New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-13
Rond Between Britain
and America to Insure
Peace, BaIfour redicts

true and just proportions; and that we
should all realize on whatever side Of
the Atlantic fortune had placed US. that
the things wherein we have differed in
the past sink into absolute insight
hcance compared with those vital agree
ments which at all times. bat never az
al such time as the present. unite US
Ia one great spiritual whole.
My friend Mr.. Choatc. in a speech
mat he delivered yesterday at the City
hai. told his audience that as Ambas-
Saoor 10 Great Britain he had been IN
close Official relations with me through
many years and that during all Of those
years | had stood solid think that
was his phrase for American friend
ship. That is strictly and absolutely
true, and the feelings that | have this
great opportunity of expressing are
not borne. believe me. of the necessities
Of the great war; they are not the
offspring Of recent events: they arc
based upon my most enduring convic-
tons. convictions Of whichI cannot re-
member the beginning. which have held
with unalterabi" fidelity through "a
political life which is now long life.
and which J am quite sure ! shall
cherish to the end.
One HUNDRED Years of Peace
"Nou, Mr. President. have referred to
the preparations that were made only.
/ suppose. q little more than two years
and half ago though how long those
two and half years seem to all of us
preparations that were made two and
a nall years ago 20 celebrate the one
hundred years Of peace between our
Two countries. ardeNtly supported
that movement. and yet the very
phrases IN which IT'S objects were cx-
pressed show how INADEQUATE it was to
reach the real truth and heart Of the
matter. Ii is true that 100 years have
passed. and many hundreds Of years.
hope. were 10 pass, before any overt
act Of war should divide those who.
as you said M your final words. should
never be asunder But. after all, for
NAL and official peace is but small
thing compared with that intimate NUT
nal comprehension which ought always
TO bind the branches OF the English
speaking peoples together.
you Incidentally mentioned, Mr.
President, that this very body whom
am addressing da,e the origin OF their
society 10 "a charter, | think you said
Of 1858. Is not that characteristic and
symbolic Of what happens on both sides
Of the Atlantic? We strike out roots
into distant past. We have known
now. through revolutions, in spite of
revolutions, sometimes because of rev.
olutions. TO weld the past and the pres
cnt into one organic whole. and ] sec
around me in country which calls
- n
try everywhere see signs Of these
roots which draw their nourishment
and their strength from opochs far re-
moved from Us.
Our Common Bonds
And feel when I talk to those who
are born and bred under the American
Tag. who have absorbed all their point
zeal ideas from American institutions
! feel. and think | speak for my
friends here, that they also fec l icel
that ! am speaking TO those brought
up. AS it were, under one influence IN
one house, under one set OF educational
conditions. | require no explanations
of what they think, and | am required
10 give no explanations Of what l thlhK'
because our views Of great questions
seem 10 be shared. born, as II were, OF
common knowledge which We know IN
stinc+ively. and which We do not re-
uuire explicitly 20 eNpound or TO define.
"Tbis is q great heritage TO have in
common. and ! think. nay. I am sure,
that YOU. Mr. President, struck true
note when YOU told US that all the sen.
timents which ! have imperiecty trled
TO express this afternoon Will receive a
double significance, an INFINITELY IN
creased significance. from the fact that
we are now not merely sharing com
mon political ideal in some speculative
fashion, but that all Of us are com
mitted to sacrificing everything that
we hold most dear 10 carry those ideals
into practical execution.
"There will be bond Of union be
tween our peoples which nothing VIII
ever be able TO shake, and which pc
lieve 10 be the Securest guarantee Tor
the future Of the world. for the future
peace and freedom of the world.
Service of British Fleet
Mr.. Outcrbridge had referred TO the
eminent service rendered America by
the British fleet. Mr.. BalfOur took up
the subject at this point md asked his
hearers to cast their minds back over
the history Of the British navy. He
thought they would agree with him
that the British sailor had used his
power, not only in the cause of free
dom, but with humanity.
Does anybody think" he asked, that
IL the sea power were transferred from
British to German hands that the his
torian Of the future could say the same
Of the German heet?"
Loud cries Of "No!" came from all
parts Of the chamber.
Mr.. Balfour reviewed in outline the
crimes committed by Germany in mari
time warfare, crimes which he said he
vas convinced would have been cOnsid-
cred as incredible even in Germany
two years ago, and which must be made
impossible in the future. Then he con-
tinued:
"Mr. President, have already de-
tanned YOU too long. but there was one
.-nrd which foll from Won toward the