Arizona republican., 1920-12-24
EXPLANATION OF EMBASSY BREACH
 MAY BE SOUGH I BY STATE DEPT.
Official Cognizance Taken of British Embassy Action In W iJiag Directly To Senator \ ellogg
Republican A. p. Leased wlreI

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23-Official cognizance was taken today by the state department of the action of the British embassy in writing directly to Chairman Kellogg of the senate in- vestigating cable communications, de- nying testimoney of witnesses that the British authorities imposed a censor ship on cable messages coming to the Limited States from Great Britain.
 At the departments request, Senator Kellogg sent to Acting Secretary Da- wis copy of the embassy's letter, to- gether with a transcript of the testi- mony of officials of American cable companies that a censorship was i'm posed. MT. Davis cbnferred today with Assistant Secretary Merle Smith, in charge of European affairs. and Solic- itor Fred K. Nelson. At that time, however, the letter from Senator Kel logg had not reached the department. Will Seek Explanation
 Officials declined to discuss the in cident, but it was indicated that the embassy would be asked for an ex- planation of what was regarded as a breach of diplomatic courtesy A simi- lar course was followed recently when Dr. Julia Bjanchi the Guatemalan min itser took up directly with Senator Moses of New Hampshire a discussion of the senator's resolution asking the state department for information con- corning the detention of former Presi- dent Cabrera by the present authorit- ties in Guatemala. It was clear how ever. that the two incidents were not regarded as within the same category as one dealt with contemplated action | by the legislative branch of the gov ernment, whereas the other had only to do with an effort to correct what was regarded by the embassy as err roneous information which had been given to a senate committee in the course of a hearing.
 Officials also indicated their belief that there was some reasonable ex- planation of the embassy's action in dealing directly with Senator Kellogg
 instead of through the state depart ment
 Followed Public Statement
 Neither the embassy's letter nor thai written by Senator Kellogg to Mir Da- i wis was made public. The former was understood to have been signed b1
 K. Leslie Craig first secretary Of tho 1 embassy, and it was dispatched after a public statement had been made a
 the embassy that such communication would be sent. Enclosed with the lembassy's letter was a news dispatcl printed in this country quoting a higi official of Scotland Yard as denying that there was a censorship on cable grams originating in the British Isle for the United States.
 Despite denial, Senator Kellogg il
 his letter to Secretary Davis asked tn, state department to inquire of the Iembassy- whether a censorship existed las testified to by Newcomb Carlton president of the Western Union Tel egraph company. and John Goldman
 mer, secretary of the Commercial Ga
 ble company While this incident wa
 under coQsideration by department of
 ficials, announcement was made tha
 the incident of the call of Dr. Bianch
 on Senator Moses had been closed "il
 view of the minister's explanation an, apology"