VISCOUNT FRENCH'S AMERICAN FRIEND.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 175, 19 May 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

VISCOUNT FRENCH'S AMERICAN FRIEND.

FIELD MARSHAL'S STORY IN LIBEL SUIT. NEWSPAPER ATTACK UPON A VISITOR TO G.H.Q. Field-Marshal Lord French, Com-mander-in-Chief of the Homo Forces, gave evidence in Lord Reading's court on behalf of an American friend, Mr. Geo. Gordon Moore, who sued Messrs. Htilton for libel. A reprint in the "Manchester Evening Chronicle" from a London weekly paper suggested taht Mr. Moore had taken advantage of frequent visits to General Headquarters in Granco as N r J. French's guest to betray military secrets to the German Ambassador in America on returning thither.

When the cane came on Lord French sat at the solicitors' table in mufti with Mr. Hayes Fisher, M.P.

Mr. Duke, K.C., M.P., for the plaintiff, said that Mr. Gordon Moore, though an American ctizen, lived in London for about three months in the year. It was only fair to say the r.tatements complained of, suggesting that Mr. Moore had used his means of social intercourse in England to work mischief against the Allies' cause, did not orig. inate from defendants.

The whole tiling, said Mr. Duke, w.\j a mere baseless fabrication of malicious invention. Mr. Moore, havin/ h.rl a successful career at the Unite 1 States Bar, ultimately became exclusively engaged in the direction of very largo constructional undertakings. Some three or four years ago, during one of his visits to England, a friendship was formed between him and Lord French, which developed into very dote mutual confidences

Tlio libel teemed with imputations as to Mr. Moore's career, and grossly travestied business interests which he had in England. He was connected with a financial undertaking with which English gentlemen of high position were associated. He need only mention the- names of the Duke of Argyll, liord Hill. Lord Knollys, Mr. Hayes Fisher, M.P., and Sir John Rollsston, to show the character of the business. JOINT LONDON HOUSE.

Mr. Moore required an occasional residence in London, and so did Lord French, whose homo is the Manor House, Wa'tham Cross. Therefore they agreed to"Share the expenses of a houso at Lancaster-gate. That was made the occasion of an odious imputation in this case. The facts were distorted and misrepresented. The cost of the house was jointly borne by Lord French and ¥r. Moore.

When the battle front in the northeast of France had taken something of the form it now as-umed, there emerged tremendous problems of applying the resources of -cience to the position. Mr. Moore in 1914 paid a vis : t to FieldMarshal French, and then scientific problems wee the staple concerns at Headquarters at that time. It was recognised that a man who could ho trusted, and could effectively, when decisions in respect of scientific certainty had been arrived at, convert them into action, would he valuable.The plaintiff had that command of modern science. Lord French decided that b>> cnnld l>o trusted to do the work. which was of great srnvitv, and the trust was fullv justified. The desired steps were ta'<*on. and Mr. Morre was constantly at Headquarters. BAN GREAT RISK;-. Mr. Moore gave, those services, because he regarded the cause of the A.lie* as that of humanity, to his own country as well as ours. He continued those services unselfishly, and sometimes with great danger to himself. Last .lime he went to the United States to look after his affairs. Over there lie spoke, through the Press and in public, with regard to the position in Europe, and the interest of th: United States in the war, in terms which snoiild have settled for ever the question whether he was a man who was engaged in betraying this country. The insulting suggestion was made that he went to Long Island to confabulate with Count Bern.storff, the German Ambassador. His only visit there was to Mr. and Mrs. Roosevelt. Another suggestion was that his sister, Miss Moore, was engaged with him in this business of betrayal, was an invalid lady living in Canada. Mr. Monro returned to England, and ,i January last tin ]:;n>\ was published under the heading-, of—"Sir John French. Criticism of Civilian Entourage.—American's Privileges."

It was referred to as coming from a London weekly paper, against the owners of which, said counsel, a libel action was now pending. It described Mr. Moore as "a financier of uncertain standing, whose chief cla ; m to recognition seems to lie in hj., acquisition of the interests of a Mr. Lowonfold, an unnaturaiised Gorman." The article continued :

In .lime Mr. Moore received a:i intimation that a change of air m ; - 1 1" lieneueial to his health, and he took his departure to America. Mr. Moore is sird to make verv outspoken comments on the inner happenings, both at homo and abroad," and, on the face of it, it seems extremely undesirable, that a private citizen' of a neutral country shouhf be afforded Kiich exceptional facilities for knowing the inermctft secret of the campaign.

1 hoard a few day* neo tliat Mr. 5100r.-> had rvtur.icd to London, and at the present moment was living with the now Lord Frciicli in the homo in Lancaster-gate which the nair wore occunving when tlio war broke out.

'1 here fol'owed observation* on till n press, ty that Lord French .should have as associate;; only tlincp who wore nnso'utnly beyond suspicion. The next paragraph was headed "Hilarious Party," and said:

A great ma:iy part'os have been given at Lancaster-gate, and tliore wa-i one particularly hihp-ons party, either just before or i„st after tlio news of Xeuve CliP.polle. •'.-TOTAL TPA'X" TO fi.TT.O. Just conceive, said Mr. Duke, what tint meant to anyone- who realised wlmt Xeuvo f impede was fn.-this eoun-t'-v! Tt wis en ett r f i'-ricai ir.u. The ll'el continued :~ F.-ni-i tb ;.■■:"• t'-.M >",• J..1.u Kivmh to'k over I ii < t--.Mi, I;! M-l 'u Franco until that i l !.,- n .fun- |ot:,. when Mr. Mo..;- d.-narred for ,\me. ; ca, '!•<• 1.-iifiT was ahiuw* a weekly visitor !.i Herbal II viduuartors. and he wa« treated in '■■ very wav wiih the utmost di-tinetvn* ' Probably (here are not ha'f :> dc/.>n Englishmen in-i-'udiii'.' il." f'ahin.t, who know so mudi of t'-n inner secrets of the eampa:"n nsihis American from nowhere. With.'ii a few dnvs of his arrival in .Ainer.cn he is said to have been a ruest at. a hnn=e in Lonrt Island at which Count Bernstoff, the German

Ambassador, was also staying. Moreover, his sister (Miss Moore) is known to be an intimate friend of Count Bernstorff. Now, after six or seven months' absence, this gentleman has returned to live in the house for which he pays with the General who lias directed the fortunes of our Army in Flanders, for 17 months, who has just been honoured by the King with a viscounty, and who is now in supreme command of our home forces.

The defendants made an absolute withdrawal of, anu apology for, every imputation in the libel.

LORD FRENCH'S EVIDENCE

Lord French in the witness box corroborated counsel's statement. He said that regarding Mr. Moore by reason of bis command of scientific resources and by his proved capacity in controlling the labour necessary to produce the industrial resutl as a man who was able to assist in the problems that confronted them, he authorised Mr. Moore's assistance.

Mr. Duke: There is a suggestion that he was almost as well aware of military affairs in France as yourself. Lord French : There is not a shadow of foundation for that. It is absolutely wrong. The Field Marshal added that he had entire confidence in Mr. Moore's integrity and knew he was a whole-heart-ed supporter of the Allied Powers. He was very g'ad, indeed, to bo able to avail himself of Mr. Moorcs' ability. Mr. Moore rendered his help gratuitously, and on occasion at some danger, for somo months.

Was it necessary for him to go to and from your Headquarters?— Yes. Was that done openly and with your knowledge ?—Yes. He was in consultation very often with my Chief Engineer.