WAR TALK.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 February 1921, Page 5

WAR TALK.

THE NEW YORK SCARE. OFFICIAL EXPLANATION. INTERVIEW MISREPRESENTED, By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Feb. 10, 8.40 p.m. London, Feb. 9. The Daily Chronicle states that Sir Auckland Geddes (British Ambassador to America) had an informal talk with fifteen American correspondents on Monday. It was confidential, the understanding being that it was not to be published, but that it was only for the guidance of the journalists. Sir Auckland Geddes dwelt on the good service the Press of the two countries could do by explaining and diminishing any causes of difference. The word war was never uttered. The chief matters upon which Sir Auckland Geddes is consulting the Government are the proposed differentiation of Panama tolls and a possible infringement of commercial treaties by the full enforcement of the Jones Shipping Act, the breakdown of the recent international conference on the cables question, naval programmes, and oil interests. Certain New York newspapers having published perversions of the interview with Sir Auckland Geddes, to the effect that Great Britain and America were drifting towards war, the Foreign Office has issued a oommunique declaring that the alleged interview misrepresents Anglo-American relations, adding: “The Foreign Office is confident that any question arising between Britain and the United States can and will be settled without difficulty, whether with the existing or succeeding Administration.” —Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn. This message is the outcome of a cable from New York, published yesterday morning, which stated: “'Some newspapers print sensational cables from London reporting an audience an American correspondent had at the Foreign Office With a high British diplomat, whose name is not revealed. The latter declared that it was inconceivable that the United States and Britain, on whom so much depends, should drift towards a breach and become involved in war; yet, he said, that was the path we were treading. It is stated here that the statement is preposerous, and official circles ridicule the possibility of war between the United States and Great Britain.”