Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-03-01
BRITISH PAY HONOR
TO DAVIS, RETIRING
U. s. AMBASSADOR


London. Feb. 2S-(By the Asso-
ciated Press)-British royalty and
statesmen tonight interrupted their
task of Attempting to establish peace
in the Near East to honor a son Of
the west. The retiring American
ambassador, John w. Davis, was the
guest Of honor of the Pilgrims So
ciety at dinner which was attend
ed by the Prince of Wales, Lord
Desborough, Earl Curzon, Earl Read
ing, Viscount Bryce, the Archbishop
of Canterbury, Admiral Sir David
Beatty and other prominent person.
ages. ... II .t
The gathering was among the
most notable ever assembled for the
purpose of bidding farewell to an
American diplomat in England.
After declaring that recent events
had proved militarism to be danger
and not safeguard, and branding
communism as IAN ignoble fraud"
the ambassador devoted most of his
speech to anglo-American relations.
He said his personal relationships in
England were of the most cordial
character and he regretted to leave
his new-found friends.
Expressing the belief that Eng
land and America would continue to
live in peace and friendship, Mr..
Davis said:
I'VE read the other day that
hypothetical official had remarked
to a mysterious reporter that we
were drifting to perdition, or some
other resort. l am grateful to both
there mythical gentlemen for the
shock they administered. It was
| like an electric current, proving by
the patients prompt reaction that
his nervous system was sound.
/ Nothing could have been more graft
flying than the way public opinion in
both countries rose to denounce the
mere suggestion of a possible
breach"
The ambassador alluded to the
currents of sentiment that flow
broad and deep between the two
nations, and 1.-The strong cement Of
and shed in a common cause" He
asked what good thing these nations
might seek apart which could not be
attained in larger measure if they
pursue harmony and union. ~
What legitimate aim has Great
Britain. which American co-opera-
ton will not promoter" he inquired.
What lawful end does America. con-
template which British support will
not help her attain?"
He had "unwavering and indes-
tluctible faith" in the craftsmanship
and sence of justice animating the
two peoples.
IF one is right and the other
wrong he said, "the one in the
wrong will admit it, as has been done
in the past, without sense of in
jured pride or wounded egoism. If
neither is wholly wrong or right we
shall know how to give and take,
and find, as we have in the past the
golden meaning of compromise. If
compromise fail, we shall both be
ready, as we have in the past, to
throw our fortunes into the scales of
minds judge between U.S."
Lord Grey had done well, said the
ambassador. to remind the two ma
tons that they were bound to this
programme by solemn treaty. Cues
! tons would arise, and existed today,
but government diplomatic organ
izations were created for the purpose
of effecting settlements.
1.-THE British Empire and the Unit
ed States" he said, ARE rather large
vessels; neither can hope to men
oeuvre without taking into account
/ the others whereabouts, and they
may have to take from time to time
a fair amount of the wash from each
others wake But God pity the
steersman of either who brings
them into collision, if ever his crew
and passengers get their hands on
! him."
| Asserting that it is not in open dis
pute that the danger lies, he con-
cluded:
There are enemies who would
undermine, if they could, the foun-
dations of our friendship, and we
should meet them at the gate.
Jealousy, .suspicion-these are the
twin friends that destroy concord,
and the first sign of others presence
should call the defenders to the
walls"