The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-24
TWO NATIONS ISSUE STATEMENTS URGING
 CONTINUOUS PEACE
Widely Prominent Ameri- can Citizens Sign Con- munication Emphasizing Friendship Between Uni- ted States and England

New York. December a3.-rh- people or the United states and Great Brifsia tomorrow will observe the ono hum drcdth anniversary of the signing of the treaty of Ghcnt by rc,nindipg themselves thnt the day marks n cen tury of peace among Engiish-spcalxIng nations.
 The original plans called for se- ries of celebrations in this country and across the water. It was to have be- gun in Ghent on Christmas eve with banquet rendered by the burgoma ster to DO representatives of the United States, 50 Englishmen and 50 Canad- ians in the hall where the treaty was signed This plan is upset by the iact that the ancient Belgian city now is occupied by the Germans, with whom England Is at war
 To mark the day the American and British committees which had been ar ranging for the peace centenary, is- sued communications for simultaneous publication Thursday morning in the newspapers in England and the United States.
 British Statement The British statement expresses Inc hope that the dlsarned frontier be- tween the United States and Canada may long continue as an example to the world of the safe defense of mutual respect and trust in the affairs cf na- tions.' and prays that "the peace be- tween the British and American dem ocracies, which has so long endured, may never ne broken
 SfheA British coninittees has purchased sulgrave Manor. the ancestral nome of George Washington in England. with view to presenting to he American people but this feature o4 the celebra- ton also has been postponed until aft CT the war.
 The American committee notwith- standing the war, purposes to carry out in part its original intention oc celebrating the peace centenary and in it's communication issued over the sig nature of a number of widely known citizens. urges suitable eommemoration of ratification of the treaty by the United states, which followed iinned. lately upon the arrival of it's draft in February, 1874. The dates specified are February 14, for exercises in churches of all denominations Tobru- ary IT and IS for formal addresses ar state capitals, and February % for ex- cieiStS III lile SCHOOLS.
 The American communication is as follows:
 One hundred years ago today there was signed at Ghent in Flanders the treaty of peace between Great Britain and the United States, which marked the close of what has happily proved to be the last war between English speaking peoples of the earth. Today the city of Ghent is at the very cen ter of the terrible conflict that rages in Europe.
 The American peace centenary com- mittee cannot permit this anniversary to pass without inviting the thought ful attention of their fellow citizens to the contrast presented by the cen tury long period of peace which Iing- fish speaking peoples have enjoyed among themselves on the one hand ani the appalling destruction of life, prop erty and great monuments of civili- zation which the European war in wolves on the other. It had been our confident hope that the example which the English speaking peoples have set in their relations with each other would be followed by the other great nations of the earth in their several in- ternational relations. 1t had naen our earnest desire that the spirit of peace ful and friendly cooperation which each of these peoples manifests toward the people of the United States would also mark their dealings with one au- other Unfortunately this was not to be and we are sorrowfully called upon to mark our centenary celebration in the midst of the most terrible and de- structive war that history records.
 Faith In Justice
 Even at such time we must avow once more our emphatic faith in the supremacy of justice over force. of law over might. We rejoice in the peaceful .f..ks ..E speaking peoples, and particularly in the updefended and unfortified line nearly 1000 miles in length. which divides the territory or the United States from that of the Dominion of Canada. The mutual trust. forbearance and helpfulness which tContinued on Page seven)