The Washington times., 1917-04-25
NO ENTANGLEMENTS
FOR u .--BALFOUR
British Minister Denies Allies
Seeks to Draw America
for Its Policy.
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tail and imposing in a regal setting in
the Breckinridge Long mansion as
he made his statement.
In the beginning he expressed his
gratitude to the American press for
affording him the opportunity to pay
tribute to America and outline the
hopes Of Great Britain and her allies.
Values Welcome.
'T cannot put into words how deep
ly Great Britain values the kindness,
the enthusiasm, and the warmth Of
the welcome accorded us" said the
statesman. sour hearts have been
touched by this. outer and visible
manifestation of that sympathetic
emotion which actuated this great re-
public in joining the allies for the
carrying out of u great cau1H.
mo man who has had the oppor-
tunity we have had here in your great
Capital could doubt for a moment the
full determination of the American
people to throw themselves whole
heartedly and unreservedly into this,
the greatest contest that has ever
been waged in this world.
Must Engage In War.
TT IL not possible for those who
have not been face to face with the
conditions Of war to realize the full
meaning of war. This can only be
realized by those actually engaged in
war.
For more than two years and
half we have been living in Great
Britain in an atmosphere OF war. No
man can move in the streets or trans
act his business without having the
evidences Of war brought to his at
tention on all sides.
~I took a stroll through one Of your
beautiful thoroughfares yesterday and
was struck with the fact that II was
the first time in two and q half years
had seen a properly lighted street at
night The entire United Kingdom at
night Is wrapped in a gloom which
must exceed even that which existed
before gas and electricity were dis
covered This IL q small thing, but
Il u one OF the evidences Of war.
More Tragic Side.
There Is the more tragic side Of
war, which Is always before us. With
deep regret noted In the papers to-
day that the son OF Bonar Law, our
chancellor of the excheQuer, had been
wounded and is missing in Palestine.
HAS look over the melancholy lists
! find that out OF the cabinet lists of
Great Britain one has BEEN killed. the
sons of four have been killed, and
now the son, OF another has been
wounded and Is missing.
''This refers to but one class, but
Il is Characteristic OF all classes.
'In France the drama has been even
more tragic and sorrowful than ours.
We have not q great army, but France
has q great continental army, and the
tolls levied upon It have been heavy.
knowledge Gratifying.
1T is gratifying to the highest de-
gree to know that today a mission
from France will be welcomed to the
United States, and that that welcome
Will be not less warm and enthu-
siastic than the American people have
ungrudgingly given Us.
at is gratifying to realize that in
eluded in the commission which comes
today IL General Joffre, q man des-
tined to go down through all time as
the successful general OF the allied
forces in one of the most critical
periods in the worlds history.
81 have read a volume entitled The
Fifteen Greatest Battles Of the
World I do not know whether they
. all belong in this volume, but the
battle Of the Marne will go down as
the greatest OF all in the worlds his
tory and We rejoice to know that
the hero OF this battle comes to
Washington.
Nations Thanks.
Like ourselves, he comes to voice
gratitude which cannot be exagger-
ated.
'T am told there are doubling critics
who say the object OF our mission is
to inveigle America out of its tradi-
tional policy and entangle it in Euro
pean affairs through a secret or an
open alliance.
There could be no rumor with less
foundation Were 1t true there could
be no more fallacous, unnecessary, or
futile policy.
'SThe confidence Great Britain feels
in the assistance America will render
in this war is based upon no such
shallow considerations as those
which arise from formal treaties.
No Treaty Needed.
mo treaty could strengthen the
confidence which we feel over the
fact that, the United States having
entered the war. will be of incal-
cuIable assistance and see the war
through to the end
For two years and a half Ameri-
ca has watched this blood-stained
drama across the ocean AS months,
have passed Americas conviction has
deepened that no petty interests, no
struggle for square miles OF terri
tory, no spirit Of conquest, no grati-
fication OF national ambitions actu-
ated Great Britain in entering this
war.
at was a consciousness that the
welfare and liberties of mankind
were involved In such a struggle