Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-05-26
u. S. AND BRITAIN
WARMER FRIENDS
Balfour and Party Cross to
Canada After Weeks of
Valuable Conferences.
NO TIES TO BIND AMERICA
Visiting Britishers Just Gave
Uncle Sam Advice; Fear
Germany's Plan.
NO TIES TO BIND AMERICA

WASHINGTON. May 25. - The
British war mission left American soil
and crossed into Canada today after
six weeks of conferences which have
reached into every phase of American
life and are expected vitally To affect
the future of this country II not of
the world.
Confidence and sympathy born of
personal contact of British and Amerl-
can officials cannot be measured in
words. Uncertainty has been removed
and an efficient cooperation made
possible by an exact definition of the
resources and needs of the two ma
uons. This country knows the allies
needs in detail and in the order of
their importance; the allies know
Americas resources and the degree of
their availability. Thus il is possible
for the United States to enter into CO.
operation with the grand alliance I'm
the way most calculated to bring sue
cess.
No Binding Agreements.
There have been no formal agree
ments or binding treaties. Foreign
Secretary Balfour said upon his arri
val the United States would not be
asked nor expected to abandon its ira
ditional policies even to the extent OF
declaring against a separate peace.
Much that has been tentatively
agreed upon cannot finally be put into
effect until legislation has been
passed by congress. The greatest ben
eft OF the missions visit however,
has been the decisive advice of men
who have actually been in the fire of
this wac and who have made desirable
poiicies obvious by merely relating
their experiences.
Greater Friendship.
Great Britain and the United States
undoubtedly have been placed on a
closer basis of friendship than at any
time since the separation a century
and a quarter ago The controversies
during two and a half years of neu-
trality have dissolved in a fuller un-
derstanding by American officials Of
the difficulties of beligerency. Mr.
Balfour, who was in this country
longer than any previous foreign sec
retary had been away from London
since the Napoleonic wars. has
realized his life dream of closer
sympathy between the two great
branches of the English-speaking
people This was symboized when
he stood, overcome with emotion, be-
fore the tomb Of George Washington
Win lle bll ltiSn nag lying dDONe II.
The British showed tact and
consideration of American feeling
most gratifyin" to officials They
were scrupulous on all occasions not
to appear to be interfering with
American affairs. Their constant eff
fort was to describe England's expe-
rience for whatever suggestions it
might give this country. Mr.. Balfour
diffused this spirit thruout the whole
mission.
Both Views Aided.
The immediate diplomatic result has
been to lengthen the British view
from near-sighted absorption in the
immediate war needs to "A broader
consideration Of world reconstruction
, afterward. Similarly the American
viewpoint has been fore shortened
from absorption In the future to the
immediate pressing emergency. Both
sides feel they have gained a truer
perspective.
The British came virtually without
thot of an early peace. peace terms
or the world reconstruction to fol
low. Such subjects had been avoided
abroad because of the greater urgency
of the military operations and of the
desire not to throw the allies into dis
cord by divergent aims. Americas
interest, however, quickened thot upon
them.
League OF Nations Proposed.
President Wilson's plan for a
league of nations has been discussed
informally but not conclusively. one
member of the mission said all the
French and most of the British would
leave the trenches tomorrow If they
did not think this was the last year
Mr.. Balfour, during his next six weeks