New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-15
Wished to ReaSSure British
FinancierS After Lord
Murray Incident.
SORRY u. S. SHOULD
TAKE 1T AS A JOKE
Ambassador Congratulated at
Luncheon of London BuSi-
ness Men for Talk.
m, Came 10 The rubunc. /

London, March l4.-Ths English fail
to understand the criticism OF Ambas-
Sador Pages speech expressed in the
American newspapers and in the SEN
ate resolution. They appreciate the am
bassador's real purpose, particularly in
that part of his speech relating to for
eign investments in republics under the
protection Of the Monroe Doctrine, as
that seemed to them a lucid eXplana-
ton of the United States policy,
Mr. Page refuses to say anything to
newspaper correspondents but The
Tribune learns from most authorita-
tive source that he is sorry indeed
that the impression spread in America
that he intended his illusions to be
taken as joke In fact, the ambas-
sador had an absolutely different pur-
pose and a most serious one After
the incidents Of Lord Murray of Eli
banks campaign for Colombian oil
fields. when il was said he was forced
TO abandon the project because of the
State Departments pressure on Colom-
bia, the impression ran like wildhre
through England that the United
states not only discouraged foreign in
vestments in Central and South Amer
lea. but wished to preserve all this
territory for possible investment by her
own citizens.
Page Defines United States Policy.
Some financial writer's here even
went so far as to state this, and the
idea became prevalent in this city that
the United States wanted to be the
whole hog. Lord Murray understood
otherwise, and told Mr. Page so. One
night soon after Lord Murray had
come back from Central America he
met Mr.. Page at a dinner and they en-
gagged in a pleasant conversation.
Il hope you understand. Mr.. Ambas-
sador. that we do not want to do any
thing whatever against the policy of
The United States. In fact. we want
the support of the United States in ou@
enterprises" said Lord Murray.
Il suppose you understand President
Wilson's policy, Lord Murray" said
Mr.. Page in the course of the talk.
tnlnh i 90, Dul VIII gOu ANPNoN ~
TO me?" Lord Murray replied.
The Presidents idea-in fact, the
governments policy-is certainly not
&c discourage the investment of foreign
capital That would be ridiculous; but
of course. investments involving con-
, cessions that might ultimately mean
Apolitical control of the countries are
welcome. The United States does
lot want mortgages that when fore
& .losed mean that the investors own the
81 country body and SOUL said Mr. Page
The Tribune knows that Lord Cow
draw had similar conversations with
Anba ssador Page in a most amicable
shirt. But as financial investors here
were nervous any way over the United
States Mexican policy, they began to
feel that America wanted to shut them
cut. and il was Wit. direct intention OF
dispelltng this idea that Mr.. Page made
his remarks He made like statements
at Leeds and Newcastle, in speeches
Iefore. but this was the first time the
matter was taken up by the press.
Making Him Stuffed Club.
Ambassador Page does not care for
-tae, opinion or slurs of a particular sec
ION of the American press attacking
him. as ne believes the yellow press
only wishes to use him as stuffed
club TO strike President Wilson. On
the other hand, he dislikes to have
Of 4 mi
for a moment that he characterized as
"A Joke or looks on as joke the speech
which he delivered with such serious
intent
English financiers have taken the
speech TO heart and at luncheon yes
terday. attended by fifteen or twenty
Of the most influential shipping, COM
,aercial and railway men Of England,
Ambassador Page was freely congrat-
ulated by them and thanked heartily
for telling them just where the United
States stood. Sir George Paish. editor
Of "The Statist," London's leading
financial authority not only was en-
thusiastic but asked Mr.. Page for
copy of his speech.
Americans here are almost unanl-
NOUS in the opinion that the attacks
on Mr.. Page are only the savage dying
easps of a beaten section OF the press
and disappointed politicians with axes
70 grind. both of whom are bitter be-
cause they are certain TO be defeated
in their attitude on free Panama Canal
tolls. AS far as reference to the Pan
anna Canal was concerned, the ambas-
sador said:
we didn't build the canal for YOU
accentuating "you," whereat his Eng
lisb hearers gasped, but we're amused
al the same time by his audacity. But
YOU necessarily benefit" he continued
because you have such huge amount
Of shipping
Levity Only at Close.
His tariff reference was of the same
-.sracter. The last part Of his speech
only was interspersed with levity-a
~ light remarks dealing with inter-
.,,tional marriages and the fact that