The New York herald., 1921-07-30

article was quoted as authority for
the statement attributed to the King.
This Mr.. Steed denied to-day. explain
ing that he made no such statement. He
explained In detail just what had oc-
CURED. He said that a reporter had
put the words into his mouth and that
IL obviously was impossible for him to
attempt to repeat conversation that
had taken place between the King and
the Prime Minister.
steed Tells of Interview.
What really happened was this" Mr..
Steed said. II did dictate q statement
which was printed. but the reporter
my remarks. ! have taken the matter
UP with the newspaper editor, telling
him that he treated me improperly in
the interview"
While Lord Northcliffe made no pub
lio comment about the supposed state
ment except to give out copies of the
cablegram sent to the Kings private
secretary, there was no concealing the
fact that he believed the incident to be
an attempt OH the part OF Lloyd George
to discredit him. The publisher was in
tensely bitter against Lloyd George. and
It was evident that he believed the
Premier was trying to fasten on him a
statement which when denied by so high
q parsonage as the King would prove
to be a boomerang with the British pub
lie. In this opinion Mr.. Steed seemed
to share.
There was not the slightest doubt In
the mind of Mr.. Steed that the cancella-
tion Of the embassy dinner was due to
orders from the British Foreign Office.
although It was admitted there was no
evidence except circumstantial that such
a thing had been done. There was much
speculation as to just what had been
said In such message, II indeed one
was sent, but II was supposed that Sir
Auckland was automatically informed
that no facilities were to be provided
for Lord Northcliffe when he was In
Washington.
II can be said there is not the slight
est feeling between Lord Northcliffe ana
Sir Auckland Geddes They are friends,
just as they ALWAYS have been, not close
friends, but acquaintances, holding each
other in warm regard.
when the information first was de-
veioped that last nights embassy dinner
had been cancelled the word was forth
coming from officials Of the embassy
that Sir Auckland would attend the
dinner to night. where Lord NortnciiIie
was to be the chief figure
Consequently when 1t became known
also through the embassy that the Am
bassador and Lady Geddes would not be
at the dinner there was much surprise
and more talk. The embassy offered no
explanation for the decision. So far as
could be learned tonight this was the
only declination. The dinner was at
O'Clock and 1t was not, as at first re-
ported. stag affair.
<rxxs fsr~uc~~N UnraH~nt
Inquiry at the British Embassy to-day
brought the information that the cancel
lafion Of the dinner which had been set
for last night was regarded as closed
incident. There was no explanation OF
just what had occurred. Sir Auckland
denying himself to callers.
An incident developed. however, which
seemed to shed some more light ON the
affair. 1t became known that Lord
Northcliffe on his way across the Allan
tio had sent a radio to the British Am
bassador in reference to stopping at the
embassy as had been his custom on
PREVIOUS visits to the United States. The
text OF the message was not made
public, but the sense of 1t was that II the
British Ambassador saw any reason why
Lord Northcl.ffe should not stay at the
embassy as matter of convenience or
the like. there should be no hesitancy in
saying so.
Lord Northcliffe was described as
realizing that Sir Aucklend, .Rs the
official representative OF the British
Government in the United States and
therefore bound to support the officials
the British publisher was attacking
might be embarrassed II he were 10 be
a guest at the embassy.
It developed further that the informa-
tion that the dinner at the embassy was
to- be called off was made known to
Lord Northcliffe soon after his arrival In
New York city. having been conveyed
in, a diplomatic way. The first public
intimation was given yesterday. how
ever, after Lord Northcliffe had reached
Washington.
Sir Auckland is understood to have will
insly~ accepted the veiled suggestion In
Lord Northcliffe's radio message from
the ship suggesting that he had better
nda stop at the embassy. Whether he
se4t a radio message to Lord Nortnciiffe
in reply to the one he received from
him could not be learned.
Il is said 20 have been with the knowl-
edee that the embassy dinner was called
off that invitations were issued for the
function held tonight. 1t was carefully
explained that the dinner was not in
honor Of Lord Northcliffe. although he
was to be one of the chief guests. De-
spite these representations the story,
supported by circumstances, was that
thS dinner tonight was a substitute for
the one to have been held at the em-
bassy Lord Northcliffe said he so un-
derstood It.
Cabinet Members Present.
Among the guests who met Lord
Northcliffe at the dinner were Secre-
tary of State and Mrs. Hughes, Secre-
tary of Commerce and Mrs. Hoover.
Secretary OF the Navy DENLY. Secretary
of 1.-THE Interior Fall. Attorney General
Daugherty. Assistant Secretary of the
Navy Roosevelt, Gen. Pershing, Major
Cen and Mrs. M. w. ireland. DR..
Carlos de Cespcdes, the Cuban Minis
ter; Prince de Bearn. Counsellor of the
French Embassy. and Representative
and Mrs Nicholas Longworth. Most
OF these we're to have been present
at last nights cancelled dinner.
Lord Northcliffe's day in Washington
began with a luncheon in his honor
by the Overseas Writers. an organi-
zation of Washington correspondents
with experience In foreign countries.
given at the willard Hotel. where Lord
Nofthcliffe Is stopping Lord North
clifTc made an address. but the text is
Withheld. Although all at the table
were newspaper writer's II was agreed
the lid would be down on anything that
cussed international subjects, chiefly
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