New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-30
Disclaims Story Asserting
He Told Lloyd George
Before Trip to Belfast
He Must Stop Killings
Lays Statement
Before Commons
Utterance Which Caused
Quarrel Given Out by
Steed, Publishers Aid
From The Trlbune,s European Barsaa

rum L re L FtUHNS EUROPEAN DuTc08
Copyright 1921. New York Tribune Inc
LONDON, July %. Premier
Lloyd George in the House of Conn
mons to-day read statement from
King George describing as "a COM
plete fabrication" certain state
ments which The London Daily Mail
this morning quoted Lord North
cliffe as making in the United States.
The newspaper, which is owned by
Lord Northcliffe, said that he had
related conversation which King
George was supposed to have had
with the British Premier prior to
the Kings departure for Belfast to
open the Ulster Parliament. Ac-
cording to the newspaper, Lord
Northcliffe quoted the King as say
ing:
Are you going to shoot all ths
people in Ireland?"
mo, your majesty" Lloyd George
was alleged to have replied.
Cant Have People Killed"
We'll, then, you must come to
some agreement with them," the
King was said to have added. "This
thlng cannot go on. I can't have nv
people killed in this manner"
Substantially these remarks wers
attributed to II. Wickham Steed, edi-
tor of The London Times and Lord
Northcliffe's travelling companion.
IN an interview he gave out in New
York last Sunday.l
The Kings communication as read
by Mr.. Lloyd George said:
His Majesty the King has had
his attention directed to certain
statements reporting an interview
with Lord Northcliffe, appearing in
The Daily Mail and reproduced in
The Daily Express and some Irish
newspapers. The statements con-
tanned in the report are a complete
fabrication. No such conversations
as those which are alleged took
place, nor were any such remarks as
those alleged made by His Majesty.
Kept to Tradition
His majesty also desires it to he
made quite clear, as the contrary ia
suggested in the interview, that in
his speech to the Parliament Of
Northern Ireland he followed the in
variable constitutional practice re-
lating to speeches from the throne
in Parliament"
Premier Lloyd George, supplements
ing this note from the King, said:
Lord Northcliffe's interview is he
lieved to have been calculated to preiu-
dice seriously the chances of an Irish
settlement, as it has been circulated
freely in Ireland"
The Premier indicated his belief thai
the publisher had caused the interview
to be cabled to London, and after read
ing the Kings communication con-
tinued:
II hope that this statement NAV do
something to sterilize the effects OF the
criminal malignity which, for personal
ends, is endeavoring to stir up mis-
chief between the Allies and misunder-
standings between the British Empire
and the United States and to frustfate
the hope of peace in Ireland"
Not Printed in London
The storm over the alleged CONVERSE
ton between the Premier and the King
broke with such suddenness in London
that the public here was hardly aware
of the circumstances until the Incl
dent had passed The original cable
dispatch came to the Daily Mail of
flee, but was printed only in the
editions of that paper walcp circulate
IN Ireland, Scotland and Wales. There
was no hint of it in the London
editions OF the paper. Some of the
other morning papers had repubiished
the dispatch and the evening papers
were just beginning to print unofficial
denials of the story, wnen Premier
Lloyd George rose before a crowded
House and read the Kings statement.
His remarks were greeted With HEARTY
cheers.
When he had finished James Henry
Thomas, Labor member, vigorously
seconded the Premier's remarks.
There is an issue RAISED in rhia
matter" he said, "that is of more im-
portance than party politicians OK;
newspaper proprietors."
He said it was the duty of the Houss
OF Commons to approve this protest in
the interest of constitutional governs
ment.