Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-02-21
IGNORING OF LORD GREY
LAID To ENJOYS AID
Wilson's Failure to Sec British
Ambassador is Caused by
Attaches Slur.

Washington, Feb. 2t.=-.-Bnhind the
unexplained failure Of Visoount Grey, Of
Falloden, 10 present bis credentials
aa British Ambassador 10 President Will
son lies n story that rcads like chap
ter of n diplomatic novel, full Of an at
tanhc's indiscfction, the intervention
of women high in official md sooial cir
clcs, the ignoring Of chief magistrates
request and thousand elements ~
political drama.
II in almost a movie production, With
Major Charles Kennedy Craufurt-
st,inrt. -. S. o., Of Queen Mary'a Own
isaluch Light Infantry in the ungrateful
star part.
The Indian major, gallant figure with
his decorations, accompanied the Earl
of Rcnding when that statesman arrived
in his twofold capacity aa ambassador
and head of the British high commission.
This WAS in January, 1918.
The fret trouble IN said To have oc-
cured Mt a diplomatic dinner party,
where the major expended his ot,serva-
tions not only of American Ii fe and poll
tics, but voiced his opinion Of President
Wilson. His hostess happened, according
Ia tho report Of the incident, to be a close
friend of the White House family and
felt called upon To sec that an account of
The incident reached the State Depart
rneut. This account Is said to have con
tained n startling summary of unflatter-
ing comment on the President.
Lord Reading was summoned In the
State Department and the charges
against his secretary were laid before
him. and IL was suggested that Major
Ca1rfurt-StlIart was no longer q welcome
official in Washington.
Presently the major appeared st the
State Department with q request that
he Ice allowed 10 explain Lansing listen
cd 20 bis apology and he was permitted
to remain.
A second complaint Of tho same sort
was lodged at the State Department,
IL also had references TO dinner table
talk Of an unusual nature.
Reading sailed away and with him
went Major Cratford-S'uart II came
with y surprise % read his name m The
train uf those who accompanied Lord
Grey. Readings suocegsor, four months
later This time ho was o civil secretary
About the time the President was be-
ginning 10 take part again IN the activities
uf his office the state Department, pre-
ellrnably Of q suggestion from the White
House. requested Lord Grey 10 return
Craufurd- Stusrt "a England. No reason
was given in the notice lord Grey
replied 81 the suggestion with request
for specifications of the charge that made
the British officer persona non grata-
lie received no hill Of particulars, but
second request that the ettache he sent
home.
lord Grey took the ground that as
Major Craufurd-Stuart WAS not an accred~
tied attache he was not subject ~ dis
rnisza hy the government to which TIC
embassy WIS accredited.
The king and queen Of the Belgians
their crown prince various members Of hie
cabinet and others were admitted to the
sick Presidents presence, but he was not
well enough tn accept ct Lord Grey's
hands the little bundle Of papers every
arnhnSsador must present to the nations
chief before he is officially on his job.
Then came the visit If the Prince of
Wales According 10 every diplomatic
precedent the young man should have been
accompanied bY the ambassador, but
precedent failed
Three weeks after Lord GSrey's depart
ure came his now famous eplstle IN the
London Times of reservation, that WAS
directly adverse 10 the position taken by
President Wilson. The latter was not
mentioned in the communication. nor was
there any reference TO his illness, despite
its bearing on the treaty controversy.