The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-12-18

New York, Dec. 13.-James Bryce.
the British ambassador, told the
committee for the celebration of tbe
centenary of peace between English
speaking people, at a dinner tonight
that nearly all wars had been due
10 human folly. or human passion
and dwelt on how much better it was
to celebrate the wisdom which had
ended war and avoided any subse-
quent conflict, rather than the want
Of skill and wisdom, which made wars
possible
The ambassador described what
had been accomplished during his Of
fetal stay in Washington to remove
differences between the United States
and Great Britain and avoid diff
ferences in the future. He reviewed
the three arbitrations and several
treaties leading to a settlement of
the Canadian boundary dispute, the
Newfoundland fisheries question, the
matter of the use Of the waters on the
boundary. and minor points long at
! issue, and continued:
"All these treaties furnish an ad-
mirable illustration Of the dictum once
delivered by Mr.. Root, that where
! two nations and Governments de-
sire to come to a fair agreement il
! is always possible for them to do
so. With good will everything can
be accomplished"
! Later in his remarks, and having
in mind, apparently, criticism direct
ed at him from certain quarters in
England, that he had acquiesced in
reciprocity agreement between the
United States and Canada that prov
ed 80 poor n bargain that it was re-,
jected by the. Canadian people, the
ambassador said:
You may perhaps expect me to
say something about another agree
ment, which was much discussed
year and half ago, namely, that
for the reciprocal lowering Of tariff
between the United States and Can
ada, but with that matter, however, l
had nothing whatever to do, except as
mere intermediary. ! may say, as
a letter carrier between the two Gov
ernments.
; The questions involved were en-
tirely questions for the United States
on one hand. and for the Canadian
Government on the other in which
my only duty was to transmit mes
sageS from the one Government to
/ the other, without attempting in any
way to influence either
AS you are aware, questions Of
tariff are left by the Government Of
Great Britain entirely to the Govern
! ment Of Canada. ! advert to this mat
! GER for the sake of telling you what,
/ indeed, hope you know already, that
! although Canada ultimately declined
TO approve the agreement, her refusal
was not in any sense IA mark of un-
rriendliness toward the United states.
It was merely like the case of two
merchants, both friends. one of whom
makes an offer to sell something at
: cl!nes, because he does not conceive
) the bargain 20 be for his interest.
such a refusal does not in private
: life imply the slightest want of cor
diality between the parties. Neither
was the refusal Of Canada any more
sign Of unfriendlincss to you than
did the refusal by you OF similar Of
fer made by her some time before i'm
ply unfriendliness on your part. Each
country has its policy; each country
is entitled to judge of what serves it's
interests best.
The value of the celebration YOU
contemplate lies in it's emphasizing the
friendship Of these two neighbor peo-
pies which have no thought Of ag-
greSsion, either on the other. Each
is trying its own experiments in gov
ernment and Legislation.
on propose 10 invite 10 your cele-
bration members and representatives
If other great peoples and races. That
is right. There - nothing exclusive in
the friendship that we of the various
branches OF the English stock have
for one another Let the celebration
be- the means of assuring all the
great nations Of your and our desire
TO be good friends with them no lcss
than with one another. and of our
hope that the bonds OF friendship
and th" league Of peace will he ex-
tended to include them all"