Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-10-10
PERSHINC CUTS
LONDON VISIT TO
CONFER MEDAL
British Silence Over
Ceremony Forces Ac-.
ton of General
No Explanation Offered Fail
ure to Fix Date for Laying
Congressional Medal of Hon.
o. on Tomb of Unknown
British SOldier-U. S. Off
Gals in Paris Mystified

Paris, oct 9-CBy The Associated
Press)-General Pershing will not
go to London to lay the Congression-
al Medal of Honor on the tomb Of the
British unknown soldier in West
Minister Abbey and if the ceremony
is held another American officer will
be designated to represent the Unit
ed States.
The announcement came tonight
from a most authoritative source.
Lack of time available for the trip
between now and October 20 when
General pershing sails for home, is
the official explanation for his deci-
sion to abandon his visit to England.
1t is learned, however, that failure
of the British war office TO either fix
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 General Per-
shing's decision.
General Pershing came to Europe
for the purpose of laying the Con-
eressional Medal of Honor on the
tombs of the French and British
unknown soldiers. The Washington
government so 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
inquiries 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 lock long
time to arrange.
The specially tr9ineJ battalion
from the American forces Oh the
/ Rhine which acted as guard of
honor at the Paris ceremony and
which was to have proceeded to
London, returned to Cohlenz this
afternoon after having been held a
week in Paris awaiting word from
4 the British foreign office.
It is known that American officials
in Paris. as we'll as General Per-
shing and his party, have teen mys-
tilted by the silence Of the British
1 government. and the matter has
caused much embara ssnIent to the
general. He has been hesiesed with
invitations to dinners and official
! functions and the uncertainty of the
London arrangements made i diff
cult to reply to many Of these. Some
military men have advanced the ex-
PLANTATION that the rule no. permit
ting British officers and meh TO ac-
cept foreign decorations might he
the cause of the situation: they fur
ther suggested that the British
mint want tc arrange to confer a
decoration similar in nj crtance on
Americas un:snown soldier l.efore
accepting the Congress, orai Nedal
On the other hand it was pointed
out that the fact that the medal was
conferred by act of congress on be-
half of the American people should
place the decoration in special
: category. where ordinary rules and
precedents do not apply.
! American officials in Paris are
much concerned over the matter.
and fears are expressed that an I'M
! friendly Interpretation may be
placed on the incident unless a full
explanation is made of the delay and
Z the ceremony is held as soon as it
can be arranged.
/ General Pershing would not COM
ment on this subject today.