Mr. James Bryce was entertained at a banquet given in
his honour by the National Liberal Club on Friday. the 12th inst. Replying to the toast of his health, which had been proposed by Sir Edward Grey in a genial speech, Mr. Bryce expressed his indebtedness to the cordial friendship and kindliness of the three Presidents who were in power when he was in America, and paid a tribute to Mr. Elihu Root, "the greatest and best Secretary of State the United States ever bad." When he went away he made a vow not to express any opinion upon American or British politics during the whole time he was Ambassador and for six months after his return. Ho was not, therefore, yet unmuzzled, but he could speak freely about other countries. Turning to the problem of race antagonisms within the Empire, he saw no satisfactory issue to the dilemma, but suggested that it would be better, if they could, to endeavour to induce each race, so long as the situa- tion remained acute, to stay within its own country. Mr. Bryce congratulated Canada on her prosperity, her loyalty to the Empire, and the high character of her two party leaders. It was very encouraging and cheering to find the public life of the Colonies pure, the Judicial Bench absolutely above suspicion, and the Executive strong.
Previous page
