The Washington herald., 1920-02-22

was certain that sending the Of
ficer home under these conditions
would destroy any hope he might
have Of a diplomatic career: more
over. II was an era of good feel
ing. and Secretary Lansing ad-
mitted that as Lord Reading was
going home soon and his military
secretary would accompany him.
LANSING
INSISTED.
Lansing responded to the urge OF
these arrangements and consented not
to INSIST on his instant departure.
but 1t is understood that the Brit
ish foreign office was advised of
the incident.
A second complaint of the same
sort was lodged at the State De-
partment: 1t also had references to
dinner table talk OF an unusual ma
ture- 1t Is not clear IL lit was
based on the same incident This
complaint was in writing. 1t en-
oraced an extract from the diary
OF a woman who explained that
she had been so thunderstruck by
the utterances of her fellow guest
that she had taken the precaution
OF embracing them in her private
record of happenings of the stir
ring times through which we were
passing. The record concerned al
iusions to the White House family
that could not but give offense.
There are other stories of the Of
hcer's strange garrulousness, in
cluding intimatfons that he had
been present at conferences among
the highest officials.
Reading sailed away and with
him went Maj. Craufurd- Stuart ItI
came with q surprise to read his
name in the train of those who ac-
companied Lord Grey, Readings
successor. four months later. Thi,
time ne was q civil secretary. The
President had just been taken
down with his grave illness. which
possibly accounts for the circun-
stance that the matter was nor
brought up Immediately.
About the time the President was
beginning to take part again in tSe
activities of hisI office the state De-
partment. presumably at a suggestion
from the White House, requested Lord
Grey to return Craufurd-Stuart to
England. No reason was given in the
notice Lord Grey replied to the sug-
gestlon with a request for specifica-
nons OF the charge that made the
British officer persona non grata. He
received no bill Of particulars. but a
second request that the attache be
sent home.
Lord Grey took the ground that as
MAJ. Craufurd-Stuart was not an ac-
credited attache, but merely a Junior
member OF the Ambassadors official
household. he was not subject to dis.
mlssal by the government TO which the
Embassy was accredited. Diplomatic
gossip has it that he put the matter up
TO NJ. Jusserand. the French Ambas-
sador and dean of the Diplomatic
Corps, who is said to have convened
some sort of q diplomatic court and
decided that his colleague of England
was technically in the right, where
upon Lord Grey stood pat.
There the Official phase of the Crau-
furd-Stuart episode terminated.
II had been supposed that as soon as
the Presidents condition warranted il
the British Ambassador would have
the opportunity OF presenting his ere
dentials. but day followed day, and
still there came to the Connecticut
avenue Embassy no summons to the
White House.
THE PRESIDENT
RECEIVED OTHERS.
The King and Queen of Belgians.
their crown prince, various members
OF his Cabinet and Others were ad-
mitted to the sick Presidents pres
ence. but he was not well enough to
accept at Lord Grey's hands the little
bundle OF papers every amba ssador
must present to the nations chief be-
fore he Is officially on his job. Then
came the visit of the Prince of Wales.
According to every diplomatic prece-
dent the young man should have been
accompanied by the Ambs ssador, but
precedent failed.
President Wilson received Senators
Fall and Hitchcock on the memorable
occa sion that the Senate Foreign Rela-
tions Committee insisted on learning
at first hand the Presidents own views
on the Mexican situation, and engaged
with them in half hours discussion.
They reported back to the Senate that
the President was fully competent to
handle this or any other State matter.
but still no word came that he was
ready to see Lord Grey, and a few
days later it was announced that the
British Ambassador soon would return
TO England "oh leave"
Even this notice did not procure
the expected Invitation for five min
utes Of formal greeting. The end
of the year saw the whole ambassa-
dorial party. including Major Crau-
furt-Stuart depart from Washing
ton. They received the usual COM
piiment of farewell messages on the
Mauretania. but nobody mentioned
any telegram or letter from the
White House among them.
Three weeks later appeared Lord
Grey's now famous epistle in the
London Times on reservations, that
was directly adverse to 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.
Major CraufurdStuart, who is
credited with having messed up the
situation. is considerable OF Q fei-
low. Besides being a distinguished
soldier, he is something Of a poet
and a composer of music. Two of
his songs, AT Cleaning Tide" anu
I'm Make Believe Land" were par
ticularly successful in England.
He has also shown as a polo player
and as an amateur photographer.
His military career is shining. He
Is in his early i0's, and served with
distinction in Burmah and the South
African war. He got the British
distinguished service order and tenn
pOrary lieutenant coloneley for gal
lantry as commander of the Royal