The New York herald., 1921-10-10
BIZ The Associated Press.


PARIS, Oct 9.-It Is learned that fail
a date for the ceremony or. until late
yesterday. to give any explanation for
not replying to repeated inquiries from
the American Embassy officials is the
chief reason for Gen. Pershing's de-
cision not to go to London.
American officials In Paris are much
concerned over tho matter. and fears
are expressed that an unfriendly inter
pretation might be placed on the incl
dent unless .fulI.cxplanation is made
OF The delay and tho ceremony held as
soon as II can be arranged.
Gen. Pershing came TO Europe for the
Medal on the tombs cf the French ana
British unknown soldiers. The WASH
ington Government 80 Informed the
British Government early In August, and
again when he sailed. So far as can be
learned no answer was received to either
communication. which asked that a date
be fixed for the ceremony and that the
General be Informed.
Since his arrival In Paris further In
ciiiries have been made at the British
Foreign Office through the medium OF
the American Embassies In London and
Paris. One of these inquiries developed
the explanation that such ceremonies
usually took long time to arrange.
The specially trained battalion from
the American forces on the Rhine, which
acted as guard Of honor at the Paris
ceremony and was to have proceeded to
London. returned to Coblenz this after.
noon by special train after having beer
held week in Parts awaiting word from
the British Foreign Office.
II Is known that American offlcials In
Paris. as we'll as Gen. Pershing and his
pnrty. have been mystified by the silence
NJ the British Government and the mat
ter has caused much embarrassm to
the General. He has been besieged with
invitations to dinners and official furc-
lions. and the uncertainty of the Lon
don arrangements made II difficult to
roply to many OF these. Some of the
military men have advanced the expla-
nation that the rule permitting British
officers and men to accept foreign deco
rations might be the cause OF the situa-
ton; they further suggested that the
british might want to arrange to confer
u decoration similar In Importance on
Americas unknown soldier before ac-
cepting the Congressional Medal
On the other hand II is pointed OUT
tnat the ract that the medal was con-
ferred by an act of Congress on behalf
OF the American people should place the
decoration in a special category, where
ordinary rules and precedents would
not apply.
WASHINGTON. Oct. e.--No commen.
was forthcoming from Administration
officials tonight on the announcement
from Paris that Gen. Pershing would re-
turn TO the United States without stop
ping In London to place the Congress
sional Medal on the tomb OF the un-
known British soldier in Westminster
Abbey.
II was generally accepted that the
Generals decision was the result of his
failure 20 receive replies to inquiries re-
gardng the date of the ceremony, al
though his return to Washington by No
vomber I had been planned In order
that he might serve on the official re-
coption committee which will greet
Marshal Foch and other military nota-
bles arriving for the armament confer
ence.
In his announcement OF Gen. Persh-
ings visit to France, Secretary Weeks
stated that II the programme could be
arranged TO permit his return by No
yember the itinerary would include
participation In the Westminster Abbey
ceremony, but otherwise another officer
would be designated for that function.