New-York tribune., 1922-09-12

over the protests of Responsible milf.
tary and civilian American rapres9uta.
tivas in France Secretary Of war
Weeks disclosed to-day in d brief state-
ment commenting on the interview at.
fributed to Rudyard Kipling, In which
the British writer severely criticised
the United States for its part in the
war.
Secretary Weeks arraigned R;n,;ne
for his references TO the United Sfafes
md asserted that the authors state
ments were "conclusivefy refuted BY
matters Of record"
DUST previcus TO debating his com.
ments on Kipiing's interview, Secrstary
Weeks had said that he agreed wish
Colonel House, General Bliss and Gen-
eral PershinR that the war should have
gone on" aid he added that these az.
fcials had urged the Allies 10 con.
tinue the offensive.
Secretary of the Navy Denbv at.r;h.
uted Kipling's utterances 20 MIS- grief
over the loss of son in the war. and
added; Il can hardly believe that Mr..
Kipling meant what he said. He has
given. me zoo much pleasure and has
contributed too much to the literature
of the world for me to criticize bin,
We still have KIM The Barrack Room
Ballads and his other writings. 40 I
will not let his latest utterances dis-
turb mes
mo good purpose can be served by
the statement of Mr.. Kipi:ng, il he
has been correctly quoted, even IL n
were justified by facts" secretarv
Weeks said. ~ have no disposition 70
enter into controversy about what
the United States did or did not do
IN the World War, but ! cannot under
stand how q man of Mr.. Kiplina's
learning would permit himself to make
q public statement on any subject with
out first ascertaining the facts or put
himself In the position Of puhEiciy
asserting as fact something so con.
clusively refuted by matters of record.
IT seems to me that ss what MIR,
kipiing has done in at least one i'm.
porsant particular---that is, regarding
the ending of the war All of the
evidence on that subject indicates that
the British and French leaders were
responsible for the armistice and IL
was entered into over the protests Of
the responsible military and civilian
American representatives in France.
The United States did not, nor did
IL have any desire to profit as a result
of the war. 1t expended nearly twenty
billions of dollars in addition TO the
loans made foreign countries, and il
did not ask for or receive reparations
Of any kind. Its motives were Of the
highest order. The history of Amer
ica's participation in the war was hon
orabie in every respect-that cannot
be denied"
Banquet in Evening
The British delegates were the
guests of honor last night at BAN
quet given at the Army and Navy
Club. Both Judge Alton B. Parker,
the toastmaster, and Job f. Hedges. the
other American speaker, minimixed
Kipling's recent comments on this
country, pointing out that Americans
frequently make comments on Grea,
Britain which the great majority OF
the people here regret. Judge Parker
added that the Sulgrave Institution Il
working toward the day when public
men on both sides of the Atlantic will
not dare to make comments which will
offend citizens Of the other Anglo.
Saxon democracy.
Sir Michael Haworth and Captalr
Gioster Armstrong, the British congu'
General here, were the other speakers