New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-05

which had arranged a special tour to
places of American interest IN London,
while the American Society wound up
the day with great banquet at the
Savoy Hotel. Mr.. Balfour and Ambas-
sador Page being the chief speakers.
SIR William Robertson told some 300
Americans at the independence Day
dinner at the Savoy tonight that the
time had come when the war would test
the cohesion. endurance and courage OF
all the combatants and that America s
help must not be delayed, but come at
once.
All through his speech. in which he
paid a high tribute to President Will
son and the fighting quality, energy
and speed Of Americans, he empha-
sized the seriousness of the strain,
which he said had become almost IN
tolerable, and the need for prompt as
sistance.
"America stands higher to-day in the
eyes Of the world than ever before
said the British war chief. This war
is between nations and empires, ana
each part of each branch has SPECIAL
functions to perform. Phrases VIII
never win the war.
"Then comes the time when the
strain becomes almost intolerable. That
time is coming now. We have reached
the point now where it is the test OF
the belligerents' cohesion, endurance
and courage.
Americas great assistance, Amer
ica's great reserve must count now
And | know we can count on them.
No diner failed TO interpret the spiris
Of the speech Of the great Scotsman;
who chooses his words carefully ana
never exaggerates.
Balfour's Plea for UNITY
Mr.. Balfour. the guest OF honor
made a striking plea for the preserva-
tion Of unity between the two nations
and saw in it a powerful confederation
for the future welfare and happiness
If the world. He spoke with great elo-
Cucnca and feeling Of the ties OF
race. language and ideals binding. Brit
Gin and America. and of the slgnlh-
cance of the struggle that brought
thcm together after al years.
Half whimsical. half serious re-
marks were made by AmbasSaiacor
Page. who spoke of the tar-reachins
importance Of Balfour's mission 70 the
United States and Of the sdmirSI ,l
sympathy and respect the british for-
eicn Secretary has shown America
For once the usual Hands across
the sea" sentiment of independence
Dav dinners abroad had a deep mean
ing and real sincerity. Both Balfour
and Robertson talked as brother TO
brother, frankly. openly and without
reservation.
At the guests's table, besides those
mentioned. sat Lord Robert Cecil, Un,,
der Foreign Secretary; Sir samuel
Evans. president of the Prize Court
Admiral Sims, Rear Admiral de Chalr;
Lord Cunliffe. Isaac Seligman, Consul
General and Mrs. Skinner, Eric Drum
mond. Mrs. Page. Mrs. Whltelaw keld'
Lady Robertson and Captain and MIS-
W. D. MacDougall. 9,
Premier Lloyd George was interested
actively in arrangements Tor cele-
bration Of the Fourth. The welsh
Guards band played American airs
while changing guard at st. James
Palace, as did the orchestras IN all
the theatres.
Skinner Speaks
Robert P. Skinner, the American
Consul GeneraI, speahlHs az Po'i.
concert under the auspices Of the BRIT
ish and Foreign Sailors Society at the
National Economy Exhibition. SAID
Americans were deeply touched by the
in England and London;
Gordon Selfridge. in a speech, sara
Americans proved good in sport ana
business, and are doing equally well III
the terrible business of war.
Never before has the British press
devoted so much space to America S
Independence Day as on the present an
1iversary. The evening newspapers
size the occasion to print news stores
rli+orials and cartoons, all OF wnieh
any the note of Glands across the
s.a.' A. To-.
The historic significance Of the day
is freely mentioned, but, far from e%,
pressing acrimony. the writers an
adopt an attitude similar TO that DIS
nlayed in an article in The west
minister Gazette" which says; -,
To-day America becomes knGilsh
and England American. and we are Ior-
Getting little of our phlegm IN paying
tribute to the fact