The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-04-28
ALLIES TRUST america.
Entente Powers Do Not Expect The United
States to Enter Entangling Alliances.
bafour Says That No Effort Will Be Made Prevent Amer
lea Making Separate Peace. Allies Realize That ph
They Are Making One For Democracy and Destruction
of Prnssan Miitarsnl.s

Washington. April 25.-Conaplete
understanding of Americas attitude
in the war--unreserved cooperation in
the fight for democracy against the
German military menace without en-
tangling political alliances-waAe ex-
pressed by Foreign Minister Ballour,
head Of the British war commission,
In a statement today to newspaper
correspondents.
II am told" said Mr.. Balfour. "that
there are some doubling critics who
seem to think that the object of the
missions Of Great Britain and France
is to inveigle the United States out Of
its traditional policy and to entangle
1t in formal alliance. secret or pub
lie, with European powers. 1 can not
imagine any rumor with less founda-
t!on, nor can I imagine any policy so
utterly unnecessary. Our confidence
in the assistance which we are going
to get from this community is not
based upon such considerations as
those which arise out Of formal
treaties"
The foreign minister's statement
was officially said to have been made
as result of his conferences during
the past few days with President will
son and Secretary Lansing. IT WAS
generally regarded as disposing final
ly Of suggestions in some quarters
that the United States might be asked
to sign a treaty not to make a sepa-
rate peace.
This was an eventfui day rUf> the
British commissioners. marked by a
hearty welcome to Frances illustrious
war commission and the delivery to
Ambassador Spring Rice of Americas s
first loan to the allies, 100000, 900.
Mr.. Balfour lunched today with the
Italian ambassador, spent part of
the afternoon at the treasury depart
ment with Secretary McAdoo and was
entertained at dinner at the British
embassy where reception attended
by the diplomatic corps and high
American officials followed.
The foreign minister received the
newspaper men during the day at the
residence where he is entertained as
the guest Of the nation.
When the newspaper correspond
ents had been presented Mr.. Balfour
said:
Gentlemen: am very much
obliged to you for coming here today
and giving me the opportunity of ex-
pressing to you personally, and
through you to the great American
public. how very deeply we. who be-
long to this mission sent from Britain
value the kindness. the enthusiasm,
the warmth Of welcome which we
have received in this capital city of
the United States. All our hearts
are gratified and touched personally.
We are even more deeply touched by
1t as being the outward and visible
manifestation of sympathetic emo
tion in carrying out and responding
to a great call. which is the real
security for our success.
mo man who had has the oppor-
tunity which I have enjoyed in the
last few days of seeing. hearing and
talking to leading members of your
state can for one moment doubt the
full determination Of the American
people to throw themselves into the
greatest conflict which has ever been
waged in this world.
Il do not suppose that it is possible
for yOu-I am sure it would not be
possible for me were in your shoes
to realize in detail, in concrete de-
tail. all that that war means to those
who have been engaged in it for now
two years and half. That is q feel
ing which comes and can only come
by actual experience. We on the
other side of the Atlantic have been
living in an atmosphere of war since
August, 1914. and you can not move
about the streets, you can not go
about your daily business, even if
your affairs be disassociated with the
war itself. without having evidences
or the war brought to your notice
every moment.
II arrived here on Sunday after
noon and went out in the evening af-
ter dark, and l was struck by some
what unusual feeling which at the
first moment l did not analyze, and
suddenly 1t came upon me that this
was the first time for two years and
u half or more in which / had seen