Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1917-04-27
.BALFOURAND PARTY
SAFE IN AMERICA
BRITISH COMMISSIONERS TO WAR
COUNCIL RECEIVED WITH
HIGHEST HONoRS.
Dean Of English Statesmen Defines
War Issues and Expresses Apprecla-
ton for Work Americans Have
Done In interests of Neutrals.

Neutrality-suspicious. Minister Bal
four and the other members of the
commission sent to America by the
government of Great Britain, arrived
In Washington on Sunday.
While unable to grant an extended
Interview before presenting himself to
President Wilson. Mr.. Balfour will
ingly consented to say a few words
as to his general hopes for the confer
ence and the fundamental purposes be-
hind 1t. A verbatim copy follows:
All will agree that my first duty as
head of diplomatic mission is to pay
my respects to the head of the state to
which have been sent; and no public
expression Of opinion on points of pol
Icy would, think, be useful or even
tolerable until have had the honor of
comforting with your president and
learning his views. / have not come
here to make speeches or indulge in
interviews, but to do what / can to
make cooperation easy and effective
between those who are striving with
all their power to bring about last
Ing peace by the only means that can
secure 1t, namely, successful war.
Without, however, violating the rule
have just laid down, there are two
things which may permit myself to
say: One, on my own behalf, the
other on behalf of my countrymen in
general.
On my own behalf, let me express
the deep qualification I feel at being
connected In any capacity whatever
with events which associate our coun-
tries in common effort for great
ideal.
On behalf of my countrymen, let me
express our gratitude for all that the
citizens Of the United States of Amer
lea have done to mitigate the lot of
those who, In the allied countries, have
suffered from the cruelties of the most
deliberately cruel of all wars. To
name no others, the efforts of Mr.. Ger
ard to alleviate the condition of Brit
ish and other prisoners of war in Ger
many and the administrative genius
which Mr.. Hoover has ungrudgingly
devoted to the relief of the unhappy
Belgians and French in the territories
still in enemy occupation, 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 heneficent neutrality. But tlle days
of neutrality are, rejoice to think. at
an emil; and the first page Is being
turned IN new chapter In the history
of mankind. Your president, In a most |
apt and vivid phrase, has proclaimed
that the world must be made safe for
democracy. Demoeracies whenever
they are found, and not least the de |
of the British empire, viii |
hall the pronouncement as happy
augury. That self-governing commu- |
mites are not to be treated as neglig-
fble simply because they are small
that the ruthless domination of one
power imperils the flu
ture 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 free
peoples. That this greet
people should have thrown themselves
into this mighty |
Struggle. prepared for all the efforts
and sacrifices that may be required TO
win success for this most righteous
cause. Is an event at once so happy
and so momentous that only the his
torian of the future viii be able, as
| believe 1t, to measure its true pro-
portions.