Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-04-26
NOT
ALL|ANCE..bALFOUR
No Attempt by Britain to En-.
tangle u. s. Declares For.
eign Minister Balfour.
TREATY NOT SUGGESTED.
Head Of British War Commission Tells
Ncwspapcrmen OF His Country's
Gratitude to America.
TREATY NOT SUGGESTED.

Washington, April 2J.-Complete UNDER
standing of Americas attitude in the war
-unreserved cooperation in the fight of
democracy against German military men
ace without entanging political alliances
was expressed by Foreign Minister Bal
four, head of the British war commission.
in a statement to newspaper correspond
ents. H.
II am told, said Mr.. Baifour. that there
are some doubling critics who seem to
think that the object of the mission of
Great Britain and France is to inveigle
the United States out of it's traditional
policy and to entangle it in formal alli-
ance. secret or public with European pow
! ers. cannot imagine any rumor with
fless foundation. nor can l imagine any
policy so utterly unnecessary. Our conf
dence in the assistance which we are 60
ing to get from this community is not
based upon such considerations as those
which arise out of formal treaties"
! The foreign minister's statement was
officially stated to have been made as a
result of his conferences during the past
few days with President Wilson and Sec.
retary Lansing.
1t was generally regarded as disposine
finally of suggestions in some quarters
THAT the United States might be asked
to sign a treaty not to make a separate
peace.
This was an eventful day for the British
commissioners. marked by hearty wei
come to Frances illustrious war commits
sion and the delivery to Ambassador
Spring- Rice of Americas first loan to th'
allies, 500, 100000.
While the British visitors devoted mos
of the day to honoring the French mis-
sion. they found time to complete detail
of organization in preparation for tn
Joint conferences soon to begin. now tina
the representatives Of France have joine'
Mr.. Balfour and the military. naval, finan
cal and trade experts here with him.
MIR. Balfour lunched to-day with tn
Italian ambassador, spent part of tn
afternoon at the treasury department
with Secretary McAdoo and was enter
tanned at dinner at the British embassy
where a reception attended by the diplo
lmatic corps and high American official
, followed.
The foreign minister received the news
, paper men during the day at the residenc
where he Is entertained as the guest G
the nation. He appeared hearty and vl
orous in spite of his 50 years. In tn
course of his remarks he said:
II remember when was here ther
was book which was given out in til
schools called The Fifteen Decisive Ba
. ties of the World do not know whethe
they all quite deserve that title, but thei
can be no doubt or question whatevt
II that among the decisive battles of II
L world the battle OF the Marne was II
= most decisive. 1t was turning point
= the history of mankind and l rejoice tn;
j. the hero Of that event is to-day comm
e among us and will join us. the Britis
n nation. in laying before the people of II
" United States our gratitude for the syn
pathy which they have shown and a
n showing and our warm confidence in II
d value of the assistance which they a
r afrording the allied cause.
It Our confidence in this assistan
a. which We are going to get from this cor
I. munity is not based upon such shallo
le considerations as those which arise o
le OF formal treaties. No treaty could i
l. crease the undoubted confidence wi
Is which we look to the United States. VIII
n. having come into the war, are going
ID see the war through. If there is any ce
or tainty in human affairs. that Is certain
I'd Two years and a half have gone sin
ID the war began, and the great public
this side of the Atlantic has been watc
,s ing, with deepening interest. the bloc
ID stained drama going on across the ocea
I'd and | am we'll convinced that as ca
I'd month has passed, so has the convicti
ly grown among you that after all it is
re small or petty interest that is involv
ne in this war, it is no struggle for so ma
square miles of territory, for some acq
or sition, some satisfaction of small natiC
re al ambition. 1t was nothing short OF
r full consciousness that the liberties
mankind are really involved in the iss
t. of this struggle that was animating I