New-York tribune., 1920-02-06
PRESIDENT Serves Informal
Notice on Britain He
Was Displeased With
! Publication of Message
Executive Plainly
! Angered by Act
Diplomat's Staten emit
! Made to Ease British
Feeling, Says Hitchcock


WASHINGTON, Feb. o.-Presi-
sent Wilson to-day virtually served
Informal notice on the British gov
arnment that he was displeased over
the letter of Viscount Grey, pub
Hshed in THE London Times" which
declared Britain would be willing to
accept the Lodge reservations.
Secretary Tumulty, after talk
With the President, authorized news
psper correspondents to quote him
president Wilson, on one point
that the British government had not
consulted him Mr.. Wilson1 about
the Lord Grey letter, and that the
FIRST notice of the letter reached the
President after it had been cabled
10 American newspapers.
Realizing that anything printed in
this country as to the Presidents
feelings on the Grey letter would be
Immediately cabed to the London
papers, and thus brought sharply to
the attention of the British Foreign
Office, officials who usually speak for
the President, far from discounting
the reports that the President was
angered, as printed this morning,
said without hesitation that the
President regards the Grey publica-
ton as the "grossest possible breach
of'courtesy.'
80 Chance to Win Back Irish
YCuriously enough the incident, re-
garded generally at first as body
blow TO the President and his fight
for whole hearted" ratification of the
treaty, is being seized at the White
House now as a perfectly splendid bit
0. publicity. 1t is felt by some of the
Presidents political advisers that this
gives the Democrats their first oppor-
tunity to win back the Irish vote-es-
sranged by the treaty fight - by a
strong demonstration of feeling against
British interference"
Senator Reed, OF Missouri, the Dem
ocratic irreconcilable, professed indig
nation at the Grey move
I. 1T just shows what this league of
nations will lead to-" he said "This
time the interference from foreign
sources has been rather on my side,
and has tended to confound my oppo-
ments. But the next time it may be
against me. | don't want condition
where foreigners are continually max
ing motions with a view to affecting
the American government"
Wilson Appealed to British
In diplomatic circles there was much
quiet. If suppressed. amusement at the
references in afternoon papers to pre-
vicus Incidents in which foreign am
bsstadors have sought to influence
American opinion, <or in which it has
eeen thought they tried to do so. 1t was
pointed out that, while President Cleve-
land was very firm in the Sackvile-
West case, President Wilson rather laid
himself open when, while in England,
ne deliberately appealed to the British
people over the heads of the British
government in his speeches at Man
chester, Carlisle and Newcastle.
gin that case the President, acting as
Ne special envoy of the United States,
went much further, diplomats here
th'nk, than Lord Grey did in his own
country and in a letter addressed to
an English newspaper
4, Secretary Of State Lansing declined
p comment at all for publication ex-
cSept to deny lie had been asked as yet
ny The President 10 make any cepra-
sshtations to the British government on
the subject va
90 pronounced is the feeling of re-
ssntment manifested against Lord Grey
= IN administration quarters that it is
.sloiy question but that if Lord Grey
acre still here recall would be de-
Msnoed AS it is, the incident has put
:. quetus on any further expectancy
.nae Lord Grey might return to this
country as the British representative.
10 Gag" Future Ambassador
s.H!i .uHl!thermore, so pronounced is the
uosu,ty enGendered over the whole
episode that it is entirely conceivable
r,'s. when the time comes for Great
~ Ltita'h TO send new ambassador to
MIS- ~ country the Administration at
W Washington will find opportunity to
a'@Se II plain that President Wilson
auss s' not purpose to have any future
ambassador dealing with the Senate
oser the head of the President.
senator Hitchcock, leader Of the Ad-
forces in the Senate, re-
= sained to Washington from his home
- "a omaha to-day to take charge Of the
s'9aty hight for the Democrats q
,n1''eehcock admitted that Lord Grey
so'a nm before the ambassador left
..eI england that Great Britain did
- W. oaject to any Of the Lodge reser-
tt;.s'ons' but that the Lenroot reserva-
t,on would be objected to by the
Driish .,l;y colonies. The Grey letter, he
sna.a' mas changed sentiment among the
t,emocrats regarding reservations, but
81 declared there is still strong oppo-
r's,on to the Lodge program on tn
democratic side. -.
!. senator Hitchcock Immediately called
meeting Of Democratic Senator's,
sno are friends Of the treaty for
::a,urday. The Grey letter and the.
.gnt over ratification that will DO re-
seWed in the Senate Monday, when
'enator Lodge will call up the treaty
'Rain. will be discussed by the Demo
sees. Discussing the meeting OF the