New-York tribune., 1911-04-02
BRITAIN TO CELEBRATE
ARBITRATION SUNDAY
Nonconformist Clergymen to
Take Lead, but State Church
Will Also Hold Services.
MOVEMENT NOW NATIONAL
English Politics in Such a Du.
bious State That All Interest
Is Centred on the Taft
Grey Proposal.
lBy Cable 70 The Tribune.

London, April 1.-THE observance or
Arbitration Sunday will be more general
among the free churches than in the Es-
tablished Church. This is because the
Rev. F. B. Meyer is an experienced or
sanizer and has had convenient instru-
ment in the National Council OF Evan
gelical Free Churches for bringing the
religious bodies into line With public
opinion in America.
Sermons will be preached in many pull
pits in England. Scotland and Wales
tomorrow on arbitration. and the con-
eresations will be invited to express
sympathy with the Taft-Grey proposals
for an absolute arbitration treaty be-
tween Great Britain and the United
states either by standing or by raising
hands in favor Of formal resolution.
Lord Coleridge and Augustine Birre!l
will be among the speakers at Whit
fields.
If these proceedings are too irregular
for general adoption by the Established
Church it cannot be doubted that the
main body of worshppers in them Is
equally interested with the Nonconform-
isis in abolishing the risks Of war. The
spcaking world of American churchmen
will he strongly. represented in the Al
bert Hall and other arbitration demon
strations in the course Of the next lew
weeks.
Movement Is National.
There is much activity outside OF re-
licious bodies in the direction OF Anglo
American arbitration. London and the
great municipal bodies Of England ana
scotland are cooperating heartily IN the
organization of the national movement
snd a Parliamentary committee recruit
cd from both sides Of the House OF
Commons has been formed for promot-
ing an agreement between the TWO
countries in favor Of absolute arbltra-
tion. High Church Tories like Lord
Hugh Cecil. are committed TO IL as
strongly as the Scotch Presbyterlans or
The Welsh Nonconformists, and series
NJ NON partisan public meetings already
has been opened in many English towns
Tho advocates Of this movement Tor
arbitration with the United states are
not discouraged by the German Chah-
ccllor's lack Of faith in universal arpl-
tra,ion and the limitation of armaments
They perceive that the German Emperor
wants 10 break up the Anglo-Amerlcah
concord They admit that England ana
Germany must continue their wastelui
conpetition in battleshps ana guns
without being affected by the logic OF
the situation
The Chancellor's willingness to come
"a an agreement with England respect
inc an exchange Of naval information
je only a meagre gain WHICH will not
alter materially the existing conoltioh
Of rivalry. The arbitration advocates
reject the idea that Berlin can veto the
ccncordat between London and WASH
ington
No Universal Brotherhood Yet.
II war among the English speaking
nations has really become unthlnKaple
the sanest advocates OF peace concede
that the generalization about universal
brotherhood and the limitations OF ar
maments are not convincing. what Is
wanted is a practical recognition on the
Iart Of the British Empire and America
OF the truth that all outstanding issues
can he settled peaceably and that they
viii not fight under any circumstances
When that inspiring example has peeh
set the baneful influence of militarism
will he fatally impaired.
Optimism regarding Anglo-Anerican
relations is natural when the tendencies
of domestic politics are profoundly de-
pressing. While the revenue bill has
been disposed Of. the government can
have no hope of settling the constitu-
tional question before the coronation. A
prolonged struggle opens on Monday
over the committee. stages of the Par
lament bill. II ii reaches the House Of
Lords by the end OF May ii cannot be
seriously discussed before July. The
Radicals are disturbed by the delay and
are wondering whether David Lloyd
George will have either the health or
the time for taking advantage of the
moderate surplus and recklessly com
mitting the country to another large in
stalmcnt OF crude socialism.
The Unionists are demoralized by fec
hle and indeCisive leadership. Nothing
has been gained by the technical point
raised over the royal prerogative. The
referendum bubble has been pricked, and
Lord Lansdowne's hazy forecast of a re-
form scheme indicates similar collapse