Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-24
HAD A DEPRESSING EFFECT.
Reception by Official Circles Of the
News From London.

The sad news from London had very
depressing effect upon official circles here
1t had been supposed from the hopeful ac-
counts that came from London within thu
past two days that the king had recovered
from his indsposition and interest was
directed to the myriad details of the mag
nicent ceremonial which was to eliminate
Thursday In the actual crowning of King
Edward VII. The news came first through
the press bulletins. and these We're soon
confirmed by cablegram from Ambassador
Choate, directed to Secretary Hay, in which
he said that the coronation had been post
poned Indefinitely on account of the indis-
position of the king
Secretary Hay had taken an early morn
ing train for Boston in company with Mrs
Hay, whom he is escorting to their summer
home at Sunapee Lake, n. H. Dr. HILL
acting secretary of state, communicated the
news at once to the President. There is
little to be done at this stage in Washing
ton connected with the events in London
The President will personally dispatch
sympathetic cablegram from the White
House to Buckingham Palace and then
there is nothing to do but await develop
ments. and if the worst should follow, to
take whatever action is called for.
Mr.. Whitelaw Reid's Report.
During the afternoon cablegrams were re-
ceived at the State Department from White
law Reid, the special ambassador at Lon
don. and from Henry White, the secretary
of the United States embassy there. Mr..
Reid reported that he had been informed at
II o'clock this morning by telephone mes
sage from Buckingham Palace that the
state banquet which was to have taken
place there tonight had been postponed be-
cause Of the state of the kings health.
The ambassador at once went over to the
palace, accompanied by his attendant, Sir
Edward Fleetwood, and was informed that
| an operation for appendicitis had just been
performed. The king had fallen into
quiet sleep after the operation. showing no
signs Of sinking from the shock Of the op-
Grafton. The announcement was made that
the coronation had been postponed without
date and the program arranged for tomor
row had been abandoned
Everywhere signs of sorrow were begin
ming to appear, and these were particularly
conspicuous in the Heighborhood of West
| minister Abbey.
The important statement in the cable
gram from Mr.. White was that the corona
ton could not take place for at least two
months, and, except the dinner which was
arranged to be given in the kings name tic
the poor in London at the end OF the cere-
monies, all festivities connected with the
coronation have been definitely abandoned
"A great deal of intrest in the illness of
King Edward and the postponement of the
coronation in London is felt at the District
building on account Of the presence in the
English capital of Col. John Biddle, the
Engineer Commission of the District. Col.
Biddle Is one of the two aids assigned to
General James H. Wilson. the military rep
resentative on the United States embassy
to the coronation, and left for London June
Just what effect the postponement Of the
coronation will have on Colonel Biddle's
stay abroad Is not known, as he has not
been heard from since he arrived in Lon
don.