The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-11-16
Points Out EnglaRa's Mis-
takes and Sounds
Warning. :.
PREMIER IS CRITICISED
Publisher Declines Post Of
Air Minister Offered by
Lloyd George.
MUST BE IMPROVEMENT
Asserts America Will Not Sac.
rificc Blood and Treasure
to Incompctency.
PREMIER IS CRITICISED
MUST BE IMPROVEMENT
Special cable Despd'ch to rnE srS from tAs
London TiMeA

Special Ccblc Ecspd'ch to ThE SrN from tAe
London 7imea
Copyright, 1917: all rights rtserret
LONDON. Nov. l5.--Lord Northcliffs.
who has just returned from his long
mission TO the United States, has been
offered the position Of Minister OF Air
Operations in the War Cabinet, and to-
night refused 1t In a letter to Premier
Lloyd George in which he severely ar
raiened the British conduct Of its part
of the war and warns the Britiah Gov
ernment that "uniess there is swift i'm
provemert in methods the United states
will take into its own hands the entire
management OF q great part OF the was.
1t will not "a ,rifce its blood and
treasure to incompetent handling ~
affairs in Europe"
The full text OF the letter follows:
DEAR PRIME MINISTER: have given
anxious consideration to your repeated
invitation that should take charge Of
the new Air Ministry. The reasons which
have impelled me to decline that great
honor and responsibility are In no way
concerned with the off1oe which Is
rightly to be set up. They are roughly
as follows:
"On returning after five months spent
in the v!rle atmosphere of the United
States and Canada | find that while
those two countries are proceeding with
their war prepare tons with a fervor and
enthusiasm ittle~understood OH this side
Of the Atlantic. while the United states
has instantly put into operation con-
scription. over which We wabbled for
two years. and is making short work OF
the sedition mongers. while Canada al
| ready has given such proofs OF thor
| Oushness as the disfranchisement Of
cchscIentious objectors and the denatu.
| ralization OF all enemy aliens who have.
been naturalized in the las hfteen years.
Daily with Urgent Questions.
, we OF our part are asking immense
sacrifices Of those peoples; there are still
! in office here those who daily with such
urgent questions that Of the unity OF
war control the eradication of sedition,
, the mobilization of the whole man and
woman power Of the country and the
Introduction Of compulsory food rations.
Il had personal experience myself
while in America of the obstruction ard
delay of certain departments in London
which. for example, postponed sending
/ Lord Headings vital and most success
! ful mission. find the censorship still
I being misused Men in various posi-
| tions of authority vino should have been
! punished have been retained, ~ some
cases elevated.
The spirit of the men and women Of
Gre at Britain is clearly as eager and
! ~, ,ho ,,. ,rrio,, ,,,,,,, ~ ,ha nor,d
/ led by one of tle greatest Generals. and
| l am VII aware OF his fine achievements
and those Of many others Of our SOL
disrs, sailors and statesmen, but I feel
| that in the present circumstances ! can
J do better work II | maintain my inde
pendeucz and am not gagged by the 10y
atty | do not feel toward the whole Of
] Your administration
4 II take this opportunity Of thanking
! YOU and the war Cabinet for the ha nd
some message OF praise sent to me as
representing In, 500 officials OF the Britt
| ish war mission to the United States
! many of them volunteer eNiles Their
achievements and those of their 10000
assistants deserve to be better known
TO their count trymen
The fat that their work L. rot
known IS due to the absurd secrecy
! about the war which il still prevalent
! Everything that these officials are doing
is known 10 our American friends and
OF course To the Germans trust
make no breach of confidence in sa! ing
that some documents which passed
! through my hands as head o! the mis-
=