Omaha daily bee., 1917-04-23
CAPITAL EXTENDS
ENGLISH GUESTS
GLAD WELCOME
ritish Statesmen Arrive in
Washington After Running
Gauntlet of German Sub
marine Blockade.
PRAISE FOR THIS COUNTRY
Leader Expresses Appreciation
of Relief Work America Per-
formed While Neutral,
RECEIVED WITH HoNoRs

Washington, April 22,-The Amer
ican capital today extended a simple
but heartfelt welcome to the British
minister for foreign affairs, Arthur
7. Balfour, and the other members
OF the British commission which has
come to Washington, as Mr.. Balfour
himself expressed it, TO make CO.
operation easy and effective between
those who are striving-with all their
power-to bring about lasting peace
by the only means that can secureSit
namely, successful war.
With genial smile playing over
his features, he consented to a brief
interview, warmly expressing his ap-
probation of all the United States has
done as neutral in charitable and
relief work in Belgium and in Ger
many's prison camps, his gratltlcatlon
that England and the United States
now were allied for common pur-
pose and his conviction that this
country in its war efforts would as
tound the world, particularly Ger
many.
"Your president, in most apt and
vivid phrase" Mr.. Balfour added,
proclaimed that the world must be
made safe for democracy; that self
governing communities are not to be
treated as negligible simply because
they are small; that the ruthless dom
nation of one INSCRIPTIONS power
imperils the future of civilization and
the liberties of mankind are truths
of political ethics which the bitter ex-
perience of war is burning into the
souls of all freedom-loving peoples"
Received With High Honors.
England's leading statesmen hay
ing safely evaded the German sub
marines and mines which sent Lord
Kitchener to his death, were-re-i
ceived with the highest honors as
guests of the American people, when
they arrived at place in America
which cannot be named.
A delegation of officials welcomed
the commission in the name OF the
government and set out with them
to the capital for what is admittedly
the most vital conference in American
history.
The commission was received with
the utmost simplicity and cordiality
and with every recognition of the tact
that Great Britain had given of its
best. 1t is said, indeed, that no for
eign minister has left England for
the length of time that Mr.. Balfour
will be away since the congress OF
Vienna, century ago.
Long Extends Welcome.
The formal welcome was extended
bv Third Assistant Secretary of
State Breckenridge Long, through the
presentation to Mr.. lBalfour of a let
ter Of greeting from Secretary Lam
sing, which the British statesman ac-
knowledged with equal simplicity,
while British and American officials
mingled together. -
A special train of five cars, which
had been waiting with steam up and
crew aboard for FIVE days, at once
got under way for the capital,
guarded as almost not other train ever
has been guarded in this country.
Double protection had been afforded
at all bridges and tunnels, and every
mile of the track had been gone over
within the previous twenty-four hours
to guard against a possible fanatic.
No detail which could betray the
rIace of arrival or route of travel
was allowed to escape.
Party Breaks Into Groups.
Almost Immediately when the train
started the large party broke up into
groups of army, navyl and state de-
partment officials to begin at once
the informal conversations which are
expected to, sketch out Americas part
i'll the world fight against German
autocracy. Mr.. Balfour and Secre-
tary Long; Lieutenant General
Bridges, who drew the fFst blood for
England in August, 1914, and Major
General Leonard Wood, and Rear Ad-
iniral De Chair and Reat Admiral F
F. Fletcher soon were lin deep con
Continued on Page Two. Column Two)