Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-05-25
LAURIER EXPLAINS TO ENGLISH
Premier of Canada SCOTS at idea of
Annexation.
GREAT BRITAIN BEFORE AMERICA
Dinner of Pilgrims society In Lon
don I'm Honor Of Colonial Pre-
mier Noteworthy for Plain
Speaking.


LONDON. May A-The dinner Of the
Pilgrims society tonight in honor Of the
colonial premiers was historic. because Of
the 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 an
neNation question without gloves
He began by expressing amusement that
during his three days stay In England
he had heard so many people Of standing
veioing doubts eshcerning the designs of
the United States regarding Canada. He
scoffed at the idea Of annexation being
seriously considered on either side of the
border. He expressed in warm terms his
admiration for the people Of the United
States, but said, much as he loved the
American people, he loved Great Britain
better.
Canada in sharing the continent with
the United States. he said. had a double
interest in the treaty of arbitration be-
tween the United States and the United
Kingdom and he exclaimed dramatically.
II thank God that the relations between
the two peoples never were so good as
they are today"
The premier aroused enthusiasm when
he said that Canada and 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 4
fortress, soldier OF a gun on either side
of that boundary.
AngIO-American Relations Topic.
The dinner was In contrast 70 the one
Mt INN folto
because that was Of purely British Inn
perlalistic tone. while Anglo-American re-
lations were almost the sole topic tonight
Lord Roberts presided and welcomed the
premiers. Sir Edward Grey, the foreign
secretary, proposed 'Anglo-Amerioan
arbitration" without adding anything
significant to his former utterances on this
subject.
Defining the Monroe doctrine as mean.
ing that no European nation should acquire
more territory on the American continent
he added: "our policy is in fun accord
with that doctrine"
The American consul general, John L.
Griffiths. responded. He said it was a
matter Of qualification to the American
people when President Taft struck the
highest moral note OF his generation and
he recalled with what sense Of exultation
they received Sir Edward Greya reply
THE imagination is profoundly stirred as
we try to anticipate the benefieeat re-
sults which would follow II England and
America enter into q covenant OF peace"
he continued
Message from King.
A message was sent to the king by the
diners, and the secretary OF the society
Harris Britain. read this reply:
The king thanks the Pilgrims for their
kind congratulations on hts approaching
coronation. He earnestly hopes that the
high ideals which the society has in view
may be completely realized.
"KNoLLYS"
OF the speakers the Canadian premier
was the most impressive. because his sub
ject had aroused interest here.
Sir Wllfrid spoke At length on the imrni-
grafton Of Americans to Canada. He said
the majority Of them took the oath of
allegiance TO George v.
They had found In Canada the same
opportunity and the same freedom under
the laws which they had on the other
side of the border. Moreover, they had
found that democracy Under British mon
archy was not less than under a republic
He would not say that gome Americans
dio not covet the fair acres Of Canada,
they would not be human II they did not
II the United States attempts TO annex
Canada, continued the premier, 1t would
not be by force OF arms, but by education.
In that event Canada would reply as
Diogenes did TO Alexander: stand out OF
my sun" There was sun enough for both.
The last words OF the Canadian premier
were almost drowned In applause. I'VE
believe" he said, that the day will come
Of an alliance OF all lands springing from
England's loins. ensurins the peace Of the
world forever"