Middletown transcript., 1917-04-28

With the Balfour Party. Great
Britain's high commissioners to the
International War Council to begin in
Washington this week, set foot on
American soil Saturday and reached
Washington Sunday afternoon.
Arthur James Balfour, Secretary OF
State for Foreign Affairs of the EN-
pire, formerly Premier, and often
called the dean of the worlds elder
statesmen, was the central figure of a
party that included some of Great
Britain's most prominent men. With
a genial smile playing over his fea-
tures, he consented to brief inter
view, warmly expressing his ap-
probation of all the United States has
done as neutral in charitable and re-
lief work in Belgium and in German
prison camps, his qualification that
England and the United States now
nre allied for a common purpose, and
his conviction that this country in its
war efforts would astound the world,
particularly Germany.
The object of the commission, Mr.
Balfour said, was ito make co-opera-
ton easy and effective between those
who are striving with all their power
TO bring about lasting peace by the
only means that can secure it, name
ly, successful war"
While unable to discuss the situa-
tion before presenting himself to
President Wilson, Mr.. Balfour willing
ly consented to say few words as to
his general hopes for the conference
and the fundamental purposes behind
as follows:
"On my own behalf, let me express
the deep qualification 1 feel at being
called in any capacity whatever with
events which associates our countries
In a 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
America have done to mitigate the lot
of those who, in the Allies countries,
have suffered from the cruelties OF the
most deliberately cruel Of all wars. To
name no others, the efforts Of Mr..
Gerard to alleviate the condition of
British and other prisoners Of war in
Germany, and the administrative
genius which Mr.. Hoover has ungrudg-
ingly devoted to the relief of the un-
happy Belgians and French in the ter
ritories still in enemy occupation, will
never be forgotten; while an in
exhaustibe stream of charitable effort
has supplied medical and nursing skill
TO the service of the wounded and the
sick.
"These are the memorable doings of
a beneficent neutrality. But the days
OF neutrality are, l rejoice to think, at
an end, 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 pro-
claimed that the world must be made
safe for democracy. Democracies
wherever they are to be found, and not
least the democracies of the British
Empire. will hail the pronouncement
as a happy augury. That self-govern-
ing communities are not to be treated
as negligible simply because they are
small; that the ruthless domination
OF one unscrupulous power imperils
fhe future of civilization and the lib
Arties of mankind are truths of
political ethics which the bitter ex-
narionce Of war is burning into the
souls of all freedom-loving peoples.
That this great people should have
thrown themselves whole-heartedly
into the 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
pnce so happy and so momentous that
onlv the historian of the future will
he able. as l believe, to measure its
true proportions.
"a. J. BALFOUR."