Evening star., 1917-05-25
mr.. BALFOUR ADDRESSES
NATIONAL PRESS CLUB
Sends Farewell Message to American
People at Reception-Felicita-
tions Exchanged.

| Speaking before the members OF the
National Press Club yesterday after
noon, Foreign Secretary Balfour of
Great Britain. gave a farewell message
to the American people.
| Referring to those who believe the
war preparations of the United States
| have proceeded too slowly. Mr.. Balfour
said they know very little of the
actual way in which public life is. and
must be. carried on in free countries"
II think what has been accomplished
in these forty days most remarkable ''
he said.
To the correspondents he paid q
tribute FOR their accuracy and patriotic
principles.
Geoffrey Butler. who has acted as
press representative of the mission.
| received orders from London to re-
main in this country for two weeks
longer. Resolutions were adopted at
the Press Club for the efficiency and
courtesy displayed by Mr.. Butler In
handling the delicate task of publicity
| for the mission.
Mr.. Balfour called at the White House
yesterday, probably for the last time
during the stay of the mission.
/ Mr.. Balfour's address to the Press
Club yesterday follows:
| Text of the Address.
| Gentlemen" said Mr. Balfour, n
came to the United States conscious, OF
| course. of the Importance of the mis-
sion with which I have been tntrusted
| by my government; conscious that the
mission, from the very nature OF the
case, was one of the most important In
which either of our two countries has
ever concerned itself: conscious that
the very condition Of the world in
which we lived gave weight and i'm
portance to every action, to every word
and to every report of every word
which might take p1ace during its ex-
iStence.
'The kindness with which we were
received, the warmth Of the welcome
which reached us from all parts Of the
and narrowly business side OF our mis-
sion was not the only one which was
important at the present juncture For
my own part, I have felt more deeply
than I find it easy to express the kind
ness of the reception which you have
given to the mission in general, and to
myself in particular. That kindness
has been shown me. lavishly shown me.
fully and not less lavish1y in New York
and in Richmond, and I only mourn
that the inevitable exigencies OF public
business make it Impossible for me to
to communicate directly and person
ally with men in the middle west. In
the far west. and in other portions OF
this colossal territory. which Is al,
ready occupied by the most powerful
community in the world, and which is.
1 think, destined in the future to have
an abiding influence for all that makes
for peaceful civilization and freedom.
and has certainly shown on the pres
ent occasion that great community
can be moved to perform great sacri-
fees for an ideal which has in it moth
ing of selfshness. nothing of the petty
appetite for power. nothing but a pure
and unstained desire to benefit the
of wi
Press Is Extolled.
stGentlemen, you have shown during
the months experience\which1 I have
of your labors that the American press
is animated by the highest patriotic
principles; that 1t is incapable or has
shown itself, so far as am concerned.
as incapable Of misrepresenting or
perverting in the smallest particular
anything which I may have said or
done I know that it is to- you and
your friends that any Word - nave ave
worth listening to. at all events.
reaches unperverted those for whom
it Is intended For that wish to
express to you my most grateful
thanks.
Il came with high hopes to Wash
ington. Those hopes have been far
surpassed by the realty. I expected.
from what I knew Of American friends
on Inc OIneF sue Ol LHc AlidHtlCs IHdI
1 should be received with kindness.
with courtesy and with sympathy, but
the kindness, the courtesy and the
sympathy which I have received are
far in excess Of anything which
dared to hope for or anything which
I can pretend even to myself to have
deserved.
ut is a sad thought to me that the
moment of parting has come. and that
those whom I looked upon as my
friends before I knew them, and who
have become my friends in very truth
and in deed since know them. shall
be separated from, at all events. dur
Eng the continuance of the present war.
After that, may 1t be my happy lot to
return in a less responsible and Of
fetal position to renew the connection
for a moment severed by the tragic
| events in which we are all equally con-
cerned.
But, gentlemen. the mission could
not stay here forever. It has received
welcome, welcome which none of
it's members will forget. and to me
falls the pleasant duty on my own be-
half and on behalf Of my friends of
saying to you, and to all whom you can
reach, how deeply we thank the Ameri-
can public for what they have done.
Commends War Preparations.
There are those who have said that
the nranaratiOns made nv fha JInif cd