Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-28
Page vs.. Page: The Fruit of
Reflection

Secretary Bryan has communicated to the Senate without
comment Ambassador Pages report what he said at the IA
banquet of the Chambers Of Commerce in London The
Secretary showed unusual discretion in refraning from
Otherwise he might have been moved to remark that
tbs pity to have ambassador that changes his mind after
his speech is delivered
Perhaps is unfair to regard too critically endeavors Of
the Ambassador we out of the consequences Of his post
pranda eusion Perhaps Champ Clark is right in dismssng
the result Of the wanuts and the wine Yet you can not
quite accept vintage champagne as complete excuse Tor
Diminishing the Monroe Doctrine mild preference OF the
American people, and the estmab Mr. Pckwicks babbngs
after cold punch discreet indeed beside the effort OF the
American Ambassador depict the American people as reoc
ing that Panama Canal would most profit the shipping inter-
ests Of Great Britain.
Yet phlosophc observers Of the condition politely
referred by Speaker Clark all agree that there certain diff
ference in the morning Ambassador Page thought IN the cold
his speech Of the night before He had spoken exemporaneous
~ but he reped and revised at eisureafter hearing from
Washington which had read the Hearst newspapers report OF
what he actually said
The Hearst papers took the pains literal report
Of his speech taken by the official stenogaphe present. and
herewith presents its debated portions in conastcd paragraphs
The capitalization in the Page version indicate important words
the xbassadOr sftehough Variations in the two versions
not affecting the diplomatic significance OF the utterances are
not thus noted
VIII the Panama csnsl EVEN for
SS % IL ' W. sT 9Th n Fos ssXsos cUR
". ~
sg ses about the recent lower .
S s .s s s s s ss for that " considered eco
The official stenographers version:
the Canal for
SOMETIMES exIIEp diplomatic rd.otoni win say MOST
s; ss !; ys ' we @0sI ss: e"
ssy sound Nsvsrthelsss to pleasure
should receive trade from you"
Obviously camer reflection Of the day succeeding the
banquet and perhaps the cables from Washington which fol-
the Hearst newspapers first emphasis of the Anglomaniac
Of the Ambassadors speech did much TO moderate his
genial expansvenes And yet but wonder whether his
recollection of what he had said quite clear as the official
stenoerapher's quite mpersonal notes
In his discussion Of the Monroe Doctrine the Page Of the
Report Of the State Department DIVORCES widely from the Page
OF the British banquet board. Compare the two
Mr. Pages version:
rbs Monroe Doctrine meant In WHEN IT WAS FIRST FORM
uLATED that the United would OBJECT European
taking ors mS the New wSa n those syn the
and take IL Now have refined ehods Of exploitation
IT s ere 1s ~sys Is vou Wiz Ar SURE uN
DERsTANp WHY THE UNITED STATES PREFERS THAI NO
NEW Susie WAYS %0NIO % 0OlO 81 N0NO'sO :"
The official stenographer's version:
Doctrine only this that the United
Hor. land IN tie New World In days only way
fsrssn gain land literally and take the
.: : ss' 'SG . M & S1 5 ~
ONLY WHISPERED Consider Monroe whispering his in
sence-not his preferenceha there should be
tension of foreign system Of government this hemisphere
Did but whisper to Napoleon III when he called his troops
of Mexico and left Macmillan to be shot? Did Grover
Cleveland only whisper when he babe Secretary 0ney to
write Great Britain that this continent the United States
supreme and its fat is law.
is easy understand that upon reading the official short
his Ambassador Page should have fastened
TO send home revised amended and harmless version What
pity that he did not understand that the time for Ambassador
to weigh his words Is before utterng them.