BRITAIN AND AMERICA.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13094, 1 May 1911, Page 3

BRITAIN AND AMERICA.

MR TAFT'S PROPOSALS

GREAT MEETING IN LONDON

SPEECH BY SIR JOSEPH WARD

[Pekss Association—Copyright.]

London, April 28. There was an enormous meeting at the Guildhall to support Mr Tai't's arbitration proposals, the Lord Mayoi presiding. Amongst those present were Sir George Iteitl, Sir William Hall Jones, and the political, commercial, and religious interests of tho nation were fully represented. Mr Asquith moved "That this meeting commends Mr Tai't's proposals and pledges its support of them." He said the principles of general arbitration were not Utopian, but they expected the abandonment of international duelling. The proposed treaty had no ulterior political purpose, nor was it a menace to the rest of the world, but only meant that war would be wiped out. It would bo an instrument for settling differences, and they hoped and believed other things would follow. Meanwhile they would not forego precautions for the stewardship of their world wide trust.

Mr Balfour, in seconding the motion, said he did not share the viewthat paper barriers would bo swept away under the strain of international rivalry. When tho laws and treaties were not in advance of public opinion they would be honourably recognised. He believed the public opinion of England and the United States was that the time was ripe for the agreement. They must, however, not confuse the question with preparations for war, and the treaty would not lessen their world-wide responsibilities. The Lord Mayor invited Sir Joseph Ward to speak, and lie received an ovation.

Sir Joseph Ward said the people of New Zealand appreciated the striking advance made by Mr Taft's proposals upon existing treaties. Hitherto questions of national honour had been uniformly omitted from national treaties, and this had too often in the past kept the word of promise to the ear, while in the hour of crisis it was broken. It was to be hoped tho underlying sentiment of the present proposal was a genuine and sincere national love for peace, marking the two most progressive countries in the world. Speaking on behalf of New Zealand and other overseas dominions he heartily supported the motion, which was in the interests of the Anglo-Saxon race and the world at large. The resolution was carried unanimously.