New-York tribune., 1918-03-07
The Lincoln London Wants
(Eron1 7vlc Chro1,,clcl

Sir hlfred Nond, the BRITISH Commis-
Sionor of Public Works. 7chose department
is engaged on this difficult problem of
-dmerica's gift, the statue of abraham Lin
coin, has inspired the ensuing communication
ych'ch should for all time settle the dispute
as to schether George Grey Barnard's "Lin-
coin" be sent for erection at TVestninister
SIR AIfred, the intimate friend of the Prime
Minister, IS IN a position to pass on this sub
Ject, and IN the follozcing he discloses oreot
tact IN intimnting to oil the ad1ersaries in
the bitter quarrel the precise attitude of his
9orernment. Not only as a statesman. but as
connots$cur Of art, Sir 1Ired ranks hiqh
IN Britain, and his scmi-oHiciui mcssaqe to
the cditor Of "The Chronicle" must be re-
garded from both important points of riezo:
"Dear Sir:
~ am desired by Sir Alfred Mond to
thank you for your letter of the Cd inst.
and for the copy Of The Chronicle, which,
however, has not yet arrived
Sir Alfred desires me to tell you that he
has been kept very fully informed Of the
controversy that has taken place concern
ing Mr.. Barnard's statue of President Lin
coin, and is perfectly aware of the fact that
a great many distinguished artists, art
critics and men Of taste, whose opinion is
certainly worthy of all consideration, think
very highly of it as a work of art. Sir AL
1rcd thinks you must realize, however, that
ne has taken up the only possible attitude
Tor British minister in his position
namely, that while this government would
welcome with the utmost pleasure a repre-
sentatlon of Americas greatest statesman
for erection in
be quite improper for him to express anv
oplnlon on the merits or demerits of stat
ues by American artists which it is nro.
posed to select for this purpose Evidently
the fact that large section of influential
OPINION IN the United States itself nclud-
ing the son of President Lincoln. has taken
up strong attitude in the controversy can.
hot be ignored either by Sir Alfred Mond
or the ministry. 1t is to be hoped that
some degree of unanimity will eventually be
reached as to the statue best fitted to repre-
sent President Lincoln, with due REGARD ~
the TACT that the statue is to be crected IN
London on the extremely important site at
present allotted to it, and to the necessity
u us oe'ng IN harmony with the statues al
ready IN position IN that neighborhood.
or aired Mond, if it were permissible
lor nm to express personal oninion an
the matter, would be dsposed to cav tha+ -
is improbable that the replica of anv ox;st
ing statue, designed for different condi
tlons, is ever likely to make a satisfactor,
impression. He feels sure that Mr. Rarnord
or any other sculptor would agree with him
thaI statue should be designed with rof
erehcc 10 the site and SURROUNDINGS IN
"hich II Is to be placed. If you could uso
your influence in this direction. Sir Alfred
is confident that it would do much to nros
mote the result desired by every ono CON
cerned- namely, the erection in London of
worthy memorial of n great man whose
memory is honorcd on this side of the watcr
as IL is on yours. Yours faithfully,
"AENEAS O'NEILI,"