New-York tribune., 1921-03-01
Noted Britons
At Dinner Bid
Davis Farewell
Prince of Wales, Curzon.
Bryce and Beatty Join
in Greatest Tribute Given
Any u. S. Ambassador
Need of Unity Stressed
Envoy Urges Meeting cat the
Gates Enemies Trying
to Undermine Friendship

LONDON, Feb. 2S (By The Associ-
sted Press).-Thc retiring American
Ambassador, John W Davis, was the
guest Of honor Of the Pilgrims Society
at dinner tonight, which was at
tended 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 The gathering was among the
most notable ever assembled for the
purpose of bidding farewell to an
American diplomat in England.
The Prince of Wales and Lords Cur
zon, Reading and Desborough paid
tribute to Mr.. Davis as one of the most
illustrious in the line of American am
bassadors in the last quarter century.
The prince said that the work of Mr..
Davis in England would never be for
gotten and would have farreaching re-
suits in the relationship between the
two countries.
Calls Militarism a Danger
Mr.. Davis also spoke. After declar-
ing that recent events mad proved
militarism to be a danger and not q
safeguard, and branding Communism
as 'an ignoble fraud" the ambassador
devoted most of his speech to Anglo
American relations. He said his per
sonal relationships in England were
OF the most cordial character and he
regretted to leave his new-found
friends.
Expressing the belief that England
and America would continue to live
III peace and friendship, Mr.. Davis
said: We read the other day that a
Hypothetical official had remarked TO
q mysterious reporter that we were
drifting to perdition or some other re-
sort. | am grateful to both these
mythical gentlemen for the shock they
admins tered. 1t was like an electric
current. proving by the patients
prompt reaction that his nervous sys-
TEN vas sound. Nothing could have
been more gratifying than the way
public opinion in both countries rose
TO denounce the mere suggestion Of a
possible breach"
Holds Harmony Preferable
The ambassador alluded to "the cur
rents of sentiment that flow broad and
deep between the two nations, and
the strong cement Of blood drawn
from common source 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 pursued harmony and
union
What legitimate aim has Great
Britain which American cooperation
will not promoter" he inquired. "Wha-
lawful end does America contemplate
which British support will not help
her 10 attan?"
He had IAN unwavering and inde-
structible faith" in the sportsmanship
and sense Of justice animating the
two peoples.
If one is right and the other wrong"
ne SAID, the one in the wrong will
admit it. as has been done in the past,
without sense of injured 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 mean of com
promise. If compromise fail, we shall
both be ready, as we have in the past,
to throw our fortunes into the scales
of justice and let wisdom and impartial
minds judge between u.s."
Bound by Peace Treaty
Lord Grey had done we'll, said the
<Ai'AOooohoOi, W ltHlIllU t!le tWO nations
that they were bound to this program
by. solemn treaty. Questions would
arise and existed to-day, but govern
ment diplomatic organizations were
created for the purpose OF effecting
settlements.
The British Empire and the United
States continued the speaker, "are
rather large vessels; neither can hope
to maneuver without taking into ac-
count the others whereabouts, and
they may have to take from time to
time fair amount of the cash 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
disputes that the danger lies, the
ambassador concludcd: There are
enemies who would undermine, if they
could, the foundations of our friend
ship. and we should meet them at the
gate. Jealousy, spicon--these are
the twin friends that destroy concord
and the first sign of either's presence
should call the defenders TO the walls -