The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-08-05
NORTHCLIFFE SAYS
He IS, CHAPLIN
DENIES THECHARGE

Los ANGELES, Aug. 4-Charles
Spencer Chaplin. otherwise Charlie
Chaplin, the famous comedian Of the
screen, has announced that he Is
Union Jack the minute that England,
OF which country he is a subject, calls.
His statement was given in answer
to an editorial published in the
Weekly Dispatch, a London Sunday
paper owned by Lord NortLclifre,
present chief Of the British mission
to the United States. Lord North
clifre's paper calls on the comedian to
do his duty and join the coloI8.
II am ready and willing to answer
the call OF my country to serve In any
branch OF the military service or at
whatever post the national auIhI rifles
may consider I might do the most
good" said Chaplin. But, like thou
sands of other Britishers, I am await
ing word from the British embassy in
Washington.
when that official notice comes, I
will give up my contracts and my
work in this country, and will wear
the khaki Of the army, the blue Of the
navy. or any other uniform desig-
mated So far have not received
that call, and until DO will remain
here at my work.
Invested In War Loans.
Meanwhile I have invested a quar-
ter OF a million dollars in the war
activities OF America and England in
both the loans TO carry on the strug-
gle and for the humanitarian work Of
the Red Cross. But il the English
government concludes that am need
ed or might be more valuable to 1t
on the firing line, then l will do my
duty"
Asked whether or not he would
wait for CONSUMPTION OF Englishmen
residents in America before offering
himself for military service Chaplin
ROLLED that he could not make a
public announcement of the condi-
tions under which he would enlist.
he said he regarded the query as IN
fCir.
n giving his statement the come
dian took a couple OF verbal hot shots
at the official war representative OF
his country in America Nord North
cliffe.
who is Lord Northcliffe, anyway"
Chaplain asked. then answered the
question himself. He is not the of
fetal representative Of the Kings
government to whom all the English
men in the nation look for advice and
orders. I do not even know whether
he is over here on a special mission.
Recognizes One Authority.
Anyway, I do not care to be
dragged into a controversy with Lord
Eorthcliffe in the public prints, espe-
ciaIly when he has attacked me in
his London papers. There is only one
EnElishman in the country to whom
! will give answer, and that is the
ambassador or his representatives,
who carry credentials 10 properly
identify them.
This Is not a thing to be dragged
into the newspapers, II is q very seri-
Gus matter. At one time Lord North
clifte assumed an entirely different
attitude and one incident that &C.
CURED Is probably responsible for his
change towards me.
His papers began printing an IN
authorized autobiography of me. In
one article the author became so per-
sonal as to say that my father beat
my mother. The result was that /
stopped further publication Of the
articles through my lawyers. Prior
to that time had received q per-
sonal wire from the gentleman con-
graduating me on my success here.
"A few weeks ago when America,
the country under whose laws ! am
living and making my bread and but
ter, called on her manhood, alien and
native alike, to stand up and be ready