Evening star., 1921-10-12
|PERSH|NG ACCEPTS
| BRITISH INVITATION
London Papers HotIy Score
i Government in Delaying
F Arrangements.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
PARIS. October 12.-Gen. Pershing
has accepted the British governments
Invitation to assist in the presentation
of the congressional medal of honor
tn the unknown soldier" of Great
Britain in Westminster Abbey. 1t Is
probable the ceremony will take place
October II.
In transmitting his tentative accept
ance through Ambassador Harvey In
London, Gen. Pershing has asked Mr..
Harvey to take up the matter with the
British foreign office and war office.
saying if October II is a date agree
able to the British government ne
will be glad to go to London that day.
canceling an engagement he had made
in this city.
The Pershing episode which caused
a lively exchange of kilograms for
ten days between Paris and the
American embassy in London is re-
garded as closed. The American bat
TALON which came to this city TO take
part in the ceremony of presenting the
congressional medal of honor to the
French unknown soldier" was de-
tained in Paris for seven days in the
expectation that Ambassador Harvey
could give some definite adVlces as
to the ceremony planned in London.
The troops were finally ordered to re-
turn to Coblenz, and departed Sunday.
Government Scored.
The morning newspapers give much
space to the delay in hitting Gen.
Pershing to London to lay the Ameri-
can congressional medal on the tomb
of the unknown soldier in Westmin-
ster Abbey and the official explana-
tion given of the delay. Satisfaction
is generally expressed by the news
papers that the American govern
ment, as reported in cable dispatches,
minimiZed the affair.
There is some sharp editorial critl-
cism. however, of the British depart
ments concerned. The Times says
Great Britain has been served very
badly by it's officials. whose bureau
cratic muddling and evasion or re-
sponsibility are answerable for the
trouble.
The Daily News says that some BODY
in authority committed particularly
tactless and stupid blunder. and that
a full and frank apology IS Que Ine
American government and its us
tinguiShed representative on pehaii
of the British people.
knowledge that the washington
government minimizes the analr,
says the Daily Express. will pc re
ceived with immense relief ana satis-
faction in Great Britain, "nere tne
tribute of Congress to the Brltlsn
dead is highly appreciated.
Delay Is Explained.
'"There is no truth in the assertion
that there has been hesitation on the
part Of his majeSty's government
with regard to acceptance of the con-
gressional medal which the American
Congress voted should be bestowed
on the British unknown warrior On
the contrary, the American amoassa
doris notification of the intention OF
the American government to bestow
the decoration was answered by Lord
Curzon in the warmeSt terms ihe
answer was accompanied Dy express
sions of profound appreciation OF the
action of Congress.
at is deeply regretted that Gen.
Pershing should. according to the
press. have been inconvenienced by
the delay fixing the date for bestowal
Of the medal. The delay was due 10
the fact that it had been hoped to
accompany the announcement OF the @
date with an announcement OF the
honor which his majesty will bestow
in return upon the American un-
known, and in that regard olmculI
points of procedure arose requiring
reference to different ministers and
authorities. many OF whom were ao-
sent from London.
Nor was 1t realized until very re-
Gently that Gen. Pershing's time in
Europe was SO limited. AS soon as
that was realized it was decided no
longer to delay arrangement OF the
ceremonies for bestowal of the con-
sressional medal. Gen. Pershing con-
seouently was informed that 1t was
hoped he would find it possible to
visit London for the ceremony before
he returned to America, and has ex-
pressed his pleasure at the sugges-
tion, of which he hopes to be able to
avail himself"