New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-07
JAMES BRYCE HONORED
At PILGRIMS DINNER
Former British Ambassador Re-
views His Work in Washing.
contribute to Root.
GIVES ADVICE TO CRITICS
Says a Diplomats Prestige Is
Weakened by Carping Re-
marks by the Press of
His Own Country.

London. Nov. GA large and distin-
guished gathering welcomed the Right
Hon. James Bryce. late British Ambassa-
dor in Washington, at the dinner given in
his honor by the Pilgrims tonight The
American Ambassador. Walter Hines
Page. read messages from the President
of the United States. from Joseph H.
Choate. former Ambassador at London,
\ and others. President Wilson's message
was as follows:
Few men have done more than James
Bryce in Strengthening the ties of friend
ship and brotherhood which unite Eng
land and America and have been the
cause of common aspiration and high eX-
ample to the whole world
The president of the Panama Pacific In
ternational Exposition, Charles c. Moore,
sent the following; II still hope that the
British and American flags will wave to-
gethed at San Francisco in 1915.
introducing Mr.. Bryce to the Pilgrims,
Ambassador Page. who presided. paid a
high tribute to the eX-Ambassador of
Great Britain in Washington. both as the
Interpreter Of his nation and its institu-
tons and as the man. He recalled that
MIR. Bryce served during the terms Of
three American Presidents, and told his
audience that all three had expressed to
him the high opinion and sincere esteem
in which James Bryce was held by them
He said that when Mr.. Bryce came home
he came with the sincere regrets OF the
President and the people of America.
regret which in no way conficted with
the equally hearty welcome accorded to
his successor.
An Ambassador Emeritus.
81 welcome him home" Mr.. Page said,
'as the Ambassador emeritus TO the
American people. All his blushinG honors
have been nobly won" The Ambassador
then spoke of Mr. Bryce's great popular
ity in every state, all of which the ex-
Ambassador had visited. The only honors
America could confer, he said, were aca-
demic, and Mr.. Bryce had more of these
from American colleges than even that
least quiet academician who now is har-
vesting crop of such honors in South
America"
After thanking the Pilgrims for their
welcome Mr.. Bryce said that when he re-
six years ago. and went to the United
States in order to try to settle NUMBER
of long standing questions he foresaw
laborious and difficult task.
Everybody, the speaker SAID had MADE
him feel ut home in America. He had
been treated like one of their own citi-
zens; indeed better for he had been
spared the criticism which in all modern
countries is so literally bestowed upon
public men. He had negotiated with three
Presidents end four Secretaries of State,
with all Of whom his relations had been
most cordial To one of those Secretaries
of State he ought especially to refer, be-
cause Mr.. Root was in Office when ne
reached Washington. and II was with
Mr.. Root that he negotiated most of the
twelve or thirteen treaties which had
been concluded between the two countries
in the years 1912.
Root Er1inently Fair Of Mind.
when Mr.. Root and t. Mr.. Bryce
continued. began TO make treaties, the
first thing we did was to make friends
with one another; and friendship is
great aid to business. / found in Mr..
Root not only a brilliant intellect, but
what is even better. and perhaps more
rare. an emnently fair mind, capable OF
seeing both sides of every question, and
sincere love of peace. Mr.. Root eXem-
plihed in practice the dictum he had once
delivered, that there is no international
controversy that cannot be honorably
settled IL both the parties wish TO settle
II. Here the goodwill of the two ma
tions was behind the negotiations; and
# was our good fortune to settle all the
questions that had been outstanding be-
tween us. and among these that old and
,horny controversy over the North At
lantic fisheries, which had more than once
threatened their good relations.
Most OF these questions related to
Canada. I have always felt that it is the
duty of an ambassador to regard and
maintain the interests Of CANADA and the
other dominions no less than of Great
Britain.
Most of my work was concerned with
Canada, and / should be ungrateful were
/ not to tell you Of the unceasing and IN
valuable cooperation of Lord Grey, who
was Governor General His successor,
the Duke Of Connaught, kindly extended
10 me during the last year of my stay a
like counsel and aid; while from the two
successive Prime Ministers, Sir w.
Laurier and Mr.. Borden, constant con-
fdence. which il is pleasure 10 acknowl-
edge was extended TO me.
Two Messages to Pilgrims.
Returning hither from America, / have
two things TO say to the British pilgrims
gathered here as friends of the American