The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-07
PAGE RECEIVES
BAPTISM OF FIRE
New Ambassador to England
Makes Debut as After
Dinner Speaker.
GUEST AT GREAT BANQUET
Eminent Britishers and Ameri-
cans Give Him Warm We'll
come to London.

London, June 6.-Wslter Hines Page.
the new American ambassador to the
Court of st. James, tonight received
his baptism of fire as an after-dinner
speaker IN London at a welcoming ban
quet given in his honor by the Pill
grims Society. Field Marshal Earl
Roberts presided, and had as support
ers at the head of the table Sir Edwa rd
Grey, Foreign Secretary; the Earl of
Halsburg, former Lord Chancellor: the
Earl OF Aberdeen, Lord Lieutenant OF
Ireland, and Augustine Birrell, chief
secretary for Ireland.
Three hundred and fifty Pilgrims.
among them many prominent Britishers
and representative Americans, attend
ed. Mr.. Page was welcomed In speeches
by Earl Roberts and Sir Edward Grey,
the latter being given a great ovation
speakers q s the peacemaker of Eu-
rope.
Reference to Kaiser AppIauded.
Price Collier. the author, who. after
Mr. Page. was the principal America n
speaker said the two greatest peace
makers of Europe were Earl Roberts,
who had made peace from Kyber Pas
TO Capetown, and Sir Edward Grey. who
took in hand the hornets nest OF the
Balkans in this year of grace" His
reference to Emperor William as that
great and strong man who is the true
friend OF England was received with
tremendous applause
Ambassador Page was warmly greet :
ed when he rose. The time is long
past when there was need, il ever there
was need, of makeshifts or make
believes in our intercourse" said Mr..
Page. surely it argues we'll for the
spread of justice and fair dealing and
for the rmer establishment of the
peace of the world that the two ma
tions Of the English speaking folk
speak frankly to one another in our
dealings Blood answers to blood, and
our fundamental qualities of manhood
are the same.
1t is an inspiring spectaclc--and
history can show none other such
these two kindred nations, one on each
side OF the welI-plowed sea that unites
them. standing at the end of century
OF peace, liberty-loving as of old, and
forward looking, confident of the
bounds of freedom, and yet regarding
government as a living and ever chang :
ing instrument of human progress.
made by man for mans advancement
and not for the mere maintenance OF
any political creed. This is an augury
for the progress of the world that
shames all structures of society where
mans lot is stationary or his philos-
ophy dipped in gloom"
cessors AS ambassadors TO the court
OF 81. James, whom he named. was
warmly received, as was also his de-
scription of James Bryce, as persona
grata TO the United States and persona
grata to the whole American people
MI. Page spoke of Americas mission
S OF the making man. and in conclu :
sion referred TO the great English de
mocracy. (which in every part of the
world has the same large aims TO keep
men free and preserve the peace OF
the world
His Dual Capacity.
The ambassador of the United States
In this country has dual capacity:
that OF ambassador and that of hon
o:ed guest and friend" said Sir Edward
GREY. IF he comes TO us with pro-
possls from his government With the
idea OF making more remote any APP
peal to blind force he will ind in this
country and in the British government
q ready response. II there should be
proposal TO make war between ma
tons more remote, 1t is from the United
states that such a proposal can he made
Win fun dignity and with good feel
ing which is beyond suspicion
The peace between England and
America is based not merely upon
kinship OF race az community or re-
ligion, or langua ga. T. believe il is
based upon the sure basis of a feeling
OF downright rep0snance on both sides
OF the ocean that the peace between
Great Britain ard America evel
should be disturbed y peace propose
from such quarter as from Tho
United States would come under nc
suspicion OF being inspired by any feel,
ing OF pusillanimity by any nationa
interest or by any desire OF securing
an advantage in disarming or placins
ar disadvantage any other nation"
In conclusion. the Foreign Score.
tary said:
AS great as the friendly feeling be
tween US Is to-day, that friendly feel.
ing VIII. ] trust. still grow and grow
After all, 10 whatever degree IL de.
velops. however strong il becomes
believe II is their wish and I am sure
IL is ours. that the friendly feeling be
tween the two countries, though il NAV
serve as an example to all nations
should never be menace to any