New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-17
Premier Asquith Offers Battle
ship for Last Solemn Voyage
in Noble Tribute to Dead
Ambassador.
SERVICE IN WESTMINSTER
Signal Honor Arranged on
Kings Own Initiative for
Friday Next, When Dean
and Chapter of Abbey
Will Officiate.
IBv cabIe 10 The TrIbune. !


Commons yesterday Premier Asquith
and ex-Premier Balfour (the latter
speaking for the Opposition in the ab
sence Of Mr. Bonar Law joined in an
eloquent tribute to the late Ambassa-
dor, and Mr.. Asquith made known the
intention of the British government to
suggest to the United States govern
ment that the body of Mr.. Reid he con-
veyed to New York on British battle
ship.
At the opening of the session Premier
Asquith arose amid profound silence
and said:
Before the House proceeds TO e
orders of the day ! would ask leave TO
give brief expression to the sincere
grief which is shared by the whS"
nation at the death Of the American
Ambassador, Mr.. Whitelaw Reid.
The American Ambassador to this
country has a position Of his own which
is independent of his status and func-
tions as the diplomatic representative
Of an external power. We regard him
as a kinsman. (Hear, HearD
"He is also honored here as a well
come guest, sprung from our own race.
speaking our own language, sharing
with us by birth as well as by in
heritance not a few Of our most cher
ished traditions, and participating when
he comes here by what l may describe
as a natural right in our domestic in
terests and celebrations.
ConspcuousIy Successful.
His office has been held and adorned
by a long succession of distinguished
men, but / am not using the language
of eXaggeration when / say that none
Of them more fully entered into its
spirit and maintained its special au-
thority than did Mr.. Whitelaw Reid.
He brought TO the discharge of its
manifold and exacting duties the
gathered experience of a veteran in
public affairs, the endowments Of a
mind Of the highest culture, social gifts
of the most genial and generous kind,
keen sympathy with all the many sides
of our British life, mind always open
and receptive and with the warmest
OF hearts.
I'VE propose to suggest to the Amer
lean government that one Of his
majesty's battleships or\cruisers should
convey the body of the late Ambassa-
dor to his native land" (murmurs of ap-
provaD, "and / am certain / am in
terpretng the sentiments of the whole
House when ] venture in the name OF
the members to offer to the late Am
bassador's family and to the President
and people of the United States our
deep and heartfelt sympathy in the
and who none the less was at home
among us, and who in a true and real
sense was one of u.s. (hear, hear).
Mr.. 5alfour's Tribute.
Mr.. Balfour said the Prime Minister
was perfectly justified on this occasion
I'm saying that Ne spoke not merely
for the majority of the House, but for
the whole House, without any eXcep-
ton whatever, and continued:
Il have nothing to add in substance
TO the noble tribute which the right
honorable gentleman has paid to Mr..
Whitelaw Reid. OF course, I have not
the knowledge which the Prime Minis
ter may possess of the assistance which
doubt not Mr.. Whitelaw Reid gave to
his own government and to our gov
ernment in the cause of increasing, II
possible, the admirable understanding
which now exists and has for so many
years existed between the two great
branches of the English speaking
race.
The Prime Minister did not dwell
on that branch Of the subject, branch
of the subject appropriate to an Am
bassador of the United States, but ap-
propriate to the ambassador of no
other country, however friendly our
relations with that country might be,
but ne did dwell with admirable taste
and eloquence upon the position which
has been so long occupied by distin-
guished citizens OF the United States.
We in Great Britain have always ex-
tended 10 these representatives not
merely the consideration due 10 those
a great and friendly
power. but something much more,
something much deeper, something
much more intimate. We welcomed
them. as the right honorable gentlemen
truly said. to the very arcana Of our
social life.
The duties of his high office were
admirably fulfilled by the departed
statesman / had the honor, as many
Of those present must have had, OF his
friendship. and | shall never forget the
kindness which he always extended to
me, as he did to others who were
brought from tine to time into close
and intimate contact with him.
Sir e. Grey's Message.
Sir Edward Grey. Foreign Secretary,
who, Of course. came more intimately