MR. BALFOUR'S VISIT TO AMERICA

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3195, 20 September 1917, Page 5

MR. BALFOUR'S VISIT TO AMERICA

"THE GREATEST STEP EVER TAKEN" WAR FRONTIER WIDENED The splendid success of .Mr. Balfour's recent mission to the United States was recognised in an impressive ceremony at I tho Guildhall when tho City of London presented him on his return with an address of welcome and congratulation. "We did our best—(loud applause)—and wo received of the best," said Mr. Salfour. "Never was mission so kindly treated. I am woll assured that tho results were good becauso tho great people of tho United States realised that tho mission, apart from its business character aud its executive side, was symbolical of the great new departure in tho nistory of the world. Wo went to interchange ideas, feelings, hopes, aspirations. Across tho Atlantic wci'ound a people who could only look at tho war from far off, l-ut were able imaginatively to grasp what it means not merely for tho present but also for the future of the world, who saw with an impartiality, perhap3 impossible to us, what German militarism really means, not only for those actually fighting but for any free community developing itself upon its own lines. (Cheers.) They saw -that with a clear vision, and they entered into tho war with no sclhsn object. Even German calumny has not been able to suggest that tho United States desires territory. Tho moral assistance thus given cannot bo cxagger"lt is interesting to the cynic, almost amusing, to observe how German aims havo changed with the changing fortunes of tho war." Ho reminded his hearers of what happened in July, 19U, when it be»an to dawn upon German statesmanship that Britain was not likoly to stand aside and allow her friends to be crushed before her eyes. (Applause.) Ho'lcscribod tho bargain? Bethmann oftered that if we stood asido and lot France be beaten only tho French colonies should bo taken. "Those aro the gentlemen who nover looked towards territorial aggrandisement, who aro now; engaged against aggressive enemies circling round them ami desirous of destroying ihem! (Laughter.) Let us hear no mora of Germanj entering into the war for no other purpose but self-defence! , "The war thus bosun was continued in the same spirit. The result has been that the civilised world, even those countries most removed from immediate German designs, oven those who three years ago would never haje thought it possible that they should bo dragged into ft European quarrel, have begun to feel that unless German militarism bo crushed their own stability will always bo in neril. Further and further the frontier of war extends. Moro and more aro diplomatic relations broken off between tho Germanic Powers and. tins or that Republic in South America or m the far M ' Loathing tho Gormans. "It is the inevitable result of German methods of warfare. ("Hear heai ) Germany will neve; bo able- in our lifeUn etc.shake oil tw loathing, tho hatred and dtgust which not merely the aims but the methods havo excited. In the news trom day to day we see that one fCcou°ntry after; another throws mite brS under a constitutional King ««d a p™£ W Minister-(applause)-i3 thiowinc ner 'lo in lovers of freedom and the haters of military an tocracy. to knee a»d worship ,that ideal of Ger German utterance when the tnle^oi Mwt a WO rld settlement necessary and always must present we have witl» ™_™gj* P p P inningthe„ i tr^on Scribe because they ar 'Vhe7°entered the war with netting operations except those w:hic 1 h:e taking place in the very centre and heart of this ; of tho Commission, rejoice to think that a part, however, 1 small/should have fallen to us in bring- ™ in with our groat European and ' Asiatic Allies, tho incalculaWe moral ««d material strength of the United States, : Sit for myself? while such a gain to the world is incalculable, the results I look orward to extend far beyond thepMsAto duration of this war and reach fciward to generations. This is ■ step.ever lake,, in adiTM*ion W .tll'wh,chl know the City of London has alwajs Sj,muathised. the mutual co-operation and un- : demanding between two great nations who have sometimes misunderstood e*ch other, but who of all nations are most fitted for mutual comprehension. The Next Peace Treaty. / At a luncheon later Mr. Balfour said: "The Treaty of Berlin,, 1878, secured.a peace inevitably artificial; it did not fake account of the views ofhe.gnat ' populations concerned and left Europe ' with the seeds within it ot future strife. I hope the next great peace congress--nnt at Berlin-will have a happier des. tinv and that the territorial arrange. inents of Europe which are then attain. 1 nd will carry some security that tna : peace shall L Permanent because based 011 the permanent instinct, beliefs, tiaditions, and loyalties of mankind. Nobody will suggest that after the J-ext ' Peace Congrew much of tho Treaty of 1 Berlin will be left. "From 1878 one generation has seen the work of Berlin statesmen brought down ruins.. If wo may take the date of the mission to the United States a, affording a convenient point ot depar-ui-o for our international relations w.th that "reat Republic, I .prophesy . that not oSe generation, not ta> generations, but an illimitable time will elapse before tho good offects show any.signs ot exhaustion. The understanding between the English-speaking peoples is going to inn-ease in strength, grow 111 usefulness, and to- with each succeeding year more soTidly based, so that time sha I havo no gr P upon it, decay shall ie\er iouch iVaifd that, unlike ttje «* °' 187R it shall endure for all ami., , numentnot of the or■ conIn re orV th /eternal product of nmtim goodwill, mutual comprehension, and ll* mutual pursuit of common ideal,. (Cheers.) „