The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-02-06
LORD GREY DID NOT
CONSULT Mr.. WILSON
on times" LETTER
BY DAVID LAWRENCE,
(copyrigrt BY The 1ntelliGencer)

WASHINGTON. d. c.. Fan. 5.--Prest-
dent Wilson reSents British interference
In the domestic affairs or the nlte1
States and while IN IN" interest OF
good relations and the passage or the
treaty no formal incident has as yet
been made uf Lord Grey'S letter. there
IS no question Of the dtSpleasure OF the
incumbent OF the White House.
In these columns on Wednesday II
was pointed out that while the letter OF
Lord Grey had pleased the RepuoNcan
leaders. IL had offended the true frienqs
OF President Wilson and strengthened
senate who were thankful Tor the
phrase "a plunge INTO the unknown.
contributed by n" DISTINGUISHED britiSn
envoy as comment ON the League pi
Nations. bat IL Ea] not CNIucnt until
later that the suspicion "t White House
resentment against the Grey letter was
well founded. The confirmation came
in. one of these sulti" ways which Pres
ldent Wilson has IF expressing MS
thought4 by implIrattOu. The fresi-
dents secretary permitted the CORES
ppndenlS 10 quote his answer 70 u QueS-
ton they hal asked him concerning
report that the President had been con
suited by Lord Grey before publishing
his famous letter IN. the London Times.
commenting on the conflict between th''
executive and legislative branr""S or
oar government. TIL. answer was an
emphatic statement that ~" t'r'S'dent
had not been consulted.
Could Have Written.
To the criticism that President Will
SON was inaccesSl bic and could not Do
seen by Lord Grey. II was moreover OF
fIcially stated that matters OF thiS Nlhu
could be put in writing and taat X was
customary for diplomats to communicate
by written rather than by oral cores
pondence. In fact. ambassadors or MN
listers rarely see the President and do
most OF their business hY informal note
or memorandum. There were plenty or
ways by which Lord Grey might have
reached the President, and moreover the
secretary OF state was ready at all
times to talk with the British envoy
and did. in fact. receive him ana com
nunicate in writing to President Wilson
exactly what Lord Grey said on each
But the point OF the White House pro-
nounccment seems to be that Sr'tish
ambassador 10 the United States. who
still holds that rank FAR "a the
United States IL officially advised. but
who is absent from his post. mas 'N-
pressed himself quit" fully on American
domestic affairs at moment OF intense
feeling between rival political branches
OF the American government. Loro
Grey is AZ home and probably has not
Intended 70 return to the United states
any way 50 there is no question that ne
felt himself about 70 be- relieved or OF
ficial duties and FIRE" 10 speak but II
was being recalled everywhere to-da;
that President cleveland said IN his an
nual message To Congress in December.
1883. when referring 20 the dismissal OF
Lord Sackvllle the British minister TO
the United states. he said:
What Cleveland Said.
The correspondence in relation tu
this incident will ia due course be laid
before you and will disclose the unpar-
dorable conduct Of the official referred
10 in his interf"rrnCH by advice and
counsel with the SuftrageS OF American
citizens In the very crisis OF the prcsi-
dentlal election near at hand. and alio
in his subsequent public declaration Z"
Justify his actions. sup"radding rmpugn-
ment 81 the EXerutIN" and the SSnat"
OF the United States IN connection VIII
important questions now pHnd."% be
tween the two governments. tn" o.
fenSr thus committed was most graz =.
involving disastrous p"sSlHiltt'"" I" rho
good relations Of the United States and
Great Britain constituting gross
breach Of diploma privilege and an
invasion Of the purely domestic affairs
and essential Sovereignty of th' govern
rent 70 which IN" envoy was acs""d''-
Cd"
Mr.. Cleveland said he bad ins:ru't"'i
the Secretary Of State 10 i""liH" 40
further recognize the diplomat" c|Sr...'-
ter or the person" and had fr!t - his
"inperatiVc dut" u obtain with as iil!"
DELAY a. ppSS h!e. "A nTw perS"ua' "Han-
ne! u; diplomats intercourse - ma
c"ant"y with the government OF ''r-at
Britain"
IN. incident arose over ih" prhilca-
riru bv an American Ci;:%'n ~ British
a-.ycstry Of 4 ls'trr asking tn" British
10 support in the president ~ election
csuyN sSrd no psuuIauoo)