Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-23
COMMISSION ARRIVES
Continued from Page One)

Chalr, Assistant Secretary Phillips,
and Sir Richard Crawford; in the
sixth, Sir Eric Drummond, Assistant
Secretary Long, Messrs. Hohler and
Robins; in the seventh, Paymaster
General Lawford. Capt Spender- Clay.
and Capt. George Quekemeyer; in the
eighth, Lord Eustace Percy, Mr.. NAL
colm Mr.. Dormer and Mr.. Butler.
When the signal was given for the
start. the cavalry guard closed round and
enveloped the party. This was the same
guard which President Wilson had chosen
as his personal escort on the occasion Of
the last inauguration, and the troops were
disposed in the same way as on that occa-
sion
AS the party started up Massachusetts,
avenue the crowds burst into cheers and
applause, to which Mr.. Balfour and the
others responded by bowling right and left
The route lay up Massachusetts avenue
to 18th street, the stately thoroughfare
for some years known officially as avs
nue. of the Presidents to the palatial
MacVeagh homestead, just beyond the
crest Of the hill and within few hum
bred yards of the white French embassy
building. Passing the latter the visitors
were greeted by Ambassador Jusserand,
who, with Nine. Jusserand and the full
staff of the embassy. saluted them from
the portico over the entrance The sa-
lutte was returned by the entire party.
A detachment of regular soldiers will
remain on guard constantly around the
Macveagh residence during the stay OF
Mr.. Balfour and his party. Tents for
their use have been pitched near the
house. A police captain who is native
of England will be in charge Of the po-
lice detail.
party left the house soon after arrival,
some going for automobile rides about
the city. Others called at the British
embassy. They said that Mr.. Balfour was
tired out by his journey and would rest
as much as possible until tomorrow.
Meanwhile the American reception
committee headed by Assistant Secre-
tary of State Long with Admiral
Fletcher and Maj. Gen. Wood slipped
out of Washington last Sunday night
under the impression that the British
had started two days earlier than they
did. With a five car special train
standing with steam up at station
the committee waited in Boston anx-
iously from Monday until Friday after
noon when the word came from Hall
fax which sent them on night ride
to the border.
At 9 o'clock Saturday morning the
party arrived at the little frontier
town at Vanceboro. The American Of
ficials with the army and navy repre-
sentatives in uniform descended to a
dingy and deserted station platform in
thick, cold mist. News of the dis
tinguished guests arrival soon brought
a small gathering of railroad workers,
farmers and French Canadians, rein
| forced by a squad of youngsters who
came marching up with three worn
American flags.
To these modest surroundings, the
special train which had gone on to
McAdam returned two hours later
| bearing England's eminent statesmen.
| AS it drew across the bridge into the
station, Secretary Long and his party
mounted the rear of the observation
| car and disappeared inside to welcome
the commission to American soil.
The various members Of the commits
sion, including Mr.. Balfour himself
have brought with them much of the
| atmosphere of quiet suffering which
I has afflicted England during the past
| two and a half years.
Even in the few hours we have been
in the United States" Mr. Balfour said
I'VE have been struck with the atmos-
phere of calm and peacefulness which
naturally prevails. We feel ourselves far
removed here from the stress and horror
that Germany has thrust on Europe, much
as many OF our people felt distant from
France in the early days OF the war. The
United States. fortunately. probably will
never experience the human losses that
France for long and ourselves during the
past months have experienced"
| Nevertheless Mr.. Balfour added. 81
doubt II you can foresee what fundamen.
tai changes the war will bring into your
ordinary life. We in England look bach
with amazement at the vital changes dur.
| ing our past 30 months Of mobilization
and imagine that many OF the changes
we have gone through. SO salutary FOL
themselves alone, will be repeated here
Mr.. Balfour. while unwilling to specu.
late on what form American participa
ton in the war might take. said he had M
doubt that Americas efforts would aston
ish the world. particularly Germany. HI
made 1t plain 1t was his opinion that d
Germany had foreseen how fully the Unit
! ed states would enter the struggle she
would not have preciptated war betwesr
! the two countries.