New Britain herald., 1917-04-23

elgn Minister BalfOur and members of the high commission began their first official day in Washington with round of calls. the first of which was at the state department. Soon after 1O:3O o'clock, Mir. Balfour, ac- companied by the British ambassador, drove from the mansion which has
 been given over to him, to the state department building and paid a for mai call on Secretary Lansing.
 The ambassador and Hugh l.. Gib- son of the state department, who has been detailed as MT. Balfour's aide, remained with Secretary Lansing only a short time and MT. Gibson with drew, leaving the two high officials together. They at once plunged into a conference.
 The conference was not prolonged and at it's conclusion MT. Balfour and MT. Lansing left the building to cross over to the White House where the
 foreign minister was presented to President Wilson.
 As they left the building several hundred employees crowding the stair ways and corridors applauded and
 cheered loudly. MT. Balfour ac- knowledged the greetings by lowing
 and smiling. The British foreign minister and
 Mir. Lansing crossed the avenue which separate the state department build ing from; the White House and just before II o'clock passed in the main entrance of the executive mansion where. President Wilson, surrounded by a party of army and navy aides, was waiting.
 While Mir. Balfour and MT. Lansing at f1,n hit vol officers of the British party headed by Admiral De Chair began prepara- tions to call on Secretary Daniels. They were accompanied by Rear Admiral Fletcher and other officials.
 As Mir. .~Ralfour passed into the White House grounds the silent sen tinels" of the woman -suffrages doing peaceful picketing" around the White grounds waved their banners and the British foreign minister smiled broadly.
 The army officers of the British
 mission, at the same time, were ar
 irving at the war department to be
 received by Secretary Baker. Major
 General Bridges, accompanied by his aides, was escorted first to the office of Major-General Scott. chief of staff, where they were received by a large
 party of American officers, including Generals Bliss, Mccain, Mcintyre,
 Crozier, Weaver and others. A large
 number of officers of lesser rank were
 present. The British officers were at
 tired in field uniform. while tho
 American officers were in the full dress uniforms.
 The naval delegation meanwhile
 had been received by Admiral Ben
 -1,i I~Fk
 for Assistant Secretary Roosevelt
 who was out of the city.
 Tomorrow evening there will be a
 reception by Secretary Lansing at the
 Pan-Amerfcan building for the noted
 visitors, preceded by a dinner. Washington's welcome to the party
 on their arrival yesterday afternoon
 was quiet, but warm and enthusias- tic. MT. Balfour and his party, ac- companied by Secretary Lansing and other American officials, were driven from the station through the green avenues of Washington to their tenn pcrary residence. Two troops of cavalry escorted them and thousands oi persons lined, the streets and cheered.
 While MT. Balfour and the president were together the British army and navy officers concluded their visit at the war and navy departments ana returned to their stopping places. The presidents reception of MT. Balfour was quite extraordinary. It lasted three quarters of an hour and while surrounded by all the formality which might be expected on such an errand, the president and British min- ister talked freely and at length. At, 11:45 o'clock, Mir. Balfour left the
 White House and accompanied by
 Secretary Lansing, drove to the capi- tol to be presented to Vice President Marshall.
 After the formal greeting the presi-
 dent and MT. Ralfour entered the blue
 room with Secretary Lansing and re-
 mained in earnest conversation for
 more than half an hour The
 military aides were not present at the
 conference. a,Y Assistant Secretary Phillips and MT. Gibson accompanied MT. Balfour to
 the capitol. As the party was leaving
 the White House grounds Wild West
 Show parade was passing with a steam
 calliope screeching God Save the King and the "Marsallaise." Some
 body in the crowd proposed three
 cheers for MT. Balfour and the crowd roared a response willingly while the British minister smiled and bowed. After brief visit at the capitol Mir. Ra1four drove to the French embassy to be entertained at luncheon by the French ambassador Jules Jusserand.