Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-05-24
Audience Of EngIand's Great
Men Listen 10 Addresses.
Discussion Of U. S.-Canadlan
Agreement Carefully Avoided,
American Relations Almost Sole
Topic Arbitration Contentious.

LONDON May 23.-1he dinner OF the
Pilgrims Society tonight in honor of
the colonial premiers was historic be-
cause of unexpected and noteworthy
plain speaking by Sir Wilfrid Laurier.
the premier of Canada. Sir Wilfrid.
addressing an audience composed of
many of the great men of England
handled the annexation question with
out gloves.
He began by expressing amaZement
that during his three-d days stay in
England he had heard so many people
of standing voieing their doubts con-
corning the designs of the United
States regarding Canada. He scoffed
at the idea of the possibility of annex
alton being seriously considered on
either side of the border. He express
ed in warm terms his admiration for
the people of the United States. but
declared that much as he isved the
American people he loved Great Bri1
tain better. Canada in sharing the
SApntinent with the United States. he
Wsd. had a double interest IN the
treaty of arbitration between the Unit
ed States and the United Kingdom.
and exclaimed dramasicaliy II thank
God that the relations between the two
peoples never We're 50 good as they are
today"
The premier aroused enthusiasm
when he declared that Canada aud the
United States proposed to continue to
show to the world two nations with
the longest boundary extending from
ocean to ocean living in peace and
mutual respect without a fortress. a
soldier or = gun on either side of that
boundary
liz fsnner was IN contrast to a sim
ilar fenf on the occasion of former
lStic conference because that
purely British imperialistic tone
British American relations were
6 the sole topic tonight Lord
efta presided and welcomed the
4qtars. The Earl of Halsbury fol-
fE1 him with a warm expression of
45H greeting to the guests Sir Ed
Trey, the foreign secretary. pro-
p8A s. Anglo American arbitration
wiz adding anything significant to
his fttmer Appearances on this subject.
He expressed pleasure at the arrival
OF the draft of the treaty from Wash
ington. The negotiations. he said.
would enter the domain of practical
politics and he sincerely hoped that
the treaty would be concluded.
Secretary Grey declared that the
British government endorsed the Mon
roe doctrine 1.-THE United States has
said that the United States has no in
tention of absorbing any existing Brit
ish possessions" continued Sir Edward.
There is no conflict of national policy
between us and the United States We
have confidence in each others good
will"
Defining the Monroe doctrine as
nearing no European nation should
acquire more territory on the Ameri-
can continent he added:
Our policy is In full accord with that
doctrine. The American Consul Cen
eral John Griffiths responded. H said
1t was a matter of qualification and
pride to the American people when
President Taft struck the highest NOR
al note of his generation. and he re-
called with what sense of exaltation
they received Sir Edward Grey's reply
"As a great scientific discovery is
sometimes made Simultaneously in two
different lands" he said. so we find
the same lofty moral ambition In two
great statesmen dwelling far apart.
ard the suggestion of the one and the
response of the other constitute the APP
peal OF the twentieth century to the
conscience of mankind,
THE imagination is profoundly stirred
we try to anticipate the beneficient
results which would follow IL England
and America enter into covenant of
peYce which would govern the mutual
reg ATOMS of more than 500, 900. 900 people
NSff the proposed treaty is really CON
Guided we can see in vision nation after
nation animated by the same high pur-
pose
Among the 800 persons who attended the
banquet were Augustine Brill, chief sec
rotary for Ireland, Lord Alverstone. lord
chief justice of England; Louis Har-
court, secretary of state for the colonies.
the Duke of Wellington. the Duke of
Devonshire, the Duke of Marlborough
sir Ernest II. Shackleton and Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle.
message was sent to the King and
the secretary of the society. Harry Brit.
tain, read the reply. which was as fol
lows &8 81
The King thanks the Pilgrims fol-
their kind congratulations on his ap-
II 80.