The Sentinel=record., 1917-05-01
BALFOUR AND WILSON HOLD LENGTHY CONFERENCE
GREAT BRITAlN'S FOREIGN SEC. RETARY DIMES INFORMALLY
 WITH THE PRESIDENT.

Washington April 3o.--Arthur James Balfour Great Britan's foreign sec re.ary, dined informally with Pres- dent Wilson at the White House to. night and afterward tue two states men had their first intimate talk since they met a week ago.
 In that week MT Baliour has an nounced that there is no thought on the part of jhe allies of asking the United States to enter int a formal a liance fo~ the war agalnst Germany, d loan of 100000, 900 has been made to England, the French commissioners have arrived, war army draft bills have passed both houses Of congress and informal conferences have es;a5' 'ished agreement in principle between Great Britain, France and the United States on military. naval, economic and financial affairs. The three gov ernments have come to know each oth- CT both in strength and in weallnes and the lines have been lad for the most effective cooperation possible toward the defeat of German autoc- racN
 These things are understood Co have been reviewed by the president and MT. Balrour with an idea of taking stock and seeing particularly where Fnglsnd's experience could further be Of valce to the United States.
 Tonight meeting marked hal. way poin- in the negotiations with the British war commission. It came al tba conclusion of eight days of investi- gation and statements and at the be- gnnng Of formal conferences to work ou, definite understandings As a re. suit both President Wilson and Mir Ba)four were abe to speak with de- tailed knowledge of the position and desires or the other and lay the ground for the major decisions to be worked out later.
 Mir. Balfour remained at the White Hocse until after 10 o'clock and then accompanied the president to the Pan American building 10 attend a recep- ion given by Secretary Lansing 'u honor of the French comm sisoners.
 The British cc,nmis sion centered its attention today on the subject of ships and munitions. A. c. Anderson, who s handling shipping for Great Britain, spen. some time in conference with memLers of the shipping board, while NF. T. Lawton. secretary of the British ministry of munitions, conferred with the new American munitions board. Afterwards both officials talked with Mir Balfour
 The military and naval conferences continued today but witbo1t definite announcement. Admiral Benson, chiei Of operations of the American navy, lunched with Rear Admiral Sir Dudley R. iS. De Chair, who has been attached 10 the British foreign office for the last nine months Admiral De Chair and Lieutenant General Bridges con ferred with officials at the war de parument
 Nir Baliour today took occasion 10 thank the American Red Cross for the NbIk 4l utS uOut III tUt Ndi.
 During the morning Mir Balfour con- lcrrod with Sir George Foster. acting premier of Canada. and is thought to have discussed closer co-opera ton be- twee the two great American de- mccrat."l. Canada has faced the same problem. that have confronted this .cCvHtry 10th in military. industrial and agricultural modification and is far better adapted as a producing country to di. cJss some phases of the situation than the European allies.
 Mr. BaIfo-r lunched at his home to- day with Charles Francis Adams, grandson of the American anabassa~ dor to England during the civil war, and m the afternoon received cour- tcsy call from Ambassador Sato of Japan.