LORD NORTHCLIFFE

CABLE TO THE KlN<i.

DENIAL OF REPORT. x

THE SOCIAL BOYCOTT

BY CATiLfi—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT

WASHINGTON, July 29

Lord JNorthciitte has cabled to the King's secretary: "Please convey to His Majesty, with my humble respects, my denial of .ever1' having ascribed to His Majesty words or any such words as stated by the Prime*Minister." I gave no such, interview." LONDON, July 30. Lord Stamfordshire (the King's private secretary), replying to Lord Norbhcliffe's message repudiating the interview, states the Kirig; is glad. He confirms that Mr Lloyd George s statement in the House of Commons was made by the King's authority. NEW YORK, July 29. Lord Northcliffe has cabled denying he ever gave the interview regarding Ireland oh which Mr Lloyd George read the King's repudiation. The London newspapers are publishing a denial, dated London, that the British Foreign Office yesterday inspired Sir Auckland Geddes to boycott him. "It is one of those diplomatic denials, otherwise just a plain lie," de-| clared Northcliffe. He added: "lam sorry my triend Geddes was placed in such an embarrassing position.'7 j

NEW YORK, July 30. The World's Washington correspondent learns that Sir Auckland Geddes' cancellation .of the dinner to Lord Northeliife is only the first step in a social boycott which the British Foreign Office mapped out to pursue the publisher round the world. It is understood orders have been sent to Lord Reading (Viceroy of India), Sir George Lloyd (Governor of Bombay), Sir Charles Eliot (British Ambassador at Tokio), and General Allenby (British Higli Commissioner in Palestine) that the usual courtesies extended to distinguished guests will be dispensed with, in Lord Northcliffe">s case.

It appears that Mr H.' Wiekham Steed (editor of the London Times) dictated the interview to the New York Times. It is reported that the representatives •> in America of Lord Norhtcliffe's papers later telephoned to the. New York Times, obtained the in-' terview, and cabled it to London, attributing it to , Lord Northcliffe. Mr Steed plater declared that the interview, which attributed certain remarks to the King, contained matter which should not have been published. The New York Times explains that Mr Steed did not revise the interview.

. LONDON,,JuIy 30. -•ihe Morning Post says Lord Northcliffe's, mind has been, clearly over-' strained; it is a case, for doctors and not for politicians. We advise Lord Northcliffe s friends; unless they take more care of him, to keep him quiet.' He will suffer sooner or later from a serious breakdown. There is a point at which megalomania becomes danger-! ous, and the patient, must be persuaded to rest or his friends must expect the worst/ /•■'-■' ! The Daily rTews suggests that the interview is an elaborate hoax, which illustrates the -danger of ' peripatetic potentates of undefined status making a semi-royal progress in foreign countries. They are not only a jest in1 themselves, but a temptation to a practical joker. Lord 'Northcliffe's interview has been definitely attributed to him by the New York correspondent of the Daily Mail; who used the" following' words: "The greatest interest lias' been aroused over an interview with Lord Northcliffe published in the New! York Times." "