Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1917-11-23
NORTHCLIFF'S FAMOUS LETTER
Criticises Severely Management OF
War by the English.

War by the English.
Lord Northcliife, the famous Enr-
lish publisher. has written the follow
ing remarkable letter to Prime Min
lister Lloyd George. of England. The
letter was prompted by the offer to
the newspaper publisher of the post
of Air Minister.
Dear Prime Minister:
81 have given anxious consideration
to your repeated invitations that |
should take charge of the new Air
Ministry. The reason which impell-
cd me to decline that great honor
and responsibility are in no way con-
cerned with the office which is right
ly to be set up. They are, roughly,
as follows
Returning after five months spent
in the virile atmosphere of the Unit
ell States and Canada, find that,
while these two countries are pro
cceding with their war preparations
with Il fervor and enthusiasm little
understood on this side of the Allan
tic, while the United States instant
ly put into operation CONSUMPTION, ov-
er which we wabbled for two wears.
and is making short work of sedition
mongers; while Canada already has
given such proofs of thoroughness as
the diSfranchisement of conscientious
DIRECTORS and the decentralization of
all enemy aliens naturalized within
the last fifteen years; while we, for
our part, are asking immense sacrific-
es from those people, there are still
IN Office here those who daily with
such urgent questions as that of unity
of war control, eradication of sedi-
ton, mobilization of the whole man
and woman power of the country. and
the introduction of compulsory food
rations.
81 had personal experience while in
American of the obstruction and de-
lay in certain departments in London
which, for example, postponed send
ing Lord Readings vital and most
successful mission. find the censor
ship still being misu6cd. and that men
arc in various positiosn of authority
who should have been published, have
been retained and DIN some cases e!e-
waited
THE spirit Of the mon and wom-
en- of Great Britain is clearly as eager
and splendid us ever. We have, in NV
beAcf, the most efficiently army in
the world, led by one of the greatest
Generals and am well aware of the
fine achievements Of many others of
our soldiers, sailors, and statesmen,
but 1 feel in the present circum-
stances can do better work if II
maintain my independence and am
not gagged by a loyalty that do not
feel toward the whole of your admin
istration.
Il take this opportunity of thank
ing you and the War Cabinet for the
handsome message OF praise sent to
me as represcntating the five hundred
officials of the British War Mission
to the United States, many of them
volunteers and exiles. Their achieve
ments and those of their ten thous-
and assistants deserve to be better
known by their countryme"
nc fact that their work is notl
known is due to the absurd secrecy
about the war which still is prevalent /
Everything these officials are doing is
known to our American friends, and
OF course, to the Germans.
Il trust make no breach of conf
dence in saying tht some of the doc
uments which have passed through
my hands as head of the mission are |
such as. if published, would greatly
increase our prestige in the United