The Alaska daily empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1912-1926, 1922-10-09
A TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT.

Several weeks ago special correspondent of the
New York World in an interview credited to Rudyard
Kpling in which he attacked the United States for
not entering the earlier than 1917 quoted
him as saying that have all the sold in the
world, but that had lost soul; that England
was short of gold had saved her soul by rushing
in to repe the unproyoked onslaught OF the Teutonic
hordes.
Apparently Mr.. Kipling gave the correspondent an
interview, but there remains some question to how
correctly quoted. He himself, denies that
he said anything of the nature referred to above
However that may be, the interview caused Juror
both in the United States and England. Public men
of both countries made haste to criticse the utter
Cabinet officials, former members of the cabi-
net under President Wilson, Senators and other Am
erican officials hayed the English poet most OF them
taking him seriously.
Sir Auckland Gcddes, British Ambassador to this
country, speaking dinner in New York hotel
shortly the alleged interview appeared de-
clared:
America coming into the when she
did, played great part in ending the war.
The woman who says otherwise is
of those creatures either yianously
malicious just fool Our hopes
and aspirations the same Though differ
ent skies above Human hearts are
in bodies and there is not much differ
in the desires of those hearts.
We feel neither envy fear and we want
go forward friends tnat better future
for which our men and your men gave their
lives
AT the time of this speech Kipling had denied
that he had made the statements credited him.
Sir Auckland said:
glad Mr.. Kipng has emphatically
denied that he uttered the words attributed
him. If he had uttered them he would
not have spoken "a representative of Brit
ish thought, who knew what
he talking about.
Senator Borah commenting caustically the sub
ject. frankly disbeeved the denial of the British
poet saying Il assumed that Kipling correctly
quoted and still So" He characterized the
Kipling interview the English all the official
veneer and diplomatic ointment peeled off, Other
Senators and some Administration officials took the
view that Kplings reputation of the interview was
rather reraction than a denial.
Probably the most sensible view taken of the
whole incident was that of j. j. ONeill director OF
England's greatest Liberal daily nswspaper-the Man
chester Guardian. Mr. ONein when in New York
last month said he greatly surprised the prom
inence given the interview from Kipling whom he
characterized political nonentity.' Continuing
he said:
He (Kipling) is typical of a narrow type
which one finds in every country type
which English soldiers the best
soldiers in the world; English women the
most beautiful women in the world; En- gish
dogs the best dogs in the world; Brit
tana rules the waves OF course, that atti-
tude is ridiculous.
Thinking opinion in England believes
that America entered the at the right
moment and the only regrets English Lib
erals have is that American participation in
the work in making wcrld peace is
active and militant il in making
victory in the field
1t makes little real difference whether Mr..
Kipling did say the things he credited with hav-
ing said. If he represents any part of the British
public it is small be negligible. Americans
know what part this country took in the They
were the sole judges of when they should enter it.
Mr. is Too inenc at
tached the alleged utterances.