The Washington times., 1917-04-27
tion Of the press as a most powerful

| tion OF the press as a most powerful
| and useful agency.
He will report that with the con-
sent of the American Government and
the able assistance of the press we
have been able to set forth clearly
and unmistakably our aims Mr.. Bal
four intends Informing our govern
ment that because of the frankness
and warmth manifested toward us he
feels 1t his duty, as well as his privi-
lege, to lay before the American peo-
pie all our mistakes and miscalcula-
tiOns during the early days OF the war;
that 1t is his duty to answer frankly.
fully and freely all questions pro-
pounded to him except those relating
TO military and naval operations which
II would be injudicious to discuss pub
licly. He will also describe the re-
ception given the French commission.
His report. which has been anx-
iously awaited by all the people In the
United Kingdom. will prove joyous
news"
NJ. Vivianfs report. 1t was indi-
Gated, will be OF a similar tone, con-
Veying to the French nation news
OF the unparalleled demonstrations in
honor OF the envoys and Marshal
lJoffre. His report will be to the ef-
/ feet that the bonds OF friendship be-
tween America and France are even
stronger than the people of France
believed possible and that the visit
of the commission has inseparably
interlaced the heartstrings, the hopes,
and ambitions of the two nations.
This afternoon Mr.. Balfour lunched
at the Long mansion, following which
he went for a drive in Rock Creek
Park. Tonight he will dine at the
home OF Hugh Wallace, 1900 Massa-
chusetts avenue.
Yesterday Mr.. Balfour was well
coined to Washington by DR.. yelling.
ton Koo,. the Chinese minister, and
also had a brief conference with Elihu
Root. following announcement that
the latter would head the American
commission to Russia.
Percy Prepares statement.
Lord Eustace Percy, one OF Great
Britain's experts on trade conditions.
received several score newspaper
men at the Shoreham today. and out
lined the nature of a statement he
will address to the American people
next week The statement will deal
with shipping in all its phases, and
will point out how Great Britain will
assist in supplying the United States
with commodities needed here. as well
as drawing on this country for what
our allies need.
Lord Percy Is a handsome. fresh look
ing. clean-cut man of about thirty-tvo.
as near as a Britisher's age can be
guessed (they always look younger
than they are). He could easily be
mistaken for an American college stu
dent or one Of those fellows who pose
for the advertisements OF the latest
brand OF collars.
The scribes sort OF had Lord Percy
ION toast" as the Britishers say. when
he first entered the Shoreham reception
room. After stroking his classic hair
and chin and rolling back his pale
blonde hair for a time, he finally found
his composure in a long-stemmed pipe
which he filled from a small tin OF
British blended American tobacco.
with his old friend between his
teeth. he lolled against the white
mantle and got into the swing of
things. meeting a volume OF questions
promptly with a booming bass voice
from a full chest.
Today's conference was OF a most
Informal character. but Lord Percy
promised to furnish all the informa-
tion on all the subjects mentioned
wool, linen. dyes. chemicals. cotton,
and material for build
ing wooden ships-in his statementa
next week.