New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-29
British Embassy Cancels
Invitation to Dinner
and Publisher Replies
With Scathing Attack
Echo of London
Times Dispute
Foreign Secretary Using
Methods He Employed
in India, He Charges
By Carter Field

w WAodlNGlON, July 2S.---Blan1-
ing Lord Curzon, British Foreign
Secretary, for the withdrawal of an
invitation to stop at the British EN-
bassy here and for cancellation of
formal embassy dinner tonight to
which all the notables of Washing
ton were to be invited, Lord North
cliffe, the celebrated British news
paper owner, boiled over with indig-
nation tonight.
In an authorized statement the fa-
nous editor intimated that Lord
Curzon was employing methods in
the conduct of the foreign service
which he had learned in India.
Lord Northcliffe plainly indicated
that the snubbing administered to
him by the embassy was due to his
recent criticisms in The London
Times of Premier Lloyd George and
Lord Curzon. The Times has op-
posed the proposed personal attend
ance of Lloyd George and Lord Cur.
zon at the Washington conference
on armament limitation and Pacific
and Far Eastern questions, and it
was out of this that the controversy
grew. The criticisms, which at
tracted worldwide attention. were
made just prior to Lord Northcliffe's
sailing for New York on his trip
round the world.
Kept Temper All Day
Inc blazing out tonight of Lord
Northcliffe was the more surnrisinr
because earlier in the day, although
ne had already gone to the Willard
Hotel instead of to the embassy. and
tnough he had already inyitad several
guests to dine with him privately in
stead Of arranging to 90 to the big
dinner. the famous publisher had been
most cautious in all his coaversations
WIN newspaper men, after talk Of
more than an hour with President Har-
Ding, though he must have been seth
ing under the surface all the While.
he parrled every question which led.
no matter how ipdirec.,v. TO his crit,
lclsms OF Lloyd George ana Lord Cur |
zon, or what Re Though. of the dis /
armament conference, or anything
roufin roufEihing on the subjec. winch was
really causing Inc trouble
Later. in the day the publisher
dropped hint to friend about the /
cancellation of the dinner This was
seized upon quickly by one of the press |
associations and inquiries were mads /
at the British Embassy. One of the ,
secretaries made a fiat denial of the
whole affair.
But Lord Northcliffe had not the
slightest intention of permitting him /
sen TO be snubbed quietly. AS fre- /
quently noticed during the war. in his |
disregard of War Office ideas about
censorship, he believes strongly in pub
hclty and let the chips fall where thew
may, So he authorized a statement I
which told the whole story and which
blamed Lord Curzon-for the affront.
Whereupon it became impossible to !
ind any attache to the British En-
oassy. They retired behind a thick
smoke screen, leaving one attendant.
who tirelessly told inquirers that the
embassy would be open at the usuai
hour in the morning, but was now
closed for the night
1t also develops that Mrs Edward B. {
Mclean, one of Mrs. Hardng's closest
friends and wife of the publisher of
The Washington Post is substituting
for the British Ambassador in giving
Washington notables and society in |
general an opportunity to meet the
distinguished British editor.
Northcliffe's Statement
Following is the Northcliffe state-
ment:
Lord Northcliffe authorized to-
night the. statement that he could |
only say he had been invited while
IN Washington to stop at the British /
Embassy with his entire staff and to
attend a dinner there tonight. For
some reason of which he is not
aware both invitations were with |
drawn. Knowing the methods in
India of Lord Curzon, the British /
Foreign Secretary, Lord Northcliffe /.
can only feel sure Lord Curzon has I
adopted those methods hero In
India while Viceroy he cut off the
news supply of criticizing news
papers and socially boycotted their
writer's. On the present occasion
Lord Curzoa is not dealing with /
indian natives or small Indian news
papers.
Lord Northcliffe regrets he cannot
visit ms friend, Sir Auckland Geddes.
on whom he called and paid hie re-
spects to-day after peing with Presi-
dent Harding, but is consoled by the
tact that at dinner to be given him
tomorrow nightly Mrs. Edward B,
Mclean he will meet all of the per-
sons Originally invited to the can
ceied embassy dinner"
According TO gossip, Lord Curzon
has sent orders here within the last
two days to ~boycot.' Lord North
cliffe, as part of the measures directed
against Lord Northcliffe and Ms publ,
cations for their criticism of LLOYD
George and Lord Cur4on. This criti,
cism grew out of their announced pur-
pose to attend the disarmament con-
ference in Washington.
1t is also said that Ambassador
Geddes was ordered not to Introduce
Lord Northcliffe to President Harding.
Lord Northcliffe was so informed In
New York However, he was personal
ly invited to see the President and
Cabinet, and hence called on then, on
his own account. He was with Presi-
dent Harding for an hour and a half
to-day, and previously called on Sec
retary of Commerce Hoover and visit
ed with him.
r. Leslie Craigie, secretary "a III.
br'tish Embassy. denied the story.
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