New-York tribune., 1918-09-13
Page
By Arthur S. Draper
ONDON, Sept. I've formed semi
circle about the ambassador, who

\ circle about the ambassador, who,
with his back to the open fire, his long
legs crossed, n half smoked cigar in the
corner Of his mouth, rested in an easy chair.
America neutral. Allied tonnage was
being sunk at furious rate. Hag was
sogging away in desperate effort to gain
the crest Of Passchendaele Ridge The Brit
ish could not understand why America
NAMED aloof.
Some one asked about Washngtons atti-
tudc toward the British "black list"
"Well, gentlemen, of course the State De-
partment will undoubtedly issue statement
on that matter soon. Do you know, boys,
would like to get real piece of pumpkin pie.
Do you know, I haven't been able to get my
cook to make real pumpkin pie. We had
something called pumpkin pie the other
day. What do you think it was? Just a
piece of pie crust floating around in sea
pumpkin-an English pumpkin tart"
And Walter Hines Page, American Am
bassador to the Court of St. James's, enter
tanned group of American newsgatherers
for three quarters Of an hour. Every
Wednesday met him at the embassy,
always hopeful, always entertained. Mr..
Page told many stories He told them to
Viscount Grey, Mr.. Balfour, Lord Robert
Cecil, Lloyd George and perhaps the King
Some statesmen and politicians have moth
ing to say and say great deal. Others have
something to say and as silent as the
Sphinx. Mr.. Page had something to say and
never said it, but made American CORE
spondents feel that nothing would have
pleased him more than to tell them Just
what they wanted to know
There a strong friendship between
Mr.. Balfour and Mr.. Page. The British
Foreign Minister and the American Ambas-
sador are alike in appearance, dress and
speech.
We were in the and there was a large
gathering of Americans at the Fourth of
July dinner at the Savoy Hotel Mr. Bal
four and Mr. Page were the chief spokes-
men. The ambassador, who, by the way.
invariably prepared his speeches and always
held his manuscript in his hand, was trou-
bled with hoarsc throat and frequently
stopped to take sip Of water. Mrs Page,
who sat next Mr. Balfour, could not hide
her anxiety. Toward her husband she dis
played a motherly concern, and her fears
that his voice would fail him were plain to
see. Finally the ambassador finished with
peroration that voiced the sentiments Mr.
Wilson expressed in his speech before Con-
gress at the time war was declared Every
diner jumped to his feet cheering wildly
and waving flags and napkins.
Came Mr.. Balfour. The polished, distin-
gulshed British aristocrat, with his exuui-
site choice of words his clear, limpid voice
ms easy gestures, was a striking contrast
to the American. have forgotten Mr.. Bal
tours toast but what will remain in the
mind of every who heard him was the
warm tribute he paid to the American Am
bassador-a public acknowledgment of his
high personal regard for Mr.. Page 1t was
no conventional felctaton, but the hearty
congratulation of one friend to another.
Mr.. Balfour had been to America. He
was tanned, dusty; his coat collar askew.
soft hat on his head, an I-had-a-good-time-
but-P glad to- be home smile on his face
His sister had brought his collie dog to the
station. There were various soldiers and
secretaries around to welcome the man re-
sponsble for the foreign policy of the
worlds greatest empire. Suddenly his eye
caught figure standing outside the family
circle and Mr. Balfour hurried over and
grasped Mr.. Pages hand With his other
hand on the shoulder of the American Am
bassador he told him how much he had en-
joyed his trip and how anxious he was to
have a long talk with him!
MIR. Page has a deep affection for England
and the English. He enjoyed travelling
about the country; he liked to stroll through
the country lanes and quaint villages; he
took keen pleasure in playing golf The
English have real affection for him. A
robust but not aggressive American, Mr..
Page won friends everywhere.