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=The British War Mission in the United States of America 1917-1919=

The British War Mission was an umbrella organisation under which the British government sought to coordinate its activities in the United States during the latter half of the Great War, as well as liaise with Woodrow Wilson's presidential administration. It was set up following the United States declaration of war against Germany in the spring of 1917, and was led by a High Commissariat in Washington DC. Following cooperation problems between the Mission and the permanent British Diplomatic staff, the role of High Commissioner was joined with that of British Ambassador to the United States in February 1918. At its peak the British War Mission had several thousand members, ranging from locally employed American citizens, to staff seconded from British and Commonwealth ministries and government departments. It was active in areas from the purchasing of munitions and supplies, to war finance, propaganda and negotiations with neutral countries. Following the end of the war, the Mission was wound down in July 1919.

The Balfour Mission and US entry into the war
Germany's resumption of unrestricted U-boat warfare in February 1917 led to a complete breakdown in diplomatic relations between Berlin and Washington DC. On 6 April, the US Congress declared war on the Central Powers, and joined the conflict as an associated power of the Triple Entente. This development was welcomed by the British government, who had long been procuring goods, munitions and finance from US sources for its war effort. By the end of 1916, over 40% of British public expenditure went into procuring American supplies. This vast outpouring of funds was administered by a growing number of British officials resident in North America. The British Ministry of Munitions alone had over 1600 employees working in the United States by the time the US entered the war. Although most of these Entente efforts had been made with the full knowledge, and tacit acceptance, of the US government, the British now saw the potential for a much greater degree of cooperation with the Wilson administration, as well as improved access to US resources. In order to facilitate cooperation and assist the Wilson administration in putting the United States on a war footing as quickly as possible, the British government dispatched an interdepartmental mission to America headed by Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour. The Balfour Mission arrived in Washington DC on 22 April, and to their disappointment found that the US government had made few serious preparations for war. Balfour's visit itself was perceived by the British as an almost unqualified success, but the results of the work of many of the technical delegations of the mission were mixed. For example, the delegation from the Ministry of Food accomplished almost all its objectives, while the Ministry of Shipping delegation achieved very little. When Balfour left the US on 25 May, after more than a month of consultations, the British were therefore far from satisfied with the state of American participation in the war.

Lord Northcliffe and the creation of the British War Mission
Much of the work which the members of the Balfour Mission had set out to do was yet undone by the time the mission left the United States. The Wilson administration had also refused to take over the direct responsibility for purchasing and shipping of American supplies on behalf of the Entente. For these reasons, and because the war effort required permanent liaison with the US government, many of the technical staff of the mission remained behind in America in order to continue their efforts. The British government also decided that it would be necessary to establish a degree of centralised control over its various delegations, representatives and purchasing agencies working in the US. On 31 May 1917, less than a week after Balfour had left, Prime Minister Lloyd George therefore appointed Lord Northcliffe as High Commissioner of the new British War Mission in the United States of America.