The Washington herald., 1917-05-12
Pledge Of Steel-Bound Unity
Marks Dinner in Honor Of
the French and British
Missions.
CBy the International News Service.

CBy the International News Serviee.) }
New York, May ll.-AH the memories
Of past glories faded into nothing to-
night in the Waldorf Astoria The ghosts
Of dinners and banquets past fed never
to be recalled
For under the high gold and blue
arches Of the grand ball room there met
the Union Jack, the blOod-staiued Tri-
color. and the deathless Stars and
Stripes Hand to hand. heart TO heart
shoulder to shoulder, they met in spirit
Of brotherhood that drew tears and
cheers and steel-bound unity.
1t was the great dinner in honor OF
the British and French war commissions
with New York city the host and France
and England the guests.
Mayor Mitchell spoke his representative
words OF welcome, appreciation, honor
and fellowship. Joseph H. Choate, rep
resenting the finest type OF American
honor and culture, followed with phrases
so fraught with sincerity and simple
VOWS that the Frenchmen bowed their
heads. and the Britons steeled their cold
eyes and infiexible features against the
emotion to which their Latin allies sue
cumbed.
VIvianI Tells of RAvaEes.
AFInuE James bdlAOAAt AlAAsAahA-N l.----
cipal secretary Of state for foreign al
fairs, held forth in his own British cam
dor anent the aims Of our allies In the
great war for democracy. And on the
heels Of that came Rene Niviani. the
French minister OF justice. to almost
weep forth the story Of his heart-the
tale OF the ravage OF his beloved France
by the Teutons and the story Of the
heaven-born courage OF his countryTnen,
= cot
that will create victory in the blackest
hour OF his COuntry's history.
Scenes there have been in that huge
ball room. Heroes and ambassadors OF
great distinction have there been foted.
Nobler reTasts have been served. for this
was simple American fare. And the
national anthems have there been sung
gloriou~ly. fervently. But in all the his
tory Of this country. never were men so
inspired as when the three great anthems
The NarseiIIaise." God Save the
King" and The Star SpanElcd Banner
arose from those thousand thrOats. a
triUmvirate PRAYER
1t was something more than a mere
scene to see men in the gold, drab. and
blue Of the three armies sing with real
tears on their tanned cheeks. It was
something more than a mere picture TO
hear the women in the galleries sob the
hymns in sheer cCSt9CN OF patriotism II
was worth all the days and years Of
searching for beauty tn see Gen. Joffre
grasp the hands Of Gen. Wood and blink
in silence-unable t0 speak unable 10
hear
Not as Instructors.
Mr. Balfour after the cheers which
greeted him died out, referred TO the
speakers, American, who had preceded
him and who had urged their country
men 20 join the allies. and he continued
PERSONALLY it was the right Of these
gentlemen to make that appeal. 1t is not
my right and I have not come her, au-
thorized by my government to set myself
up or to set my friends up as instructors
OF the great American people. They know
and you know how to manage your af-
fairs and do not require us. 1t may be.
It probably is, the fact that a study OF
the purpose, a very minute study Of the
history Of the war will show those who
run and desire to read there are certain
mistakes which a great democracy. i'm
perfectly prepared for war. may only
make. We shall be happy to describe
these mistakes to YOU. II happily 1t will
CONTINUED On PAGE FOUR.