Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-04-24
BALFOUR EXPRESSES
GRATITUDE FOR HELP
OF i. s. To ENTENTE
British Foreign Secretary
Here, Submits to First In
tervjew, but Will Not Discuss
Policy at This Time
BY Associated Press


on THE SPECIAL TRAIN WITH
THE BALFOUR PARTY. April 22-
Great Rritain's high commissioners
10 the International war coun-
ell To begin in Washington next week
set foot on American soil ioaay ana
now are on their way To the capital
Arthur James Balfour. secretary OF
state for foreign affairs of the empire,
was the central figure OF party thai
included some of Great Britains most
prominent men. With a genial smile
playing over his features. he consented
to brief interview. warmly express
ing his appreciation Of all the United
states has done as neutral IN cnar-
liable and relief work in Belgium ana
i'm German prison camps. his gratiiica-
ton that England and the United states
now were allied for a common purpose,
and his conviction that this country IN
;ts war efforts would astound the world,
particularly Germany.
The object of the commission. Mr..
Balfour said. was to make co-opera-
ton easy and effective between those
who are striving with all their power TO
bring about lasting peace by the only
means that can secure it, namely sue
'cessful war.
Your president in a most apt and
vivid phrase" Mr.. Balfour added. has
proclaimed that the world must be made
safe for democracy. That self-gov-
erning communities are not TO be treat
ed as negligible simply because they
are small: that the ruthless domination
of one INSCRIPTIONS power imperils the
future of civilization and the liberties
of mankind are truths of political eth
les which the bitter experience OF war
is burning into the souls of all freed
om-lOving peoples.
ON WAY TO CAPITAL.
England's leading statesmen having
safely evaded the German submarines
and mines which sent Lord Kitchener 10
his death. were received with the high
est honors as guests of the American
people when they arrived at place in
America which cannot be named. \
delegation of state, war and navy Of
ficials welcomed the commission I'm the
name OF the government and set out
with them to the capital for what is ad-
mittedly the most vital conference IN
American history.
The commission was received with
the utmOs. simplicity and cordiality. II
is said that no foreign minister has
left England for the length of time
that Mr. Balfour will be away. since the
formal welcome was extended by Third
Assistant Secretary of State Brecken-
ridge Long. through the presentation to
Mr. Balfour of a letter of greeting from
Secretary Lansing. which the British
statesman acknowledged with equal SIM
plicity while British and American OFF,
cials mingled together.
A special train of five cars. which
had been waiting for five days, at
once got under way for the capital.
guarded as almost no other train has
ever been guarded in this country.
Double protection had been afforded at
all bridges and tunnels and every mile
OF the track had been gone over with
in the previous twenty-four hours to
guard against a possible fanatic No
detail OF any sort whatever which could
betray the place of arrival or route
Of travel was allowed to escape.
Almost Immediately when the train
started the large party broke into
groups OF army. navy and state de-
partment officials to begin at once the
informal conversations which are ex-
pected to sketch out Americas part in
the world fight against German auto
cracy. Mr.. BaIfour aa1 Secretary
Long. Lieutenant General I. Bridg $
VINO drew the first blood for England
lh august i'AH' anu SAdJoi bSHei al
Leonard Wood and Rear Admiral Sir
Dudley de Chair and Rear Admiral +.
?. Fletcher were soon in deep CONVEX
sation.
IN SPIRIT OF SERVICE.
ON all sides it was reiterated that the
British had come in spirit of serv-
see and appreciation and that il was
their hope that the lessons they had
learned in the war might be of service
10 this country. Similarly, as one OF
fetal expressed it. the commission was
moved by exactly the same feelings
which raised the Stars and Stripes to
the flag tower of the parliament build
ing in London for the first time a for
eign flag has ever flown there.
Secretary BalfOur. a tall. slim,
white-haired man of siyty-nine years.
who has held the highest posts in the