Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-11-16
Great Publisher Refuses to En-
ter Ministry at Invitation off
Premier Lloyd George and,
Associates,
PRAISES WORK BEING
DONE BY AMERICANS
Says Army Under Field Mar
shall Sir Douglas 1aig Is the
Most Powerful in World but
Government Is Stupid,
sr soss,ss JOURNAL srrelAl LEASED WIRE

London Nov. 10. Lord North
cliffe's letter to Premier Lloyd George,
declining the post of minister In
theBritish cabinet, dated today
from the London office of the British
mission to the United States, was as
follows:
Dear Prime Minister:
Il have given anxious considera-
ton to your repeated invitations that
| should take charge of the new air
ministry The reasons which impelled
me to decline that great honor and
responsibility are in no way concern
ed with the office which is rightly to
be set up They are roughly as follows:
Praises 4, s. and Canada.
Returning after five months spent
in the virile atmosphere of the United
States and Canada, / find that While
these two countries are proceeding
with their preparations with a fervor
and enthusiasm little understood on
this side of the Atlantic; while the
United States instantly put into opera
ton conscription over which we wob-
bled for two years and is making
short work of sedition mongers;
while Canada already has given sach
proofs of thoroughness as the d s.
franchisement of CONSCIENTIOUS oojec-
tors and the naturalization of all
enemy aliens nIiuralized within the
last fifteen years; while, we for our
part, are ask ny immense sacrifices
from these peoples, there still are in
office here those who daily with such
urgent questions as that of unity of
war control, eradication of sedition,
mobilization of the whole man and
woman power of the country and the
introduction of compulsory food ra-
tions.
DenOunces English SlOwness.
II had personal experience while in
America of the obstruction and delay
in certain departments in London,
which, for example, postponed send
ing Lord Readings vital and most
successful mission. | find the censor
ship still being misused and that men
in various positions of authority who
should have been punished have been
retained and in some cases elevated.
The spirit of the men and women of
Great Britain is clearly as eager and
splendid as ever. We have, in my be-
lief, the most efficient army IN the
world led by one of the greatest gen
erals, and am well aware of the fine
achievements of many others o. our
soldiers, sailors and statesmen, bur
feel in the present circumstances /
can do better work If I maintain my
independence and am not gagged by
a loyalty that I do not feel towards
the whole of your administration.
Praises Work of Missions.
"I take this opportunity of thank
ing you and the war cabinet for the
ha ndsome message of praise sent to
me as representing the 500 officials of
the British war mission to the United
States, many of them volunteers and
exiles. Their achievements and those
of their 10000 assistants deserve to
be better known by their countrymen.
"The fact that their work is not
known is due to the absurd secrec/
about the war which still Is prevalent.
Everything these officials are doing
is known to our American friends and,
of course, to the Germans.
II trust I make no breach of con-
fidence in saying that some Of the
documents which have passed through
my hands as head of the mission are
lsuch as, If published, would greatly
increase our prestige in the United
States and hearten our people at
home.
Warns Regarding America.
MAY I also take this opportunity
of giving warning about our relations
with that great people from whom
come We have had the tragedy OF
Russia, due partly to lack of allied
propaganda to counteract that of the
lGermans. We have had the tragedy
l.of Italy, largely due to that same
enemy propaganda. We have had tbs
tragedies of Serbia. Rumania and
Montenegro. There is one tragedy
which | am sure we shall not have
and that is the tragedy Of the United
| States
| "But from countless conversation
with leading Americans / know thai
| ~ee-es~~-~~s~.>~-~~~~ ~~~~~~-e~~~~-~s~~s<r
| Continued on Fage Two.)