Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-05-17
BY JoSEPHUS DANIELS,
Former Secretary of the Navy

BY JosEPHUs DANIELS,
Former Secretary of the Navy.
Copvright, 1921. by John f. Ollie
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ARTICLE 81
Two figures stand out with unfor-
gettable distinction from the group
- of interesting trans Atlantic person
alities which visited US in the days
Immediately following our entrance
into the war.
Taken singly each has an individu-
aIity which anywhere would COM
mand attention Together they pre-
sent as strong a contrast as one
could well find in men of the same
race.
Arthur James Balfour came first,
ST at the head of the British high COM
missioners, who arrived in Washing
iton on Sunday, April %, 1917-six-
teen DAYS after our declaration. Two
months later came Lord Northcliffe.
- 1t is Of these two men in particular
that want to write in this article.
al They made a profound impression
s. upon Washington and they did much
to promote the cooperation which
was essential to the successful doing
Of the common task.
OF course both men were well known
TO US by reputation. Northciffe had
been in the United States before the war
. and had many acquaintance here.
Bslfour we knew as a statesman, stu
dent, a philosopher. His fame was built
upon his conspicuous service in govern
5 nent office and his scholarly and nlumi
mating contributions 10 the discussion OF
some Of the most profound problems Of
human life.
s. ,BALFOUR OF ANCIENT
.$ LINEAGE.
Reference to a British who's Who"
iiscloses the less generally known facts
hat he was an enthusiastic golfer and
tennis player, and at one time president /
the English Cyclists Association,
And Balfour was a Cecil.
In Great Britain that meant much. |
Here It meant little, snd one Of the diff I
#3# ult things for Us to understand was that /
Balfour, scion OF an ancient and aristO- /
ratio British family. nephew OF Lord /.
Salisbury and uncle OF Lords Hugh and I
Robert Cecil. came to US as plain Arthur 1
~ James BslfOur, Esq, or Mr.. A. J. Bal /
four whereas Alfred Harmsworth, who /
began life without influence or wealth, /
4 came to US Lord Northcliffe.
was prepared for the arrival OF the /
British high commissioners by a visit 1
from Admiral Frank F. Fletcher. who /
4 had been chosen by me to go to Halifax /
~ rs naval member OF the committee on /
* welcome.
He called at my home on Sunday morn /
ing. after leaving the distinguished /
guests OF America comfortably estab- 4
ished In the capital, and that afternoon 4
he whole city turned out to make /
gala day Of its welcome.
kPEAKs OF
n RELIGION IN WAR"
- Sundays in wartime were apt to be
xduite unlike the Sundays with which a /
pious training had made US familiar in /
days Of peace. 1 found during the war 1
hat, except for the church hour IL was 1
peratiye to vary from the long estab- /
shed custom Of not working on the 4
yseventh day. Indeed, in planning, as /
~ well as in fighting in the world war, as 4
81 in most wars. history shows that the 4
quiet of the Sabbath has seemed con- |
81 duciEe to important conferences and /
@ bloody battles. Why is this! 1 pass the I
|4query on having no answer except that |
In war for humanity bottomed upon /
Christian principles. 1 believe tnat the |
ox-in-the ditch principle. rather than |
sstrict exclusion Of all save church wor- |
ship. is religion in war.
Admiral -
& Ing conversation reported to me his i'm |
% preston Of the members Of the mission /
He said Mr.. BalfOur and Admiral de /
Chair-the latter the naval member of /
- he British mission-taiked freely. but /
- seemed to be deeply serious, IL not de-
y ressed, by the gravity OF the sltua- |
F*&fOn. They expressed confidence OF uIti- /
pate victory for the allies, but regarded I
- She German submarine warfare as most /
.4z< angerous, and thought there would be /
'XsFF terrible, and probably, a long strug- 4
- lie before victory. Admiral Fletcher and I
. ~ Admiral de Chair were old acquaintances
= md there had been no reserve between |
hem.
BALFOUR IN
DOUBLE CHARACTER
And so, with the background fur
nished by the admirals report, I went |
presently to meet these men who had /
come to extend the hand of comrade- /
ship in the great fight for civilization.
OF course, Mr.. Bslfour, as have
said, was the outstanding figure. In the |
second year Of the war he was FIRST lord !
OF the admiralty. He had been blamed 1
for giving Jellicoe the high sea command |
He had been praised for many sue
cesses of the British navy. Was he Bal
four. the great philosopher or was he. as
some Of the Irish called him. bloody |
Balfour?" Was he a real DR.. Jekyll and |
Mr. Hyde1
II you had met him as I did on the .
Monday after his arrival and been priv
ileged TO be HIS dinner partner at the
White House. you could never suppose
he was other than the rather alOof schol-
CONTINUED on Page Four.)