New-York tribune., 1919-09-23
Pilgrims Honor
Lord Finlay at
Luncheon Here
British Delegate to Meeting g
of American Bar Asso-
ciation Pleads for Con-
tinued 6 90 d Relations
Beck Speaks on League
Saws United States Will
Not Let Diverse Opinions
Cause Break With English

TIE Pilgrims OF the United States
rsye a luncheon at the Bankers Club
r.sterday in honor Of Lord Finlay.
.ormer Chancellor Of England, who
tss come TO the United States as the
British delegate to the annual meeting
~ the American Bar Association.
Chauncey NJ. Depew, president of the
Pilgrims. was to have presided, but
vas compelled TO remain at home be-
rause Of inclement weather.
lanes NJ Beck, who acted in Mr..
nepew's place, before introducing Lord
finlay said
your lordship is not unaware that
,here is in this country at the present
time an agate controversy with respect
10 the league of nations. To discuss
is merits would offend the proprieties
Of the occasion. But I think | may.
without such offence, submit two pre-
mises, upon which both the proponents
and the opponents of the league would
agree.
Points of Agreement
1.-THE first is that if the league Of
nations shall be formed, with the
United States as e participating mem
ber, and Great Britain and the United
States were 70 be disunited at it's coun-
ell board then it were better that the
league OF nations had never been born
ct all. Indeed, in that event, it would
probably die stillborn.
"And the second is that if the United
States shall hereafter refuse to take
part in the proposed league Of nations
and thereby it should fail to come into
existence the cause OF civilization is
not lost as long as the two great di-
visions OF the English speaking world
and France remain united in spirit.
"Probaby Lord Robert Cecil. the
most distinguished English proponent
ct the league, had this in mind when
he recently said, in substance, that he
had more confidence in the spirit that
vas behind the league than in the form
Of the league itself.
Temporary Effect Only
at cannot be disguised that. at the
present time, this acute controversy
has had an unfortunate, but, / believe.
only temporary, effect upon Anglo
american relations. We should not be
unduly discouraged on this account, for
.hese are not normal times. Sanity
sill not return to a distracted world
until the period of reconstruction ;s
happily passed and the present terrible
reaction from the noble spirit of the
var has spent its force.
All Of us are conscious Of that
moral reaction In these critical davs
j, is not possible to appeal with the
sare effect to the noble spirit which
united Us as comrades in arms. The
ereat events which, only year ago,
thrilled US to the very depths of our
souls, have, for the time being, lost
'omething Of their potency. But this
only reaction from the divine cx-
a.atlon of the human spirit which
arked the most terrible struggle in
story
Predicts Old Thrill Again
The time viii soon come-may the
ay be soon,-when the old thrill of
"a never-to be forgotten days will
gain stir the human spirit. Let US re-
C.ll the noble words of Abraham LIN
-'ln, with which he concluded his first
augural address, perhaps the noblest
nat he ever uttered:
although passion may have strained,
"'HSt 4iSt b''sth, Jul DoilGS OI an &c
Ion. The mystic chords of memory.
''retchlng from every battlefield and
Aatrlot grave to every living heart and
earthstonc all over this broad land,
MI yet swell the chorus Of the Union
men again touched, as surely they will
ae, by the better angels of our nature.
Similarly, too, at no distant day,
ne mystic chords Of memory, stretch
ing from every battlefield and patriot
crave % every living heart and hearth
stone in the countries that SO bravely
Oattled for the freedom of civilization
will again swell the chorus of the
great union OF the liberal nations Of
the world. Then Americans will not
lorget how bravely IT,. goo yeomen OF
England and France stood on the
Marne and in the trenches before
pres and died for the endangered
uoerty of the world; and you, in turn,
VIII not forget how bravely and un-
selhshly the youth Of America came
% your aid at critical hour of the
''rngg g, and how our fleets united in
a'rolilng the waves which surround
our little island-that gem set in
II" silver sea-and the fair shores of
rance.
VIII Fight for Liberties
We ask you, therefore, to take
oack message to your country that
while M Americans differ, and honestly
u'Her. with respect to the form of the