New-York tribune., 1920-02-05
The Envoy's Statement Is
Seen as ''Cratuitous AT.
tempt" by English to
Meddle i'm the Senate
Lloyd George Put
In Uneasy Position
Lodge Reported to Have
His Message Upholding
Ambassadors Attitude
Neu York Tribune
WASHINGTON Buyeau


Neu York Tribune
Washington Bureou
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4-Angered
by the publication of the letter of
Viscount Grey, British Ambassador
to the United States, announcing the
willingness Of Great Britain to ac-
cept the Lodge reservations to the
peace treaty, President Wilson, it
was reliably reported tonight, is
considering informal representa-
tions of protest to the British For
eign Office.
1t is asserted in quarters close to
the President that he regards the
publication of the Grey letter
gratultous attempt on the part of
the British authorities to inject
themselves into the political situa-
ton in the Senate growing out of
the peace treaty fight.
Secretary of State Lansing. when
approached on the matter TODAY. re-
fused to affirm or deny that the in
cldent had provoked the President or
that the matter has been. or will be.
taken up informally with the British
government.
Breach of Proprieties
If made, these representations, it
is indicated, will leave the way open
for Premier Lloyd George to an
nounce publicly that the statements
of Lord Grey were not authorized
by the British government and cam
not be considered in the light of an
| official statement of that govern
ment's position.
Admittedly such suggestion might
prove embarrassing to the British Pre-
mler. if, as reported in Senate circles
a personal telegram from Llovd George.
addressed to Senator Lodge and CON
veylng virtually the same assurances
as those contained in the published
letter of Lord Grey, has been shown
by Senator Lodge to colleagues on the
Senate Committee on Foreign Rela-
tions
President Wilson is sa to feel that
Lord Grey committed a gross breach
of the proprieties, and that the silence
OF the British government in face OF
the publication of the Grey letter
merely tended to confirm the inference
that the British authorities deliberately
adopted this method Of approaching the
Senate and the people of the United
States over the head of the President.
1t is everywhere apparent in Wash
lngton that the publication of the
Grey letter has thrown the ranks of
the Administration Senators into CON
fusion by making known the fact that
the British government. in order to get
the United States into the league of ma
tons, is willing to admit her on any
terms which the American Senate NAV
prescribe. thus contradicting the CON
slant and emphatic assertions of the
President that adoption Of the Lodge
reservations would not be accepted by
the other powers and would require a
reopening of the entire peace confer
ence.
Failed to See President
Contributing to the displeasure Of
Mr.. Wilson, it is said, is the informa-
tion conveyed to him that during his
residence at Washington Lord Grey,
acting presumably under instructions
from his government. communicated
Great Britain's attitude to Senator
Lodge and other Republican members
Of the committee
In diplomatic circles it is asserted
that before seeing these Senators Lord
Grey tried repeatedly to get to the
President with this information, in
order that he might modify Mr. Will
sons uncompromising attitude toward
the Lodge reservations, but that his eff
forts in this direction met with no sue
cess.
Mr. Wilson, it is stated, does not re-
gard this excuse as a tenable one,
pointing out that Lord Grey could
easily have communicated with him
through the State Department, which
is the ordinary medium through which
ambassadors and ministers communi-
cate with the head Of the government.
Members of the diplomatic CORPS.
however, have been impressed with the
evidence frequently displayed that MIR.
Lansing himself no longer has access
to the President and that it is almost
futile for them to attempt to reach Mr..
Wilson in this way.
Jusserand in Same Boat
During the same period that Lord
Grey was seeking to obtain an audi
ence with Mr.. Wilson similar efforts. it
IS known, were being made by NJ. Jus
serand, the French Ambassador, who
likewise had been instructed by his
government to make known to Mr.. Will
son the willingness of France to accept
the Lodge program.
Likewise. it is stated, the French Am
bassador, after finding the doors of the
White House closed to him, undertook
to make known the views of his gov
eminent to members of the Senate For
eign Relations Committee. Il was be-
cause ne had been fortified by such as
surarces from the two ambassadors. Il
is said. that Senator Lodge was able to
tell the Senate repeatedly that aaon-