Omaha daily bee., 1911-04-29
LONDON APPROVES TREATY
Big Mass Meeting Endorses Anglo
American Arbitration Plan.
AsoU1TH AND BALFOUR SPEAK
Premier Presents Resolution and a. A.
Seconded by Leader of Opposition
Many Prominent Men
Are Present.


quith described as This venerable Guild
hau' without whose seal of approval no
popular movement in London is really
launched Witnessed today a meeting for
the adoption OF resolutions pledging the
city to the support Of Anglo American com
plete arbitration.
The lord Mayor Of London in his scarlet
robes and with the mace in front Of him
held the center of a temporary stage. On
his right was the prime minister. at his
left former Premier Balfour, leader OF the
opposition In the House Of Commons, while
massed about the mayor were the archi-
bishop Of Canterbury, the archbishop of
Westminster, Lord Loreburn, the Lord
high chancellor; Lord strathcona, high
commissioner OF Canada; Sir Joseph G..
Ward, premier of New leland and other
notables. over their heads the Union Jack
and Stars and Stripes were entwined.
MIR. Asquith and Mr.. Balfour spoke elo-
quently Of the treaty first proposed by
President Taft, declaring that 1t would
mark new era in civilization, but both
pointedly disclaimed that a peace pact
between Great Britain and the United
states providing for submission of all diff
fculties to arbitration would mean an al
lance 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 re-
duction of ornaments.
The meeting represented the democracy
of England rather than the aristocracy.
Among those on the platform were the
bishop Of Hereford, the earl of Aberdeen
lord lieutenant of Ireland; Sir Geoge H.
Reid, high commissioner of Australia
agents of all the other British colonies,
along with representatives of the banks,
the railways and the steamship companies
of England.
Address OF Premier.
Premier Asquith said in part:
THE unique situation which we have met
to recognize and welcome has not been or
ganized or engineered by the apparatus of
diplomacy. The seed which the president
of the United States cast fell on ground
prepared to receive it. That of a few
years, even Of few months ago, might
have been regarded as the dream of ideal
lists, 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, whatever the grav-
ity OF the Issue and the magnitude of the
interests involved, whatever the poignancy
OF the feelings 1t aroused there will be a
definite abandonment Of war as a possi-
BILE solution and substitution of argument
for force; and the suppression by judicial
methods Of the old ordeal of battle"
After declaring that the agreement i'm
piled no menace to the rest of mankind
and did not provide for an Anglo-American
alliance, aggressive or defensive, the pre-
mier continued:
But we may hope and believe that other
things will follow 1t is not for us to
dictate or to preach to other nations, but
If the United States and Great Britain re-
nounce war, a step will be taken of i'm
measurable and Incompatible significance
in the onward progress of humanity"
Mr.. Asquith then moved the following
resolution:
That this meeting Of citizens of London.
assembled in the Guildhall cordially well
comes the proposal OF the United States in
favor OF general treaty of arbitration be-
tween that country and the British empire
ana pledges its support to the principles
or such a treaty as serving the highest
interests OF the two nations and as tend
ing to promote the peace OF the world
Balfour Seconds Resolution.
There was tremendous applause which
continued until Mr.. Balfour rose to second
the resolution. The opposition leader said
that Anglo-American arbitration seemed
nearer fruition at this moment than ever.
Some, he said, regarded 1t as an ideallstic
dream and believed that when the clash
of conflicting interests came all paper
barriers would be swept away, and he con-
tinued:
1T is true that it is folly to make inter-
national law go far in advance of public
opinion / cannot imagine a greater blow
to civilization that If. or l will rather say.
when such treaty was made either party
should break it. but as far as can read
opinion on both sides of the Atlantic I can.
not endorse these pessimistic views. 1 be-
lieve the great mass of public opinion on
both sides favors this move II the skill
OF diplomats can embody this feeling in a
treaty. don't believe that when the stress
OF International difficulties comes It will
be broken.
Some ask II public opinion is thus, why
a treaty Is necessary. l do not believe
that these logical dilemmas represent what
actually happens. grant that paper form
ulae are useless IN themselves, but II they
represent the settled convictions Of the
people they ore valuable"
International agreements with no power
of enforcement had made war far more
civilized in the past. the speaker said, and