The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-04-26
Mr.. Balf0ur Disposes of Idea
of Critics That Allies
Expect Alliance.
us. UNPLEDGED TO
NO SEPARATE PEACE
Foreign Minister Tells News
paper Men of His Conf
dence in America.

Washington, April 25-Complete un-
derstanding of Americas attitude in
the war-unreserved cooperation in
the fight of democracy against the
German military menace. without en-
tangling political alliances-was ex-
pressed by Forengn Minister Balfour,
head Of the British war commission, in
n statement today to newspaper corre-
spondents.
Il am told" Mr.. Balfour said that
there are sorle doubling critics who
seem to think that the object of the
missions of Great Britain and France
is to inveigle the United States out Of
it's traditional policy and to entangle
1t in a formal alliance. secret or public,
with European powers. l can not i'm
agine any rumor with less foundation.
nor can l imagine any policy so ut
terly unnecessary. Our confidence in
the assistance which we are going to
get from this community is not based
upon such considerations as those
which arise out of formal treaties"
Concerns Separate Peace.
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 Secretary Lansing. 1t was general
ly regarded as disposing of sugges-
tions in some quarters that the Unit
ed 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 a
hearty welcome to Frances illustrious
war commission and the delivery to
Ambassador Spring Rice Of Americas
first loan to the allies, s2OO,0OO,O00.
While the British visitors devoted
most Of the day to honOring the French
mission, they found time to complete
details of organization in preparation
for the joint conference soon to begin,
Mr.. Balfour lunched today with the
Italian ambassador, spent part of the
afternoon at the treasury department
with Secretary McAdoo and was enter
tanned at dinner at the British EN-
bassy, where a reception, attended by
the diplomatic corps and high Ameri-
can officials, followed.
The foreign minister received the
newspaper men during the day at the
rsidence where he is entertained as the
guest of the nation. He appeared
hearty and vigorous in spite of his 6e
years.
When the newspaper correspondents
had been presented, Mr.. Balfour said:
The Interview.
Gentlemen, I am very much obliged
to you for coming here today ant
giving me the opportunity of express.
ing to you possibly and through you tt
the great American people, how yer!
deeply we who belong to this mission
sent from Britain value the kindness
the enthusiasm, the warmth of wei
come. which we have received at thi:
capital city Of the United States. Al
our hearts are touched personally. W.
are, even more deeply touched by it Al
being the outward and visible mani
festation of sympathetic emotion il
carrying out and responding to a grea
call, which Is the real security for ou
success.
mo man who has had the nationa
opportunity which l have enjoyed il
the last few days of seeing, hearing
and talking to leading members o
your state can for one moment dOub
the full determination Of the Ameri
can people to throw themselves int
the greatest conflict which ever ha
been waged in this world.
Il do not suppose that it is possibl
for you'll am sure it would be i'm
possible for me if were in your plac
to realize in detail, in concrete de
tail, all that means to those who hav
been engaged in it for now two year
and a half That is a feeling whic
comes and can come only by actual eS
perience. We on the other side of tn
Atlantic have been living in an atmos
phere of war since August. 1914, an
you cannot move about in the street
you cannot go about your daily bus
ness, even If your affairs be disas
sociated with the war itself, witho,
having evidences of the war brougl
to your notice every moment.
No Lights in London.
Il arrived here on Sunday after
noon and went out in the evenin
after dark and l was struck by
somewhat unusual feeling which ;
the first moment I did not analy;
and suddenly it came upon me th'
this was the first time for two yea
and half or more in which had SEE
a properly lighted street. There is n
Il street in London, there is not a sire
L. ai4sr in 4la<, lysaitad Ici.,erio,