Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-04-27
URGES PEOPLE OF
j. S. TO WAKE Up
BALFOCR SAYS AN Il RI C A N $
MUST REALIZE THEY FACE
REAL FIGHT.

tIkal yOu ldSc a TCdA HkHes
be prepared for great individ-
ual sacrifice-fOr it will be de-
/ manded.'
This was the sum and substance
of the message given the American
people this week by Arthur J. Bal.
four, foreign secretary of England
and head of the war commission
which is now comforting with United
States officials on the part this gov
|ernment shall play in the European
war.
Almost the first act of the British
minister was to explode the theory,
quite prevalent throughout the
United States, that this nation faces
a short, bloodless war. Mr.. Balfour
made it clear that in his opinion the
war will be long, that it will tax our
resources of men; it will require all
we have of financial strength; 1t will
command our commercial and indus
trial energy; it will involve the in
dividual effort of every true Ameri-
can.
1--WE have come" he said, "to help
American turn the first page In a
new chapter in the history of man
kind"
The tall, snowy-haired diplomat
spoke smilingly, but earnestly.
Time Will Bring War Home.
"The United States does not yet
realize all it will be called upon to
do and what we know it will do. And
it is much. Time will bring the war
home to you-as 1t has done to u.s."
"But-" 1t was suggested. there
is an impression that we will be
called upon to do nothing but make
munitions and build ships"
Balfour's expression showed clear
ly that he was astonished.
After pause he said significantly:
"Yot shall see."
II appreciate" he went on, that
1t will be quite little time before
the people of the United States-to
borrow an American phrase-thor-
oughly realize what they are up
against.
Germany Didn't Realize.
"And I am quite sure that when
Germany forced the United States
into war with her she did not realize
what she was up against.
mo public expression Of opinion
on points of policy would be useful
or tolerable. until have had the
honor of comforting with your presi-
dent and learning his views. I have
come here to do what I can to make
cooperation easy and effective be-
tween those who are striving-with
all their power-to bring about .
lasting peace by the only means that
can secure it-namely. q successful
war.
ION my behalf, let me express the
deep qualification feel at being con-
nected In any capacity whatever with
eventa which associate our countries
In a common effort for a great ideal.
Express Gratitude to Britain.
ION behalf Of my countrymen, let
me express our gratitude for all that
the citizens of the United States Of
America have done to mitigate the
lot Of those who. in the allied coun-
tries, have. suffered from the cruel
ties of the most deliberately cruel Of
all wars-to name others, the efforts
Of Mr.. Gerard to alleviate the condi-
ton OF British and other prisoners
of war in Germany, and the admins
trative genius which Mr.. Hoover has
ungrudgingly devoted to the relief
of the unhappy Belgians and of the
children in the territories still in
enemy occupation, which will never
be forgotten; while an inexhaustible
stream Of charitable effort has sup
piled medical and nursing skill to
the service of the wounded and the
sick.
these are the memorable doings
of a benencent neutral. But the
days of neutrality are, rejoice to
think. at an end.
"Your president. in a most apt and
vivid phrase. has. proclaimed that
the world must be made safe for
democracy democracies wherever
they may be found. and not the least
the democracies of the British en-
pire will hail the announcement as
of happy augury.
THAT self-governing communities
are not to be treated as negligible
simply because they are small; that
the ruthless domination of one un-
scrupulous power imperils the future
Of civilization and the liberties of
mankind are truths of political
ethics which the bitter experience of
war Is burning into the souls of all
freedom-loving peoples.
THAT this great people should
have thrown themselves whole-heart-