Evening star., 1917-05-12
new YORK PAYS SIGNAL
HONOR TO THE ENJOYS
British and French Mission at One
Of Most Brilliant Banquets in
History of America.
By the Associated Press,

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK. May 12.-One of the
of America was given here last night in
honor of the British and French war
missions to the United States.
The guests included Arthur James
Viviani. French minister of justice;
Marshal Joffre and two former Presi-
dents of the United States-Theodore
Roosevelt and William H. Taft.
The distinguished representatives Of
Americas allies in the war against
Germany arrived at the Waldorf-As-
toria in one party. The streets on all
sides of the hotel were literally packed
with men and women eager to pay
their respects to the city's guests.
Outlined in electric lights upon the
front of the hotel were the flags of
the three nations represented while far
up and down famed 5th avenue double
rows of street lamps, cleaning through
golden globes, brought out a sea of
flags floating over parallel lines of
patriotic citizens who jammed the side
| walks of both sides for a mile and a
| half.
| Reception Precedes the Banquet.
The members of the missions were
escorted first to the great ballroom,
where brief reception was held, and
then to the grand banquet hall. which
| mas been the scene Of many brilliant
assemblages.
The menu was one of the simplest
ever served at great public dinner in
New YORK. 1t was limited to five
courses, each one a typically American
oisn, and was designed to exemplify the
Spartan simplicity that should govern
the nation in its hour of danger.
| Ihe table decorations were confined to
the rose of England and the lily of
France.
The rotunda boxes Of the hall were
| Handsomely
AZ the close of the banquet Mayor
Mitchell presented to Mr.. Balfour and
M. V1v1ani gold medals emblematic of
tnelr visit to New York. The mayor
OF the United States. The diners rose
cheering frantically and throwing their
napkins into the air while the orchestra
played The Star Spangled Banner" The
England, while the orchestra played
| God Save the King This was fol.
lowed by toast to the French republic
Wnlch was drunk to the strains of the
Marsefllaise." and then there was an
other toast to the President of France
Banqueters Call for Joffre.
AS Mr.. Mitchell began his address OF
welcome to the guests and mentioned
them by .name-Balfour. viviani. Joffre
Chocheprat, Bridges, de Chair and the
others-there were fresh outbursts OF
the great marshal of France the diners
chanted: "Jofrre! Joffre. Joffre"
Nothing In the civic life of the city
since the visit of Lafayette has equaleo
these distinguished guests" said Mayor
Mitchell. "The city has stretched out
her hands and taken them to her very
bosom because Of the world idea which
| they represent.
"The millions of this city have ac.
claimed them, cheered them as never
before were visitors welcomed be.
cause of what they themselves have
done or what their respective nations
have accomplished in the cause of hu.
man liberty and self-government"
Mr.. Choate, who followed the mayor
referred to those dear allies of ours
Great Britain. our beloved mother coun.
| try, and France, our fascinating, hyp.
nothing sister,"
Mr.. Balfour was the next speaker. He
moved his hearers to high enthusiasm
| when he said:
1--WE have not come here as instruc.
tors OF the American republic, but it Is
important for me to proclaim my un.
alterable conviction that we have reach.
ed a crisis when the whole of civiliza
tfon must rise up and voice its appeal
| for the preservation of human liberty
NJ. Viyiani. whose address was ir
French, was the last speaker He drew
a distinction between the German ideas
of life and those of democracies. In
every tnOusht Germany had been think
ing and planning world domination, he
said. not only by militarism, but by
| finance. diplomacy and trade. The
whole state directed every energy to
| this end.
| Germany chose its own time, and then
leaped upon the democracies of the
world. he declared. Those democracies
swered the challenge, the French
statesman asserted. not because of in
ldividual and different issues, but be-
| n
derneath was the same for all. The
| French commissioners left the city last
night.
| I'D A1crc Aasrn1nAn ,rAr,