New-York tribune., 1918-06-01
By P. w. Wilson

Anser'ccn Correspondent of The London
Daily Ne1rs
Attention is here devoted to an &C.
tion for libel proceeding in London in
which the plaintiffs are Miss Maude
Allan and J. T. Grein, while the de-
fendant is Mr. Pemberton- Billing,
Member of Parliament, who has taken
an interest in aircraft. The case is:nct
yet decided, but it is already of inter
national Importance, and it is due to
Americans that they should have the
issues set out with uncompromising
lucidity.
l have never seen Miss Maude Allan,
but understand that she is an Ameri-
can citizen, against whom has been
brought a charge so terrible that it can
scarcely be set out on paper. 1t is that
as dancer she permitted her art to
be used for odious and criminal pur-
poses. That is the plain insinuation.
and Miss Allan will receive from a
British court of law the protection to
which she is entitled unless her ac-
cusers can prove the truth of their al
legations. Nothing that can be called
evidence has yet been printed in the
American press so far as l have seen.
But a fact has come out, not relevant
to the case, which is, that Miss Allan
is sister of Theodore Durant, who was
hanged in California in January, 1908,
for murder. If Miss Allan is guilty
that does not make her more so. If
she is innocent, it is cruel wrong
that shesshould be visited with punish
ment for her brothers crime. The
question whether her style of dancing
is or is not suitable is one upon which
opinions will differ. If my memory
serves right. she was not allowed to
perform in Manchester. The present
charge is, however, far graver than
mere unsuitability of a certain per-
formance, and my impression is that
the court will draw clear distinction
between the two suggestions.
Politics in the Case
come now to the political aspect of
the case The article was written in a
periodical called the "Vigilante," which
Mr.. Pemberton-Billin helps to run.
His contributor was Captain Spencer,
and the only basis suggested at pres
ent for his charges is letter by Marie
thinking less of Miss Maud Allan than
of more important persons whose
names have been mentioned in the evil
dence. | have myself known and cor
responded with most if not all of the
leading figures in English public life
and have had friends as much in one
camp as the other.
When Mr.. Lloyd George was criti-
cised for personal reasons | defended
him in the newspapers and on the
| platform, and on one occasion l was his
guest when he opened an institute in
| the village where he was born for
which he paid out of damages given to
him in court of law where he sue
cessfully defended himself against GER
tain wicked reflections in the press.
King George himself has had to vim
dicate his reputation against these
whisperers, and in doing so his honor
was defended by Lord Reading, who
was then Attorney General. What we
see to-day is nothing fresh and Great
Britain will not believe one word OF
what is put forward unless it is
proved.
Aircraft Attack Failed
In the case of Mr.. Pembcrton- Billing
not long ago he made a number of
serious charges against our aircraft
production He was given full hear
ing before a special tribunal, presided
over by one of our leading judges, and
the VcrOlCt was uH0HiiAOuo eHoV 'ic %
legations were unsupported. am not
suggesting that our air service was
perfect, or that reasonable criticism
was to be deprecated am merely re-
cordinp the fact that Mr.. Pemberton-
Billing did not on that occasion make
good.
The present charge, in effect. is one
of high treason. Certain public men
are accused of completely in the NAL,
practice alleged against Miss Maud
Allan and J. T. Grein. At present not
one word that could be called testi-
mony has been published on this SIDE.
Yet one of these men, Mr.. Asquith, who
was Prime Minister Of the British En-
pjre for eight years, refused the Gar
ter and an earldom. was responsible
for leading the country to take up arms
in defence of Belgium and France, has
lost a brilliant son in the war and has
second son, repeatedly decorated ana
promoted to be brigadier general. The
second of these statesmen is Lord Hal
dane, against whom, / admit, there Is
much prejudice. on which for the mo-
ment I say nothing.
Looks Like German Poison Gas
The third name mentioned is Mrs.
Asquith, and apparently there are
47.000 other suspcctS-men and wom-
en--;n sGreat Britain who dare
dare not back the war against Germany
because Berlin has against them evi-
dence of moral perversion. Thor
names are in book, which is not pro-
duced, but which two witnesses say