Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-22
BALF OUR PARTY,
HEAVILY GUARDED.
ON WAY TO CAPITAL
Received With the Highest
HOnOrs at Some I'm
named Port.
WELCOME TO u. S. MARKED
BY UTMOST CORDIALITY
Members Begin Informal Convcr-
sations as Soon as Special
Train Starts.
COME IN SPIRIT OF sERvrcr
English Foreign Minister Outlines
General Hopes and Purposes
OF Conference. 's
COME IN SPIRIT OF SERVICE

WITH THE BALFOUR PARTY. Anr,I
I.-Great Rritains high commissions.
ers :" the International War Council
TO begin In WASHINGTON next veal 80
1901 on American soil to-day, and now
are on their way to the Capital
Arthur James Balfour. Secretary of
state for Foreign Affairs of the em-
pure. formerly Premier. and often CALI
ed the dean OF the worlds elder states.
men. was the central figure Of a party
'hat included some OF Great Britain's
most prominent men. With genial
smile playing over his features ha
consented TO brief Interview. warm
| ~ expressing his appreciation Of all
| 'he united States has done as neu-
trail in charitable and relief work In
| neiElun. ana In German prison camps
his qualification that England and the
| United States now were allies for a
! common purpose. and his conviction
that this country in its war efforts
would astound the world, particular,y
| Germany. M
The object OF the commission. Mr.
Balfour said was "to make co-opera-
iton easy and effective by those who
are striving with all their power 70
| bring about lasting peace by the
only means that can secure 1t; namely.
n successful var"
Your President, in most apt and
vivid phrase" Mr.. Balfour added. has
proclaimed that the world must be
| maue SAFE Tor democracy; that self
governing communities are not to he
treated as negligible. simply because
they are small that the ruthless DOM
ination OF one unscrupulous power Inn
nf ~,
liberties OF mankind are truths of no.
litical ethics which the bitter exneri.
ence OF war is burning Into the souls
OF all freedom-loving peoples"
WELCOMED IN NAME
OF L. S. GOVERNMENT
EnEiand's leading statesmen, having
safely evaded the German submarines
and mines which sent Lord kitchener
to his death. were received with the
highest honors as guests Of the Ameri-
can people when they arrived at
place in America which cannot be
named y delegation OF State. War
ana Navy Department officials welcom-
cd inc commission in the name OF the
government. and set out with them TO
thc Capital for what is admittedly tho
most vital conference in American hi.-
tory.
The commission was received with
the utmost simplicity and cordiality,
and with every recognition Of the fact
that Great Britain had given of her
very best. It is said. indeed, that no
Foreign Minister has left England for
the length OF time that MIR. Ralfour Will
be away since the Congress OF Viem
n century ago.
welcome Ia
by Third Assistant Secretary Of State
breckenridge Long. through the pres
entation to Mr.. Raifour OF a letter OF
greeting from Secretary Lansing. which
the British statesmen acknowledged
with equal simplicity, while British
and American officials mingled to-
gether.
special train of five cars which
had been waiting with steam up and
crew aboard for nvc days. at once got
under way for the Capital. guarded as =
almost no other train has ever been
guarded i'm this country. Double pro-
lection had been afforded at all bridges
and tunnels, and every mile OF track
had been gone over within the previous
twcnty-four' hours To guard against q r
possible fanatic No detail OF any sor.
whatsoever which could hetray the
place Of arrival or route of travel had
been allowed TO escape.
INFORMAL. CONNERS tTIONs
BEGAN ALMOST At ONCE
Almost immediately when tho train
started. the large party broke up into 8
groups Of Army. Navy and State De-
partment officials To begin at once the
informal conversations which are eSs
pcctcd TO sketch out Americas part ir