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Mr. Kellogg then pushed back his chair, rose to his feet, amid the usual polite plaudits, said:
"I take this opportunity to express to all officials of the British Government my sincere thanks for their kindly welcome and most generous hospitality during my stay. It has been to me an exceedingly interesting and instructive year, and I shall carry away with me the most vivid picture of a year crowded with memorable events."
"During my service as the American Ambassador, my relations with the Foreign Office officials have been most gratifying. On both sides, every problem has been approached with a spirit of frankness, tolerance and under standing of the position of each of our countries. We have not always agreed, and will not in the future, 'but at least we understand each other, and have been and will be able to discuss our differences, our international and world problems frankly with a mutual desire for adjustment. The greatest hope for the future relations of our countries is a better knowledge of each other."
The retiring Ambassador went on to glorify at great length the work done last year in the interests of world peace. He saw in the growth of tolerance a sure cure for Europe's ills, political, financial and economic; as a result he predicted new conferences to settle many outstanding difficulties which at present make for war.
On the subject of gold, which all financial London is madly discussing (TIME, Jan. 19), the Ambassador remarked:
"I look forward with hope to the day when there will be a free gold market in England, and in all Europe. I remember talking with a distinguished banker in London within the last three months, and he said: 'Your country has most of the gold in the world. What are you going to do with it?' My answer was: 'Bring the pound sterling to a gold basis and restore the currencies of Europe, and the gold question will settle itself.' "
Finally, as all things mundane must, Mr. Kellogg's speech came to an end:
"I cannot but express my gratification for the opportunity I have had to become more intimately acquainted with the statesmen and peoples of Europe, particularly in this country; to learn more of their national aspirations and social and economic conditions. It has been to me an instructive' and interesting experience."