The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-02-09
LETTER Of GREY
SETS PRECEDENT
FOR BIG WORLD
0ffenSe Felt by Wilson Not
Merely Because Note Was
Addressed to Public, But
for Wrong Method Used.
RY DAVID LAWRENCE.
tSpeeial Correspondent Of The News


'tAtlS ueSllHcd 20 become famous M
american history. that letter of Wis
count Grey discussing the controversy
between the executive and legislative
branches OF our government over the
FORM IN which the treaty OF peace shall
pc ratified establishes a precedent OF
laf-reaching significance, in information
al affairs, II means long step for
ward in overcoming the barriers Of old
fashioned diplomacy which have hith-
-efto hlndered peoples from under
standing one another
II the letter OF Lord Grey has given
President Wilson offense, however, 1t
Is not merely because the British
statesman has addressed a communiCa-
ton 10 the public on a matter which
had previously been confined TO diff
terent branches OF the American gov
eminent and at a moment when in
tense political strife over the issue can
not be ignored II Is because VisCount
Grey, received by the secretary Of state
Is the special ambassador Of Great
Britain entered into communication
with members OF the legislative branch
81 our government instead Of combining
his communications to the executive
branch which. under the American con-
stltuuon, has sole charge OF Intercourse
with foreign nations.
Not Fair Parallels.
II has been suggested that Mr.. Will
son appealed over the heads OF the
British people in his address at Man
chester, II has been said that he ap-
pealed to the Italian populace on the
Ftume question. Neither Of these points
are valid parallels because In neither In
stance did Mr. Wilson associate him
self or communicate with members OF
the opposition party In the house Of
commons or the Italian parliament.
But mere y somewhat Of a parallel IN
Mr., Wilson's action In Paris when he
hesought Prime Minister Lloyd George
70 grant a hearing TO Messrs. Frank r
Walsh and former Gov. Dunno Of Ili-
nois, who came AS American citizens
To plead the cause Of Ireland, con-
troversy still regarded by the British
government as a domestic affair.
But to have been more exact paral-
lei. the president should have been dis
covered communicating with the Sim
Fetn leaders, instead OF taking up the
matter In the natural and proper way
namely through the British prime min
ister, who is the executive Of the Brit
ish government and duly permitted to
receive communications from the heads
of other governments.
The interesting circumstance, how
ever, about the Niscount Grey letter is
that he intended no disrespect intended
no meddlng in American political af-
fairs but earnestly hoped to make II
easier for the treaty 70 be ratified and
America to become a partner in tho
enterprise Of preserving peace. That
Niscount Grey failed In his cleverly
worded document TO include casual
reference to the unfortunate plight OF
the president OF the United States, who
signed the treaty but has been lying
m at the White House while the oppo,
sition has waEed incessant warfare
against tho document he negotiated,
that the British envoy did not see fit
10 express passing sympathy for tho
president who did as much as any one
man TO bring the covenant into being
and win deserve the credit for the
structure whether reservations are
adopted or not provided the instru-
ment does work as Viscount Grey is
confident that II will and the discredit
II II liz a failure--all this has had an
effect on the situation In Washington
during the past week which can not be
lightly dismissed as a tempest In a
teapot, as some of the British news
papers are doing
Prime Minister Lloyd George Is APP
parently awake to the seriousness OF
the episode for In the interview cabled
by Charles Grasty from London, he
states specifically that 1t would be inn
proper for him to express the views
which Lord Grey expressed and exon
Grating the British envoy on the ground
that he wrote as a private citizen"
Yet the prime minister promptly steps
into the gap and speaks "A word Of sym
patty for the president and praise for
his achievements in the war. his readi-
ness to pledge the American resources
10 the succor Of u losing allied cause
Shows New Era,
hut what the incident illustrates more
than anything else is the new era In
modern diplomacy. President Wilson
may not like the tone of the Grey let
ter He may not be pleased because
Lord Grey saw ut to mngle with mem
bers OF the American senate aud dis
cuss questions Of the moment so vitaly
related TO Internal politics. But his re-
sentiment is only analogous to tho
anger which was stirred in Britain
when Messrs Dunno and Walsh went
to Ireland and mingled with the Sim
Feiners and when President de Valera
of Ireland not only was received by the
mayor OF New York city but when It
became known that De Valera was a
frequent visitor at the offices Of United
States senator's,
Surely, argue my British friends. the
president would not deny Niscount Grey
the opportunity given to De Valera for
technically neither one had been re-
ceived by our own government and
the one had as much privilege there
fore as the other.
There is much unnecessary ceremony
and fuss about precedents In the con
duct OF diplomacy and President vii
son has himself argued that Article II
of the covenant will give anybody. rep
resenting any nation, the opportunity
TO bring before the assembly or the
league for debate any question which
may affect the peace not only but the
good understanding between nations.
He has insisted that the matter Of Ire
land did affect the good understanding
between the United States and Great
Britain.
II is therefore the principle involved
in Niseount Greys intimaces with
American senators followed AS il was
by a public comment on a subject that
had become a matter of heated dispute
between political factions. and not the
substance Of his communication which
Is involved II President Wilson per-
mits the incident to pass without pro-
test, formal or informal to the British
government It will stand as a rreCe-
dent and hereafter all governments will
be able to point 10 II as Justification
for direct interchange Of Views between
parliaments and sepates and houses Of
congress on all matters Of domestic
or foreign concern which touch the
fringe OF international interest-ra direct
Interchange without the necessary as.
sent Of the executive branches OF mod
eru states.
copyright 1920 by David Lawrence,
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lIhHpEP ASSOCIATION