ARBITKATION TREATIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14690, 26 May 1911, Page 7

ARBITKATION TREATIES

PROSPECTS OF EXTENSION.

SIR E. GREY. HOPEFUL.

By Telegraph.— Association.— London, May 24. Lord Roberts presided at the banquet given by the Pilgrims' Club to the overseas Premiers at the Savoy.

Sir Edward Grey (Foreign-Secre-tary) dwelt in enthusiastic tones on the projected Anglo-American arbitration treaty. He said that the success of such a treaty must be dependent on the absence of any possibility of conflict in the national policies of the two parties thereto. This condition was assured.

"Secondly," he continued, " there must be between the two Governments confidence in each other's reasonableness and goodwill. The history of the last few years shows that reasonableness and goodwill were characteristic of all the negotiations between us. If it be true that the proposed treaty merely seals the satisfactory state of things already existing, let us seal it. If we do not it will be like the unprofitable talent wrapped in a napkin. There will be people in other countries asking whether they too may not do likewise. This will lead to the sifting and weighing of the causes of the differences between nations, and with progressivly favourable results."

"We will," he added, "rejoice if President Taft's initiative leads directly or indirectly to beneficial consequences to others."

Sir Wilfrid.Laurier and Sir Joseph Ward responded on behalf of the Premiers.

AMERICA AND JAPAN. Tokio, May 24. It is officially stated that Japan is prepared to participate in negotiations for a general arbitration treaty with the United States.