Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-02-21
Harvey Joins
in Welcome Home
to BalfOur, Britisher


]. Balfour. head Of the British mis-
sion at the Washington conference.
In his welcome to the home land.
when American Ambassador George
Harvey. tonight addressed the PHI
grims society dinner At which 800
persons assembled. The Duke Of
York represented the royal family.
and the others included ministers Of
the cabinet, civil and military leaders
and officials and unoncials repre-
sentatives Of the American commun.
ity.
It was a personal welcome" for q
great pilgrim, according to Marquis
Curzon, In contrast to the oAlcial
welcome accorded Mr.. Balfour by
the government luncheon Thursday.
The king by letter. which was read
to the diners. tho Duke of York,
Lord Curzon and Mr.. Harvey in
dulged in eulogies OF Mr.. Balfour.
Cheers greeted Ambassador Harvey's
prediction that the United States was
as certain to ratify the various treat
les as the British parliament was to
sanction them.
LAS a recruit OF the Pacific pact"
said Lord Curzon. mot a man in this
room tonight can expect to see war
fare In that part OF the world"
With the modesty which charac-
terized and popularized his efforts at
Washington, Mr.. Balfour, in re-
spending. said that in all the years OF
his career he had never attended an
occasion SO moving and SO difficult
to do justice to this welcome.
Thought for the moment he ap-
peared in the forefront OF the pic
ture. he pointed out that the part OF
any individual was but small mat
ter In dealing with issues 90 great
az were handled at Washington.
The Washington conference. Mr..
Balfour declared, was Of unmixed
benefit to mankind. Ono or two
things he hoped had been accom-
plished, but the greatest satisfaction
was that nothing had been done
which carried the evil seed Of future
misfortune. He did not agree with
the only suggestion of criticism of
the conference he had heard-that
the results were inimicable to the
league of nations.
1.-The league could not have done
emphatically amid cheers. THE
world is in such condition that all
machinery and every instrument
upon which we can lay our hands are
needed to raise it to pre-war level"
Neither could Washington accom-
plish, in his opinion. the work OF the
league, for which other machinery
had not yet been discovered.
Concluding. Mr.. Balfour said:
1.-THE representatives of the nine
powers represented look back on the
sixteen weeks of their labors with un-
mixed satisfaction. Every one has
gained by these labors: no represen-
tative will return to his homeland I'M
able to claim that he furthered the
, interests of the world, and thereby the
interests of his particular people. In
all the great area of the far east, of
the Pacific, in all the nations inter-
ested in maritime affairs, in every
ono of those lands and in all other
lands connected with them the find
ings of the conference will produce
unmixed advantages to the peoples of
the world"
Lord Desborough presided over the
dinner and read a response from the
King expressing thanks for loyal
message lin gratifying announcement
Of special significance. a united OK
preston from the hearts Of American
and British citizens met together to
do honor to the chief British delegate
returned home"
The Kings message said:
Mr.. Balfour in the discharge of
high and responsible duties displayed
his aracteristic powers and ability.
thereby maintaining the highest ira
ditions of British craftsmanship and
justly earning the gratitude and adj
miration of the empire. I feel also
that it is not too much to say that he
has gained the confidence and esteem
of those other great nations repre-
scented in that historic assembly.
with universal thankfulness for
the great results achieved at Wash
ington, there must 90 forth feelings
OF grateful recognition to the Pres
ident of the United States. He was
the originator of the conference. and
the world Is immeasuIably indebted
to him for the initiation OF his great
idea.
! But in thanking the president we
cannot forget; what has been ac-
knowledged by all who participated in
the proceedings of the conference.
which was due to the skill. courtesy
and tact with which Mr.. Hughes the
secretary OF state, presided over the
deliberations.
what has been accomplished and
ratified by the delegates is Of PROM
inent importance, apart from the
great measure of it's work, has not the
conference kindled among the nations
of the world a new spirit which 1t is
quicken the old diplomacy and giving
it an international, rather than a mere
national, character. am with you in
heart tonight,
The Prince Of Wales cabled from
Delhi his regrets at being unable to
be present. Prince Arthur of Con-
naught, governor general of the Union
Of South Africa. sent message pay
ing tribute to Mr.. Balfour. The chair
man of he Pilgrims society of the
United States. cables, rejoicing that
thanks largely to Anglo american
cooperation. in which Mr.. Balfour
took so loyal part, the Washington
conference has known 1t still closer
the bonds of kinship and affection
between the two great English speak.