LAST CONVERSATION WITH ROOSEVELT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1969, 26 April 1919, Page 1

LAST CONVERSATION WITH ROOSEVELT.

The Bishop of Birmingham, avlio returned to England recently from a visit to Canada and the United States", writes to the Times as follows :

It is but- a very few weeks since I listened to Colonel Roosevelt as lie lay in bed in hospital, looking physically really ill, but as full of mental vigour as man could be. He talked seemingly .without fatigue for nearly two hours, and the virility of the man was apparent in every word. He was gratified at the result of the election in the autumn, but he was careful to explain that the President was America when here in

Europe, and that the States Avould expect that fact to be recognised.

No words can express the fervour with which Mr Roosevelt spoke of the achievements of the British Navy, the Avonderful ivork of the so ncAvly formed British armies, the grand choice made by Britain in 1914, the Avickedness Avhich Avould belong to the restoration to Germany of her colonies, I he necessity to Great Britain of dominion on (ho seas, but it Avas Avith special emphasis that, carefully Aveighing his word*, he said:

“I now declare what live* years ago I Avould not have stated, that I believe every dispute between the United Stales and Great Britain should be settled by arbitration.” I had a presentiment that Mr Roosevelt would not be long-lived, and yet anyone listening to him Avould have thought those ringing tones could never be hushed, that vigorous mind never be stilled. Well he rests uoav, and Avhen I bear in mind (he special pathos Avith Avhich ho dAvelt upon his personal experience of the sacrifices of war I Avonder Avhether he was not to some extent one of the victims of the great strife of the last four vears.