The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-04-23
National Colors and British
Flags Predominant in Ma
tional Capital
NO SUGGESTIONS WILL
BE MADE BY VISITORS
Expect to Be of Assistance to
United States in Pointing
Out Mistakes Made by Eng
land

Washington, April 22.-The
british war commission. headed
by Foreign Secretary Arthur J..
BaIfour. arrived in Washington
this afternoon. and after passing
through cheering throngs at the
Union station and the crowded
streets which led to the home OF
breckenridge Long, third assist.
ant secretary OF state, in Six.
teenth street, the members of the
mission are resting up for the
Iabors that await them.
Tho tension of the last ten days
was relaxed tonight. So far as
could be learned, there was no
untoward incident from the time
the commission left British shores
until It arrived in WASHINGTON.
When Mr.. Balfour made his
way from the presidential room
in the east end Of the station, &c.
companicd by Secretary Of Stats
lansing and Colonel Harris, Prcsi-
dent Wilson's military aide, there
was n storm OF handclapptng
and cheering. As he entered tho
gateway Mfr. Balfour acknowledge
ed the enthusiastic popular re-
ceptfon by raising his hat. which
he carried as he walked between
the hanks of people to an await
ing automobile.
Outside the station there were
thousands afoot and in auto
mobiles.
Everywhere the national coIors
were displayed and many wO-
men had British flags. Auto
fx~xs &SHfyY xp<1 Iva - t.
and sirens 10 the handciapping
and cheering when sfr. BaIfour
appeared in front Of the station.
This is very. very moving" said
the British secretary to Secretary OF
State Lansing as they were steppins
into their automobile. He recalled
his first visit to the United States
in 1870. At that time he had Just
been graduated from Cambridge and
was making a tour of the world. That
he recalled the difference forty-sev n
years had made in his life was evi.
dent from a remark he dropped later
to Godfrey Butler, of the British,
foreign office, who Is a member OF the
When Mr.. Balfour stepped from his
car in the station he faced a camera,
Obligfngly he slackened his gait while
the photographer got his picture.
The minute The head of the mfD-
sion showed himself to the crowds In
side the station there began cheers
that increased as he walked along ia
the gate leading to the street
Not Tired BY Trip.
Minister Balfour walked as though
his transatlantic trip and his railway
journey had rested easily upon him
and he chatted affably with Nh
Lansing. Just as he turned through
the gateway. a small Belgian flag WA
waved by a woman in the front line
The foreign secretary turned for 4
moment from Secretary Lansing and
waved his hat in her direction.
Outside OF the station another
camera waited. Secretary Lansing
evidently thought that Mr.. BaifouF
must be firing and suggested that he
did not want to be bothered again BY
photograp pliers.
Indeed, no. do not send him
away" he said to Mr.. Lansing, and
again held back SO the photographer
might get the advantage of the best
light.
He seemed in the best of spirits
from the time ne stepped from tnd
train until he entered the Long resi-
dence., which has been engaged FOR
him and members of the mission dur-
ing their stay in Washington.
Just how long this will be theirs
Is no way OF telling. Discussing this
Mr.. Butler said that every
thing depended upon Developments.
Mr.. Butler made it clear that the
British commission comes here with
no suggestions.
Mr.. Balfour and his advisers and
assistants and experts are here ~
your command. said Mr.. Butler.
I'VE hope to be OF assistance ID
the United States in many ways one
II the most important II to point out
the mistakes we made early In tho
war. Those mistakes cost us dearly.
If the United States can learn from
them 1t will mean a great saving IN
every way"
Mr.. Balfour dined this evening a
the British embassy with AmbDasa~
ior Spring Rice. He made no othse
sank Gsrnnan UetA1esMaO.
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