Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-22

.lyas their hope the lessons they hac
81 t4Arned In the war at such cost Nigh
SsHe9 OF service to this country in avoid
{. anE similar mistakes. Similarly. as ou'
y ypficial expressed it. the commission
Y WAS moved BY exactly the same feel
ihgs which raised the stars and Stripes
4 Ito the flag tower OF the Parliament
Z tRuilding in London--thc first time (:
N foreign nag has ever flown there,
4 E5.Secretary Balfour. a tall. white-hair.
S cd man OF siNty-nine years. who has
HELD the highest posts in the en-
plfe since he first entered Parliament
Sorty-three years aEo. saw to-day the
completion OF one OF his ltfe'S hopes
Expressed under vastly different cir
\ eumstances OH JanuaEy II. 1895. when
he was largely instrumental in avert
Jng war between England and America
over the Venezuela dispute.
Ep"lt cannot but be-. he said that
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 !
nation great II cannot but be that
fine will come when they will feel
that they and we have common duty
.
among the nations OF The world"
eHALFoUH OUTLINES GENERAL.
" HOPES FOR CONFERENCE
KaWhile unable to grant regular in
.terview before presenting himself to
president Wilson Mr. Balfour consent
Sed to say few words AS to his gen
.eral hopes for tho conference and the
.fundamentai purposes behind it. y YER
!batm copy follows
,M@'All will agree that my first duty
las head OF diplomatic mission is
TO pay my respects to the head of the
state TO which have been sent. and 70
public expression of opinion on points
cof policy would. think. he useful
sor even tolcrahlc until have had the
Honor OF comforting with your rresi-
dent. and learning his views. | have
mot come here 10 make speeches or in
.dulgc in interviews, but to do what
Il can TO make co operation easy and
keRective between those who are striv-
Ting with all their power 10 bring about
"a lasting peace by the only means
that can secure II: namely. A success
ful war.
= without. however violating tho rule
"a have just laid down. there are two
filings which ! may permit myself to
.say--one. on my own behalf the other
yon behalf ~ my countrymcn IN gen
terai
~ ''On my own behalf. let me express
etke deep qualification feel AT being
.ralled in any capacity whatever with
tfycnts which associate our countries
I'm a common effort for great ideal
r. "on behalf 81 my countrymcn let
INC express our gratitude for all tina,
.ihe citizens OF the United states of
america have done 10 mitigate the lot
oof those who. in the allied countries,
shave suffered from the cruclties 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 prisoners OF war ia
Germany. and the administrative genius
(which Mr.. Hoover has uneruds inGly
devoted To tho relief Of the unhappy
1BelGi ans and French in the territories
still in enemy occupation. Will never
be forgotten; while an incXhaustible
tstream OF charitahle effort has supplied
,9nedical and nursing skill to the SER
iEpfce of the wounded and the sick.
.REJOICES TO THINK DAYS
OF MEL THALITy ARE ENDED
a. These arc the memorable doings Of
"a benetcent neutrality. Rut the days
OF neutrality. rejoice to think. at an
) end; and the first page is being turn
ed in a new chapter i'm the history of
mankind Your President in most
zap, and vivid phrase. has proclaimed
that the world must be made safe for
democracy. Dcmocracies wherever
they are to 10 found and not least the
dem ocrac ies OF tho British empire will
hail the pron"uuccment as 4 happy
augury. That governing cominu-
mites are not TO be treated as negligible
SIMPLY because they arc small. that
The ruthless domination OF one un-
%scrupulous power inperils the future
of civilization. and the liberties OF
smankind are truths Of political ethics
(which the bitter experience Of wrr T.
.buruins into the sAIts OF all freedom
.1oHing peoples. .Ths- this great p.o-
tpie should have thrown themselves
a~holeheartedly into this mighty strug-
gle, prepared for all inc efforts and
ysacrihccs that may he required to win
Success for this most righteous cause
As an event at once 50 happy and so
bmpmentous that only mo historian ut
the future viii he able. as | believe.
~ mcasur" its tru" proportions
~ ,Sixncdp ~ j EALFoER"
tG\pIt 'It,DI II ~ ,>iJt>t.yn>