Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-04-22
EngIand's High Commission
ers Land in U. S. and Board
Special Train Immediately.
CONFERENCES ARE BEGUN
AFTER FORMAL WELCOME
Diplomats and Army and Navy Of
ficials Discuss Plans on Way.
Arrive at 8 Pm.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
WITH THE BALFOUR PARTY. April
21.-Great Britains high commissioners
to the international war council to begin
in Washington next week set foot on
American soil today and now are on their
way to the capital.
Arthur James Balfour. secretary of
state for foreign affairs of the empire.
formerly premier and often called the
dean of the world selder statesmen, was
the central figure of a party that included
some Of Great Britains most prominent
men. With a genial smile playing over
his features. he consented to brief in
terview, warmly expressing his appre-
citation 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 now were allied for a COM
mon purpose. and his conviction that this
country in it's war efforts would astound
the world. particularly Germany.
Object of the Commission.
The object of the commission. Mr.. Bal
four said. was ito make co-opera ton
easy and effective between those who are
striving with all their power to bring
about a lasting peace by the only means
that can secure it, namely. successful
war"
"Your President in a most apt and
vivid phrase" Mr.. Balfour added. has
safe for democracy. That self-govern-
ing communities are not to be treated as
negligible simply because they are small;
that the ruthless domination Of one un-
civilization and the liberties of mankind
are truths Of political ethics which the
bitter experience Of war is burning into
the souls of all freedom-loving peoples.
Received With Highest Honors.
England's leading statesmen. having
safely evaded the German submarines
and mines which sent Lord Kitchener
- his death. were received with the
highest honors as guests OF the Amer
lean people when they arrived at q
place in America which cannot be
named. delegation Of State. War and
Navy Department officials welcomed the
commission in the name of the gov
ernment and set out with them to the
capital for what Is admittedly the most
vital conferences in American history
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. 1t is said. indeed. that no
foreign minister has left England for
the length of time that Mr.. Balfour
will be away, since the congress of
Vienna, century ago.
The formal welcome was extended
by Third Assistant Secretary OF State
Breckenridge Long. through the pres
entation to Mr.. Balfour of a letter of
greeting from Secretary Lansing.
which the British statesman acknowl-
edged with equal simplicity while
British and American officials mingled
together.
Special Train Waits Five Days.
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
no other train has ever been guarded
in this country. Double protection had
been afforded at all bridges and tun-
nels, and every mile of the track had
been gone over within the previous
Awenty-fou- hours to guard against a
POSSIBLE fanatic. No detail of any sort
whatsoever which could betray the
place of arrival or route of travel was
allowed to escape.
Almost Immediately when the train
Started the large party broke up into
groups of army. navy and State De-
kartment officials, to begin at once the
IS.ormal conversations which are ex-
Nected to sketch out Americas part in
the world fight against German autoc-
racy.
Mr. Balfour and Secretary Long
Lieut.. Gen. T. Bridges, who drew the
Nrst blood for England in August. 1914.
and Mai. Gen. Leonard Wood. and Rear
Admiral Sir Dudley de Chair and Rear
Admiral F. F. Fletcher were soon in
deep conversation on the various
phases of American participation.
Have Come in Spirit of Service.
On all sides it was reiterated that
the British had come in a spirit of
service and appreciation. and that it
was their hope that the lessons they
had learned in the war at such cost
might be of service to this country in
avoiding similar mistakes. Similarly,
as one official expressed it. the com
mission was moved by exactly the same
feelings which raised the Stars and
Stripes to the flag tower of the parlia
ment building in London, for the first
time foreign flag has ever flown
there in history.
Secretary Balfour. tall, slim white
haired man of sixty-nine years. who
has held the highest posts in the EN-.
forty three years ago. saw today the
completion of one of his life hopes ex-
pressed under vastly different circum.
stances January Is. 1896. when he was
largely instrumental in averting war
between England and America over the
Venezuela dispute.
1T cannot but be-" he said, .tha,
those whose national roots go down
into the same past as ours. who share
our language, our literature, our laws
our religion. everything that makes 2
nation great-it cannot but be that a
time will come when they will feel tha,
they and we have a common duty tc
perform. common office to fulfiI
among the nations of the world"
Minister Balfour's Statement.
While unable to grant a regular in
terview before presenting himself Il
President Wilson. Mr.. Balfour wiIIingl,
consented to say few words as to hi.
general hopes for the conference ant
the fundamental purposes behind it, A
verbatim copy follows:
'AlI will agree that my first duty a
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