The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-08-01
GEORGE DENIES
NEWSPAPER STORY
LORD NORTHCLIFFE'S ALLEGED
STATEMENTS CONCERNIN G
IRISH POLICY REFUTED IN
KINGS MESSAGE TO HOUSE
OF COMMONS.

mons today read a statement, author
zed by King George declaring words
attributed to the King concerning the
governments Irish policy in a report
ed interview in the United States by
Lord Northcliffe, who controls the
London Times, are "a complete fab.
rication."
Mr.. Lloyd George read statement
which he said the King had authoriz-
ed him to read on his majesty's be-
half:
"His Majesty the King has had his
attention directed to certain state
ments reporting an interview with
Lord Northcliffe, appearing in the
Daily Mail, and reproduced in the
Daily Express, and some Irish news
papers. The statements contained in
te report are complete fabrication.
No such conversation as those which
are alleged took place, nor were any
such remarks as those alleged, made
oy. His Majesty.
ellis Majesty also desires it to be
made quite clear, as the contrary is
suggested in the interview, that in his
speech to the Parliament of Northern
Ireland he followed the invariable
constitutional practice relating to
speeches from the throne in Parlia-
ment."
In his Introductory remarks Mr..
Lloyd George said:
"Statements have appeared in GER
tain organs of the Irish and English
press attributing words of grave con-
sequence to His Majesty the King, re-
lating to Irish policy. They appeared
in the form of an interview which
Lord Nortcliffe seems to have given
in the United States and to have
caused to be forwarded to his news
papers here for publication.
ut is quite impossible" said the
premier, "always to follow these ca
luminous statements, but here they
are of very categorical. character
and attribute very serious statements
to the sovereign and moreover they're
calculated at the present moment, if
believed, to prejudice seriously the
chances of an Irish settlement. They
have been circulated very freely more
especially in Ireland, and His Majesty
has, therefore, authorized me to read
to the House of Commons the follow
ing statement on his behalf, which I
have just received"
Mr.. Lloyd George then read the
previously quoted statement to the
House. The premier concluded:
"I hope this statement may do
something to sterilize the effects of
the criminal malignity which for per-
sonal ends is endeavoring to stir up
mischief between the Allies, misun-
derstanding between the British en-
pire and the United States and to
Illustrate the hope of peace in Ire
land"
The interview to which the premier
referred quoted King George as say
ing to Premier Lloyd George just be-
fore His Majesty left for Ireland:
care you going to shoot all the
people in Ireland?" To which the
premier was quoted as replying: 'No
your Majesty"
"Well, then, you must come to
some agreement with them, said the
King, according to the interview.
"This thing can't go on. I can't
have my people killed in this man
ner."
Denied by Northcliffe.
Washington, July 3O-Lord North
cliffe made public today the follow
ing cablegram sent to Lord Stamford
ham, private secretary to King
George:
"Please convey to His Majesty with
my humble duty, my denial of ever
having ascribed to His Majesty the
word or words as stated by the primo
minister yesterday. I gave no such
interview"