Mr. Choate, the American Ambassador, was the guest of the
Pilgrims' Club on Tuesday. He said that the improve- ment in the relations between the States and Britain of late years was due, first of all, to the popular will on both sides of the Atlantic ; to the uniform candour, fairness, and friendliness of Lords Salisbury and Lansdowne ; to Presi- dents McKinley and Roosevelt ; to Mr. John Hay ; to Lord Pauncefote, "whose name was a household word in America," and lastly to Sir Michael Herbert, who, we may venture to add, seems likely to secure a reputation at Washington as high even as that of his great predecessor. Mr. Choate finally added to these influences that made for mutual goodwill the attitude of King Edward and of his illustrious mother. "Americans can never forget the occasions in trying times when she stood by us, or, in particular, that one occasion when she
said to her Ministers, 'I will sign nothing that will lead to a breach of peace between this country and America:" Mr. Choate went on to say how deeply touched he had been by the spontaneous offer of the King to send the Jubilee presents of Queen Victoria to be exhibited at the St. Louis Exhibi- tion in 1904, and the terms in which that offer was made : "I know with what feelings of regard and reverence the people of the United States always held the late Queen, and I know that they will accept it from me in reciprocation of those sentiments."
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