracy of England rather than the
aristocracy. Among those on the
platform were the Bishop Of Here
ford, the Earl of Aberdeen, lord lieu
tenant of Ireland; Sir Geo. II. Reid,
high commissioner Of Australia;
agents of all the other British col
onies, along with representatives of
the banks, the railways and the
steamship companies Of England.
Premier Asquith spoke in part:
'tThe unique situation which We
have met to recognize and welcome
has not been organized or engineered
by the apparatus of diplomacy. The
seed which the president Of the Unit
ed States sowed fell on ground unpre-
pared to receive it. That which d
few years ago, even few months
ago, might have been regarded a.
the dream Of idealists, has not only
passed into the domain of practical
craftsmanship, but has become the
settled purpose of two great democ-
racies.
"The profound significance Of the
new departure is that between Great
Britain and the United States what
ever the gravity of the issue and the
magnitude of the interests involved;
whatever poignancy of feeling may
be aroused of war as possible solu-
ton, and the substitution of argu-
ment for force; and the suppression
! by judicial methods of the old ordeal
of battle
After declaring that their propos-
ed agreement implied no menace to
the rest of mankind and did not pro-
vide for an Anglo-American alliance
aggressive or defensive, the premier
continued:
"But we may hope and believe that
other things will follow. 1t is not
! for US to distate or to preach to 9th
er nations, but if the United States
and Great Britain renounce war a
step will be taken Of immeasurable
and incompatible significance in the
onward progress of humanity.
Mr.. Asquith then moved the fol-
lowing resolution:
THAT this meeting of citizens of
London assembled in Guild Hall cor
daily welcomes the proposal of the
United States in favor of general
treaty of arbitration between that
country and the British empire and
pledges it's support to the principles
of such a treaty as serving the high
est interests Of the two nations and
as tending to promote the peace OF
the world"
The resolution was received with
tremendous applause, which continu-
ed until Mr. Balfour rose to second it..
The opposition leader said that
Anglo-American arbitration was
nearer fruition at this moment than
ever before in history. Some, he
said, regarding it as an idealisuc
dream and believed that when the
clash of conflicting interests came al
paper barriers would be swept away,
and he continued:
''It is true that is folly to make
international law go far in advance
Of public opinion. I cannot imagine
more bitter blow to civilization than
if, or I will rather say, when such
treaty was made either party should
break it. But as far as I can read
opinion on both sides of the Atlan1lc
cannot endorse these pessimistlc
views. l believe that the great mass
of diplomats can embody this feeling
in treaty, I do not believe that
when the stress of international dif-
fculties comes it will be broken.
Some ask if public opinion is
thus. why treaty is necessary. |
do not believe that these logical di-
lemmas represent what actually hap
pens. 7 grant that paper formulas
are useless in themselves, but if they
represent the settled convictions 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.
4 Fifty-Cent Word.
! little boy had got into the habit