New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-22
British Leader Hopes
Lasting Peace Will
Crown Efforts
Expresses Thanks
To People of u. S.
Party Welcomed Sim
ply; Leaves for Cap
ital Under Guard

With the Balfour Party. April li.-.
Great Britain's High Commissioners
to the international war council to
begin in Washington next week set
foot on American soil to-day, and ora
now on their way to the capital.
Arthur James Balfour, Secretary OF
State for Foreign Affairs of the en-
pire, formerly Premier, and often
called the dean Of the worlds elder
statesmen, was the central figure OF
party which included some Of Great
Britain's most prominent men. With
a genial smile playing over his feat
ures, he consented to a brief inter-
view, warmly expressing his apprecia-
tion of all the United States has done
as a neutral in charitable and relief
work in Belgium and in German prison
camps, his qualification that England
and the United States were now allied
for a common purpose, and his con-
viction that this country in its war
efforts would astound the world, par
ticularly Germany.
Secretary Balfour Speaks
While unable to grant regular in
terview before presenting himself to
President Wilson, Mr. Balfour willing
ly consented TO say few words as TO
his general hopes for the conferences
and the fundamental purposes behind
it. A verbatim copy follows;
All will agree that my first duty as
head of diplomatic mission Is TO
pay my respects TO the head OF the
state. to-xhich have been sent; and
no public expression of opinion on
points OF policy would, I think, be
useful or even tolerable until have
had the honor of conferring with
your President, and learning his
views. / have not come here to make
speeches or indulge in interviews,
but to do what | can 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 secure IL,
namely, a successful war.
without, however, NlOlhJluB tne
rule have just laid down, there are
two things which | may permit my
self to say, one on my own behalf,
the other on behalf Of my country
men in general.
On my own behalf, let me express
the deep qualification feel at being
connected in any capacity whatever with
events which associate our countries
in a common effort for great ideal.
Expresses Britain's Gratitude
On behalf of my countrymen let
me express our gratitude for all that
the citizens of the United States of
America have done to mitigate the
lot of those who in the Allied coun-
tries. have suffered from the cruel
ties of the most deliberately cruel OF
all wars. To name no others. the
efforts of Mr.. Gerard to alleviate the
condition of British and other pris-
oners of war in Germany, and the
administrative genius which Mr..
Hoover has ungrudgingly devoted TO
the relief Of the unhappy Belgians
and French in the territories still in
enemy occupation, will never be for
gotten: while an inexhaustible
stream of charitable effort has sup
plied medical and nursing skill to the
service of the wounded and the SICK:
These are the memorable doings OF
a benefcent neutrality. But the
days of neutrality are, ! rejoice To
think, at an end; and the 1rst page
is being turned in new chapter IN
the history Of mankind. Your Presi-
dent in most apt and vivid phrase
has proclaimed that the world must
be made safe for democracy. Democ-
racies, wherever they are to be found
and not least the democracies OF the
British Empire, will hail the pro-
nouncement as happy augury.
That governing communities
are not to be treated as negligible
simply because they are small; that
the ruthless domination OF one un-
scrupulous power imperils the future
of civilization and the liberties OF
mankind are truths Of political ethics
which the bitter experiences OF war
are burning into the souls of all free
dom-loving peoples. That this great
people should have thrown them
selves le-heartedly into this
mighty struggle, prepared for all the
efforts and sacrifices that may be re-
quired TO win success for this most
righteous cause, is an event at once
so happy and so momentous that
only the historian Of the future will
be able, as | believe, to measure its
true proportions.
A. J. BALF0UR.
Received with Simplicity