Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-31
Stone-A Great Journalist

work Of his staff, and most interesting
interview with M Clemenceau, the
French premier, was due to him.
Proofs Were Brought.
We were dining together with Baron
Maxine and Viscount Chinda when the
first proofs were brought to him Of the
famous covenant by which the League
Of Nations was created. He started
reading 1t at once and, turning TO me,
he said, This is exactly the summary
you cabled to New York two days ago."
Who knows how many secrets of in
ternational importance Mr.. Stone has
buried with himself in his tomb. If he
had not been tied by pledge Of
secrecy he could have written, for in
stance, most interesting story about
the Cancellation between the Holy See
and Italy which was started by an
American ecclesiastic in Paris during
the Peace Conference and came within
an ace of being concluded.
hope before his death he was well
enough to rejoice over the service of
the Associated Press in connection with
the Cancellation which has now taken
place, a service which enabled the news
agency he built up to give out the OIL
cial summary of the treaties signed at
the Lateran Palace on February IL, SO
hours before their publication in Rome.
Col. House, M. Clemenceau and the
memoirs of Lord Northclifie, If they
were ever published, could tell what an
important part Mr. Stone played in the
solution of various leading problems
with which the countries of the world
were confronted In Paris.
I will mention an incident regarding
journalistic feature which unfortu-
| nately is connected with my work, so
that I must again speak about myself.
Stands by Judgments.
On the strength of what Signor
| Orlando, Italian premier and head Of
the Italian delegation at the conference,
had told me, cabled to the Associated
Press in America that unless Italy's
claims, which her government consid-
cred quite just and equitable, were
| accepted, the whole delegation would
withdraw, leaving for Rome. This mes
sage caused a great sensation, and was
| cabled back from New York to Europe
! Baron Sonnino, italian minister .of for
! eign affairs, who did not wish ibis plans
| to be revealed, issued a fiat denial. All
news agencies carried his statement, but
| Mr.. Stone refused to have 1t cabled to
America, standing by me. Two weeks
| later, the Italian delegatlon TeLlre0 from
| the Peace Conference and left for Rome
showing how right Mr.. Stone had been
in his judgment.
Shows Desire to Help.
The last time I saw Mr.. Stone was
during the Washington conference or
naval disarmament, when, despite, his
advanced age, he still showed his usual
keen desire to help in collecting news
and In serving the Associated Press.
have induced myself to write some
thing of my personal contacts with
Mr.. Stone as small contribution to
reconstructing his many-sided person
atty, which, with his exceptional power
of organization and well balanced mind
made of him leader in journalism, 8
tactful diplomat and the finest and
most chivalrous gentleman I ever met
America, which marches at the head
of all other countries in so many fields
of progress, should be the pioneer In
a new departure in historys raising a
monument to one of her greatest
journalists and patriots, Melville E
Stone.