The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-10
WILSON'S PLAN IS
LONG STEP TOWARD
PEACE, SAYS BRYAN
Addresses the International
Conference That Is Ar
ranging Celebration of
100 Years of Peace

New York May 9.-Wiliam Jennings
Bryan, speaking at dinner given to-
night in honor of the foreign members
OF the international conference that is
arranging the celebration of the 100 years
of peace among Englislr-speaking peo-
pies, declared that 1.-The new peace plan
offered by President Wilson to all ma
tions is the latest and longest step to-
ward peace"
1T contemplates time for investiga-
ton and deiberation," he said, land this
makes the possibility of war remote"
Mr.. Bryan's subject was Press To-
ward Peace" He said that the part of
the United States in the cause of neces-
sity would be large because more than
any other nation it had a population
which is attached by blood to nearly all
other nations"
! Peace for all time between the United
States and Great Britain was the key
note of other addresses of the evening
delivered by Lord Weardale, chairman
of the English delegations. Sir Edmund
Walker of Canada, Sir George Houstoun
Reid of Australia, and Judge George Gray
of Delaware. Tonight's function marked
the last of many that have engaged the
delegates here during the last week, for
tomorrow they start for Boston.
Unstinted Applause
More than 500 men and women, most
Of them of countrywide distinction, were
IN attendance and unstinted applause
greeted all remarks that emphasized the
cordial relations between the two ma
tions and the cause of universal peace
in general.
The enthusiastic singing of America
and God Save the King was one of
the features of the evening. Flags of
Great Britain. the United States. Can
ada. Australia and Belgium, where the
treaty of Client was signed in 1914, dec
grated the banquet hall
Joseph II. Choate, former ambassador
to Great Britain. acted as toastmsster.
AT his left sat the new British ambassa-
dor, Sir Arthur Cecil Spripg-Rice and
on his right NJ. Da Cana. the Brazilian
ambassador, dean of the diplomatic corps
at Washington. Other members of the
diplomatic corps, Ambassador Page MEM
bers of the foreign delegations, United
States senators, judges from several
states and the governors of two were
interspersed at the speakers table.
Mr.. Bryan was introduced after the
banqueters had drunk toast to the King
of England and the President of the
United States.
Great Forces at Work
The Secretary of State said in part:
I'VE have three great forces at work
throughout the world forces at work con-
stantly and irresistibly and every one of
these forces makes for peace I bring
them before you--a growing intelligence
and increasing understanding OF the doc
trine of brotherhood and growing power
of the people to control their destinties
through the control of their government.
This. nation must be willing to extend
Its hand to all those who come from any
direction in the interest of peace No
nation shall outstrip US in its advocacy
of peace.
NO other nation is better situated or
better prepared to set an example in
the interest of peace than this, and l
am glad on this occasion to make ref
erence to the act of our President that
embodies that thought In language.
Two weeks ago yesterday at his diree-
ton. summoned the representatives of
36 nations represented at Washington that
might for him simultaneously present.
through them to their governments a
presses not only his willingness, but his
desire to enter into agreement with every
other nation great or small that so far
as our nation and that contracting ma
fion is concerned there will be no war
no declaration, no commencement of hos
tilities until the question in dispute has
been investigated by an international
tribunal and its report made known.
Long Step Toward Peace
''Now, | believe that this proposition
Is long step in the direction of peace
IT does not mean to take the place of
arbitration treaties-make all you can
submit to arbitration every question
which you can agree to submit--but when
you are through you will find at least
we have found thus far, that there are
certain questions that are excepted. And
they are SO important that they them
selves become the cause of war
ut is the purpose of this plan to close
the gap and to leave no question to
become cause OF war 1t is the belief
of the President that when the treaties
have been made between this nation and
all other nations severally by which there
will be Investigations before hostilities
begin, that war will become practically
impossible The time that will be allowed
gives a chance for the separation of ques-
tions of fact from questions of honor,