GEN. PERSHING AND THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER.

UNFOUNDED REPORT.

Last night we received the following communication from the Foreign Office: “There is no truth in the assertion that there has been hesitation on the part of his Majesty’s Government in regard to the acceptance of the Congressional Medal which the American Congress voted should be bestowed upon the British Unknown Warrior. On the contrary, the American Ambassador’s notification of the intention of the American Government to bestow the decoration was answered by the Marquis Curzon of Kedleston in the warmest terms, the answer being accompanied by an expression of profound appreciation of the action of Congress. “It is deeply regretted that General Pershing should, according to the Press, have been inconvenienced by delay in fixing a date for the bestowal of the Congressional Medal. The delay was due to the fact that it had been hoped to accompany the announcement of the date with the announcement of the honour which his Majesty will bestow in return upon the American Unknown Warrior, and in that regard difficult points of procedure arose which required reference to different Ministers and authorities, many of whom have been, or are, absent from London. Nor was it realised until very recently that General Pershing’s time in Europe was so limited. As soon as that was realised it was decided no longer to delay the arrangement of the ceremonies of the bestowal of the Congressional Medal upon the Unknown Warrior. “General Pershing has consequently been informed that it is hoped that he will find it possible to visit London for the ceremony before he returns to the United States, and has expressed his pleasure at the suggestion, of which he hopes to be able to avail himself in the near future.”