Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-29
Representatives of Both
Parties in Parliament and
Noted Men Of Nation Are
Speakers at Meeting.
RESOLUTIONS FAVOR
TAFYS SUGGESTION
Premier Asquithand Former
Premier Balfour Give I'm
qualified Support to Pro-
posed Peace Movement.

London, April, 28.-What Premier
Asquith described as this venerable
guild hall'' without whose seal OF ap-
proval no popular move In London 10
really launched, witnessed today
meeting for the adoption Of resolutions
pledging the city to the support OF
|Anglo-American arbitration treaty.
The lord mayor OF London in his
scarlet robes and with the mace In
front OF him held the center Of q
temporary stage. On his right was
the prime minister, at his left former
Premier Balfour, leader Of the opposi-
tion In the house of commons, while
seated about the mayor were the
archbishop Of Canterbury. the arch
bishop of Westminster, Lord Lorde-
born, the lord high chancellor. Lord
Strathcona, high commissioner OF
Canada; Sir Joseph G. Ward, premier
of New Zealand, and other notablAs.
Over their heads the union jack and
stars and stripes were entwined.
Mr.. Asquith and Mr.. Balfour spoke
eloquently OF the treaty first proposed
| by President Taft, declaring that "
| would mark new era In ctyilzattor
abut both Rotrt lly dssclalss ss.aed that 2 !
1peace pact between Great BRITAIN ana
! the United States providing Tor the
submission OF all differences TO arbi.
tration would mean an alliance be-
tween 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 I'M
mediate reduction Of armanments.
The meeting represented the demo-
cracy of England rather than the aris-
tocracy. Among those on the platform
were the bishop Of Hereford, the earl
Of Aberdeen, lord lieutenant of Ire
land, Sir George H. Reed, high COM
missioner OF Australia, agents OF all
the other British colonies, along with
representatives OF the British railways
and the steamship companies OF Eng.
land.
Asqulth Gives Views.
Premier Asuuith said in part: THE
UNIQUE situation which we have met to
recognize and welcome has not been
organized or engineeredby the appar-
tus OF diplomacy. The seed which the
president OF the United States cast
!. fell on ground prepared to receive 1t.
That which few years ago. even
few months ago, might have been re-
garded as the decade Of idealists has
not only passed into the domain OF
practical statesmanship, but has be-
come the settled purpose OF two great
democracies. The profound confidence
Of the new departure Is that between
Great Britain and the United States,
whatever the gravity OF the4ssue and
| the magnitude OF the interests In
yolved whatever the poignancy Of the
feelings 1t aroused; there would be q
! definite abandonment of war as pos
sible solution, and the substitution or
argument for force, and the suppress
sion by judicial methods Of the old or
deal Of battle"
After declaring that the proposed
i treaty implied no menace to the rest OF
mankind and did not provide for an
4 Anglo-Amertcan alliance, aggressive Or
defensive, the premier continued:
4 "But we may hope and believe that
other things will follow. It is not for
us to dictate or to preach to other ma
tions, but II the United States and
) Great Britain renounce war a step Will
be taken of immeasurable and incom-
parable significance in the onward
J progress Of humanity"
Resolutions Heartily Received.
!. Mr.. Asquith then moved the follow
ing resolution:
"That, this meeting Of citizens Of
London assembled in the guild hall
cordially 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
A Of such 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 continued
! until Mr. Balfour rose to second 1t.
The opposition leader said that
: Anglo-American arbitration seemed
3 nearer fruition at this moment than
9 ever before in history. Some, he said,
. regarded 1t as an idealistic decade and
! believed that when the clash Of con-
y ficting interests came all paper bar
!. riers would be swept away.
! Following many speeches the reso-
9 Hutton was adopted enthusiastically.
iAnn AEYlCn <