MR ROOSEVELT

Otago Witness, Issue 2934, 8 June 1910, Page 28

MR ROOSEVELT

HEARTY RECEPTION IN LONDON. LONDON, May 30. Mr Roosevelt lunched with the Royal Geographical Society, and afterwards attended Sir G. Reid's reception. The following were among those present: —Lord Kitchener, Lord Charles Beresford, the Earl and Countess of Meath, the Earl and Countess of March, Mrs and Miss Asquith, Lord Lamingtoin, Lord Linlithgow; Lord and Lady Brassey, Lord and Lady Tennyson, Lord and Lady Strathcona, Hon. Mr Hall-Jones, Lord and Lady Kinnaird, Sir E. J. Poynter (president Royal Academy), Sir A. Conan Doyle, Sir H. von Herkomer (artist); Mr Mackennal (sculptor) and wife, the Hon. M. L. Moss (Western Australia), the Spanish Ambassador, the Countess of Jersey, Dean Wace, Sir Gilbert and Lady Parker, Admiral and Lady Rawson, Admiral Freemantle, Admiral Sir Cyprian Bridge, Sir W. J. Taverner, Mr and Mrs Coghlan, Sir Evelyn Wood, Mr Moberley Bell (manager of the London Times), and the editors of the leading London newspapers. Lady and Miss Reid were heartily welcomed, and are looking very well after their voyage. .' . Mr Roosevelt conversed with many Australians, and more than once said that it was one of the dreams of his life to visit and study the great democracy in the Southern Seas. May 31. Mr Roosevelt was driven in the Lord Mayor's coach to the Guildhall, and there presented with the freedom of the cit, yResponding to the presentation, he remarked : " Great Britain has given Egypt the best government it has had for 2000 years, but recent events, especially in connection with the assassination of Boutros Pasha, the late Premier, shows that in certain vital points you erred in weakness, timidity, and sentimentality. Where fanatical peoples are concerned, these may cause more harm than violence and injustice. Sentimentality is the brokenest reed whereon righteousness can lean." The Egyptian Nationalists were neither desirous nor capable of guaranteeing primary justice. Either Great Britain had a right or had not a right to be in Egpyt to establish order. If not, then she should quit. If, as he hoped, she felt she had a duty to stay, then she must keep order, punish murder, and bring to justice all inciting or condoning crime. Some nation must govern Egypt, and he hoped and believed that Great Britain would decide it was her duty to be that nation. Subsequently Mr Roosevelt lunched at the Mansion House. The crowds in the streets cordially greeted him. June 1. Lord Cromer, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Sir Edward Grey, Mr Balfour, Sir G. H. Reid. ar>A many other notables w«ne

present at Mr Roosevelt's reception at the Guildhall.

Mr Roosevelt declared that the high lands' of East Africa were a true white man's country, and the settlers strikingly reminded him of the pioneers and ranchmen who built the States of the great plains and Rockies. No alien race should be permitted to compete with the settlers. The problem in Uganda was different. Uganda ■ would never be made a white man's country. In the Soudan he was struck with the fact that practically all the children were under 12 years of age. Inquiry showed that these were called Government children, who would have been killed or starved to death in the days of Mahdism. Mr Roosevelt then passed to his criticism of Egypt. The Daily NeAvs disapproved of Mr Roosevelt's views and the manner and occasion of their utterance. It asks: " What would Mr Roosevelt have thought of similar action by a British statesman upon the Philippines or Japanese problems? " The Daily Telegraph, Express, Daily Mail, and Morning Post approve of the criticism. The Times says it shows a sad lack of humour to resent thoroughly friendly criticism. The Nationalist members of the House of Commons gave a luncheon to Mr. Roosevelt. The Irish Leader (Mr J. E. Redmond) presided. June 3. Mr Roosevelt visited Mr Joseph Chamberlain. The Egyptian Nationalist newspapers are bitterly assailing Mr .Roosevelt, describing him as a " bloodthirsty butcher." NEW YORK, June 2. Many of the American papers are sarcastic over what they describe as the last proof of Mr Roosevelt's omniscience. Mr Hearst, who is visiting Paris, made a violent denunciation of Mr Roosevelt as a self-advertising individual, seeking to ingratiate himself with the representatives of monarchies and empires. MELBOURNE, June 1. Mr Fisher says that Australians will cordially welcome Mr Roosevelt if he should see his way to visit Australia.