New-York tribune., 1911-12-03
Washington, November 18.


Minister, and has had ever since,
statesman's appreciation of the
usefulness of friendship to both coun-
tries. II was while he governed
the British Empire that most OF
the most dangerous disputes between
Great Britain and the United States
came up for settlement, and were set
tied. Venezuela had been disposed OF by
Lord Salisbury and Mr.. Olney, but there
remained the Bering fisheries, the
Alaska boundary and others which, II
less important, were almost as menacing.
knew that Mr.. Balfour was for the
pacific adjustment of all these, and used
20 that end all his authority as Prime
Minister. He said:
THE advantages of victory in each
one or in all these controversies would
be as nothing in comparison to the ad-
vantases of q permanent good under
standing with the United States
He was for arbitration where arbitra-
ton was possible: that is, where the
United States Senate could be induced
to agree TO a treaty of arbitration. If
there had to be negotiation, he was for
friendly negotiation. and for reasonable
concessions or compromise, as every rea-
sonable man is, well knowing that In
few international disagreements is the
right all on one side. On this view he
acted consistently throughout. He even
yielded TO our proposal to substitute Tor
arbitration a commission OF six for the
delimitation Of the Alaska boundary; nor
did he object when, by way Of fulfilling
our pledge to appoint impartial commits
sioners we named Senator Lodge and
Mr.. Turner. l dwell little on this be-
cause / think we have hardly done full
Justice TO Mr.. Balfour's attitude in
Anglo-American disuutes; nor to Mr..
Balfour himself for his consistent good
will 10 the United States and his readi-
ness to make sacrifices for the sake OF
Anglo-American harmony. He inherited
this tradition Of friendship from Lord
Salisbury; from the later Lord Salisbury
W was true 10 it during all his last
Premiership. To that great Prime Min
lister also we have yet to acknowledge
our obligations in respect of Venezuela
an other matters.
The Mr.. Balfour of private life is not,
l think, very we'll known 10 his own peo-
pie; and naturally still less we'll 20 US.
They think Of him as a being somewhat
remote from those personal and do
mestic sympathies on which, in all their
public servants. from King and Queen
through all social levels, they set high
value. They know that Mr.. Balfour is
not married They do not know that his
own family have been and are 10 him
il a singularly close and beautiful rela-
ton. When he is at his place in SCOT
land, Whittingehame pronounced WHIT
tengen), he is surrounded by them. He
has married brothers and sisters, and
they and their many children fill the
great house. They are almost as much
at home there as he is, and take up a
great deal more room. There is, to be
sure. Q study which is his and his only;
where he does alone his thinking ana
other kinds of work, and into which no
one enters unless summoned. | don't
wish TO linger on private matters, but II
Won will ask anybody who knows the
facts you will easily learn how broad Is
his kindness of nature, how genuine are
his affections, how farreaching is his
charity, and how he is loved by his fam
ilv. his friends, his neighbors and his as
soclates in public life.
You have heard, no doubt, Of his charm
Of manner and character. No one who
meets him is insensible to that, or fails
to see that he has a true sweetness Of
nature. But we seem TO have got into
habit Of judging a man by triyialities
and when Mr.. 'Baltour is discussed he Is
discussed as a devotee Of particular
came on which all the world has gone
mad. With the man himself YOU may
talk long and never hear II mentioned.
But YOU will hear of books and music
and pictures and, II you are supposed 10
be interested in such matters, OF re!lg-
ious beliefs and of those psychical mys-
teries 10 which | referred in a previous
letter. and of others. If you are friend,
hc may talk to YOU Of friendships, but in
soei n gossip he has little interest and OF
scandal an adherence. He has never
sought to make his house in Carlton
Gardens a social headquarters: content
ing himself with giving two or three
large dinners. mostly political, during
the season. That is equivalent to say
ing that he does not care 10 use social
influences for the purposes of public NE
ms Lord PalmerstOn did. as his uncle,
Lord Salisbury. did, as Lord Rosebery
always has, and many another political
chief II has been thought That as
leader. and in his own interest as leader
as well as in the interest Of his party, he
might do more His London house Is
adequate 10 hosptalitics on splendid
scale. In his drawing room hang the
famous cauvascs by Burne-Jones; as
good examples as exist, or perhaps the
best, OF that artists conception of nude
beauty as seen in the natural woman;
and yet imaginatiyely treated. But
'BIrne-Jones and the British Philistine
have never quite understood each other
and Mr.. Balfour may not care TO expose
a master whom he loves TO the criticism
Of the man in the street
1t may be said Of Mr.. Balfour that he
has mind which moves automatically.
An incessant activity is its normal nat
ural state. lie is always ready. He said
once Of himself that when he went down
10 the House neither expecting nor pre-
Iared 20 take part in debate he made