LETTER TO PAPER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 205, 31 July 1939, Page 2

LETTER TO PAPER.

LIBERALS AND AIR CHURCHILL LONDON, July 14. The alleged suppression by the Times ot a letter in which Lady Yio.et Bonham Carter and eight other leading Liberals advocated Mr Churchill’s inclusion in the Cabinet, and replied to a letter from Air J. A. Sp. tutor, criticising Sir Archibald •Sinclair tor attacking Air Chamber lain, has led to a spirited controversy in wli’cli most of tile London newspapers are taking part. After the rejection hv the Times of Lady Bonham Carter's letter. it was published by the Daily Telegraph and other London papers with a footnote stating that the Times had rejected it. The Times then printed the letter, hut omitted the paragraphs advocating Air Churchill s inclusion in the Cabinet. Sir Archibald Sinclair made the letter and its treatment the subject of a speech at the Hytlie by election meeting, to which wide prominence was given. The Times then published a leader, pointing out that the Times has steadily ‘‘held aloof from the now familiar clamour for the instant inehi ion of Air Churchill in the Cabinet.” Liberal and Labour newspapers published leaders attacking the Times and now the Conservative Daily Telegraph, which has been giving prominence to letters arb'oeatKg a Cabinet position for Air Churchill, rebukes the Times in a leader. and insists again that the Cabinet should be broadened. This controversy and its side issues are ' now almost- monopolising the principal correspondence columns of the Times and the Dailv Telegraph. Weeklv papers issued t'o-dny vie with each oilier in denouncing the Times. The Spectator considers that “the reputation of the Times is being rapidly lost, Itoeausc of the disingenuousness which appe"rs to have become inveterate.” The News Statesman declares that “the Times pursues a fiercely partisan policy, and dees so with an’ aggravating!}' sanctimonious air. Time and Tide regrets that the Times lias lost its sense of responsibility. and has engaged hi a mischievous piece of irresponsible censorship.”