New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-22
Northclife and
Tribune Stir
House of Lords
Editorial Passage Causes
Spirited Debate in Effort
for Revenge
Curzon Defends Envoy
crewe Points Out Consistent
Course Followed by New
York Paper
curzon Defends Envoy
~ ARTHUR 5. DRAPER
m c,sl, 70 TIC Ta6unel

.t.,o,ce was made Dy inc 'PN"
The New York Tribune ,,...;.,
..s.are from recent editorial
eng the work Of Northelife was
prn. ..i times quoted and an EFFORT
se',i' .bow that it was inspired by
~o-tbcliFe himself. =,
~. ashste was really an attempt OF
- msrbers Of the Asquith govern
ST. - obtain revenge for attacks
m.5. on them by NOrthclife papers.
y :. another move in the game started
,.., Saturday in Gardeners DAILY
ysv,p and reported in these dispatches.
rord Buckmaster, the former Lord
c,.rcellor. who started the debate
,,t.s for half an hour, bitterly attack
;nr Northclife as a newspaper pro-
,-;stor and the arrangement by which
:. was appointed to the present mis-
sion.
The Tribune editorial stated that as
yorthclire's work in England was end
% for the time being with the forma-
ton of the Lloyd George Cabinet he
could be spared TO use his great talents
in the United States. which "is strug-
cling. as Great Britain had to struggle,
10 prepare for war"
Lord Buckmaster's Question
Lord Buckmaster asked:
ais il the case because Northcliffe
has. in the belief Of the government,
been instrumental in overthrowing the
late government and establishing the
new. that they no longer have any
need for his activities? He has, | be-
Neve. placed his services at the dis
posal Of the government with a Jealous
desire 10 forward the interests Of this
country. 1t is not right that his pow
ers should be impaired and that his
mission and MS position should be i'm
peached because the people take an
entirely erroneous view OF what 10 is
he has been sent to do. ] trust that
Lord Curzon Will be able 30 assure the
House, first, that Northchffe is not Mr..
Balfours successor. and, second. that
the powers with which ne is invested
are powers which have in them moth
ing whatever OF diplomatic character
Lord Curzon. replying for the gov
eminent, said he had often regarded
with admiration the ability and in
genuity Of Lord Buckmaster, but never
more so than on this occasion when,
with the assistance of The New York
Tribune most unexpected ally
be had succeeded in making a four-iine
question a peg upon which TO hang an
grafton.
Wrong. Says Curzon
he continued:
Il need not say more than that Lord
Buckmaster is entirely wrong in his
conception of the mission entrusted 10
Lord Northcliffe. There is no mystery
or secrecy about il, and the words of
Bonsr Law do not appear 10 me 70 sug-
gest the reflections which were in Lord
Buekmaster's mind. ! was rather
amused 20 hear at the end Of his
speech that the questions which he put
70 me were designed In the interests Of
Lord Northclitfs himself.
81 an sure he will be very much
obliged 70 Lord Bucsmaster for the
service he has rendered 20 him, and
he will be still more surprised when
he reads the speech"
Dealing with the questions on paper,
Lord CurzOn said there was no analogy
whatever between the appointment Of
NorthcliFe and that Of BalfOur, or the
powers, functions and duties of the
Two men. The degree OF authority
possessed By Lord Northcliffe and the
exact nature Of the objects with which
be had been sent out might be inferred
from telegram read by Bonar Law.
Lord Buckmaster had asked what
were the departments which had mis-
SONS and had suggested the War once,
the Admiralty and the Ministry Of
Munitions. To be quite accurate. he
might have added the Treasury and the
department connected with food sup
plies.
NorihclifIe's Real Errand
The telegram went on 10 say that
part Of Northclfe's duty was 20 main
tain friendly relations both with the
Allies and their representatives IN
America and with the United States
authorities themselves
Lord Crewe said he did not quite fol-
low the slluslon % The New York Trb-
rne a. an ally IT, was well known
that all through the war The Tribune
RAG stsncnly upheld the cause OF the
Allies, and j, had always been under
$1,000 % be in the closest ard most in
innate ss7ocistiOn with "The London
INES. Why should 10 be supposed
that LORD buckmastcr was doing some
rlng eccentric in quoting If he could
not under 'ardy Hc could not help re-
mafking on The omission Of Lord Cur
Ion 70 sIlde he would not say 20 the
connection Of Lord Northcliffc with the
press % the control which he eX-
.icsed over 20 large and important a
poay Of guides 20 public opinion in
ms country. u was not possible 20
YnoIe nat in making public comment
or me mission.
Lord Ribbesdale. = brother-in-law Of
hsq1ith, thought that Lord Curzon had
ineo % lead the House OF the real OBJ
l'et o. Lord Buckmaeter's inquiry As
we extracts from The Tribune, he
ehifrEtood Lord Curz0n % say that
,ts we're n description Of Lord
|Di'heii'e'F ability which Lord North
tine himself had chosen and had put
70 hs various newspaper. and that
M1t vas no concern % the govern
hfnt He did not think Lord Curzon
h.i stated - quite like that, but that
vas a good line 81 argument. Would
,'fo Curzon tell them exactly what
Lpia Norhelife had gone 20 America