Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-05-07
SAYS PEACEMAY
BRING MENACE
Balfour Speaks in the
House While Wilson
Listens
First British Official to Address
Congress Loudly Cheered

Congress Loudly Cheered
Washington, May 6.-Foreign Sec. Bal
four. speaking by invitation Saturday
before the House of Representatives. said
the world only now was coming to realize
that peace and material civilization may
bring the greatest possible menace to free
governments.
The British statesman's words, inter-
preted by many Of his hearers as a warn
ing against a premature ending of the
great war, were cheered by the repre-
sentatives and crowded galleries.
President in Gallery
Among the applauding spectators was
President Wilson. who broke another
presidential precedent by slipping unno-
ticed into House gallery to hear the ad-
dress.
Mr. Balfour, the first British official to
speak in the halls of Congress. delivered
warm greeting from the British Parlia-
ment and aroused his hearers to repeated
applause by predicting that the cause of
democracy surely shall conquer"
Mr. Balfour will appear before the
Senate Tuesday in acceptance of an
invitation extended by Vice President
Marshall.
Accompanying Foreign Minister Bal
four to the House were the following:
Maj. Gen. G. T. NJ. Bridges, Captain
H. H. Spender-C Clay, Rear Admiral Sir
Dudley, r. S. de Chair, Fleet Pay
master General Vincent A. Lawford,
Lord Cunliffe, governor of the Bank
of England, Assistant Secretary Phil
lips and Hugh Gibson of the State
Department.
Members Cheer the President
President Wilson entered the Exec
utive gallery unnoticed while Repre-
sentative Estopinal of Louisiana was
reading in French, a message from
the President Of the Chamber Of Dep
uties of Rumania. The message said
the Chamber of Deputies FASTENED to
express to the Representatives of the
American House its warmest congrat-
ulations on joining the war against
Germany.
After the. President had been in the
gallery five minutes he was discovered
and members stood up and cheered.
The President rose and bowed. while
the galleries joined in the demonstra-
ton.
Then the House turned it's attention
to Mr.. Balfour and his party, who
were escorted into the Chamber to
hand -clapping and cheers.
President Wilson was among those
who applauded loudest for Mr.. Bal
four. He removed his gloves and en-
tered into the hand -clapping with Wig
or.
Mr.. Balfour was Immediately intro
duced by Speaker Clark and addressed
the House.
"Free Assembly Like Your Own"
Mr. Balfour spoke as follows:
Twill you permit me. on behalf of
my friends and myself to offer you my
deepest and sincerest thanks for the
rare and valued honor which you have
done us by receiving us here today.
We all feel the greatness of this hon
or, but I think to none of us can it
have come home so closely as to one
who, like myself, has been for 40 years
in the service of free assembly like
your own.
II rejoice to think that a member, a
very old member, I am sorry to say. Of
the British House of Commons, has
been received here today by this great
sister assembly with such kindness as
you have shown to me and to my
friends.
Ladies and Gentlemen-These two
assemblies are the greatest and the
oldest of the free assemblies now gov
erning great nations in the world. The
history, indeed, of the two is very diff
ferent. The beginnings of the British
House of Commons go back to dim
historic past, and it's full rights and
status have only been conquered and
permanently Secured after centuries of
political struggle.
"Your Fate Has Been Happier" 9
"Your fate has been happier one.
You were called into existence at
much later stage of social develop
ment. You came into being complete
and perfected, all your powers deter
mined and your place in the Constitu-
ton secured beyond chance of revolu-
ton.
But though the history of these two
great assemblies is different each of
them represents the great democratic
principle to which we look forward as
the security for the future peace of the
world. All of the free assemblies now
to be found governing the great ma
tons of the earth have been modelled.
Mr.. Speaker, the compliment paid
to the mission from Great Britain by
such an assembly and upon such an oc-
casion is one not one Of us is ever
likely to forget; but there is something
after all even deeper and more signifl-
cant In the circumstances under which
I now have the honor to address you
than any which arise out of the. inter-
change of courtesies. however sincere,
between two great and friendly ma
lions.
"Grsat Moment in History Of World"
I'VE all, I think. feel instinctively
that this is one Of the great moments
in the history Of the world and that
what is nowt happening on both sides
Of the Atlantic represents the drawing
together of great and free peoples for
mutual protection against the agrees
sion Of military despotism.
II am not one Of those, none Of you
are among those who are such bad