The sun., 1918-08-22
READING PRAISES
U. 5. PART IN WAR
Honor Guest of American
Luncheon Club, He Tells
Of Spirit Here.
SEES VICTORY IN END
Denies He Returned to London
to Draft Offensive-Defen-
sive Pact.

LONDON, Aug 21.-Lord Reading.
British Ambassador to the United States,
was the guest OF honor to-day at the
American Luncheon Club. Three hun
bred persons attended, including the
Japanese, Italian and Chilean Ambassa-
doris, the Belgian Minister. Lord Miner,
Lord Robert Cecil. Winston Spencer
Churchill. vice-Admiral Sims and sew
eral members of the Cabinet. The con-
tinued illness Of Walter H. Page, Ameri-
can Ambassador. prevented his attend
ance. John s. Afacafee presided.
Lord Reading. after referring to the
success Of his mission in America as due
to the generous good will Of the United
States, expressed his thanks for that
country's tribute Of high admiration for
the efforts Great Britain had made In
the war and the valor and heroism of
her soldiers and sailors, which could
only be described as 'one of affection
and love"
When he first visited America in 1915
he found tho country neutral but SYM
pathetic. On his second visit he found
America at war and added: When
be written as to tho part America has
played very high will rank the achieve
ments of the Administration and legis-
lature which passed the selective draft"
Found Changed Condition.
On his third visit he found that prep
arations were proceeding with re-
doubled energy. He declared events IN
the beginning of March had awakened
America and added:
II shall never be- able to give ex-
preston to the sympathy shown"
When the demand for men was made
that which seemed impossible became
living thing almost as soon as put
forward At the same time the British
found ships, cost what it may, and
whatever else might happen America
would always be entitled to the graft
tude of Great Britain and France.
Lord Reading reminded his audience
Of the change that had taken place In
the situation at the front since America
entered the war. No American would
want him to say that America did II
all, but an American would want him
to pay equal credit to the French and
the British and the. Italians. He was
as proud OF their valor and heroism as
II they had all been his own soldiers.
CRITICISM MOI DeserVeo.
He did not believe there was any
room for criticism OF America because
she had not entered the war sooner. fol-
the head OF the nation did not feel the
time was ripe or was not ready to take
the responsibility until the nation had
made up its mind. Now that America
was in the war one OF the other OF the
world ideas must survive.
I'VE know positively" he declared
| that democracy will triumph
II there was a message he woulc
! bring to Britain from America 1t would
| be: America is with you until victor!
has been attained"
When the Ambassador denied report:
! that he had returned to England t'
draft the terms Of an offensive and de-
fensive alliance between Great Britain
/ and the United States the audience
chorused: Too bad, too bad"
He was convinced that at the end OF
| the war America and Britain would bt
| able to work in closer cooperation ant
with better amity than ever before.
provided we don't fall into com
placent optimism" he declared, victory
is absolutely marked out as certain"