Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-11-16
NoRTHCLIFFE
CONTINUED from Page One)

Il have given anxious consideration
u your repeated invitations that /
should take charge Of the new Air min
istry. The reason which impelIed me
70 decline that great honor and re-
sponsibiIity are in no way concerned
with the Office, which is rightly 10 he
SCI up. They are roughly as follows:
Returning after i've months passed
In the r.riie atmosphere Of the United
States and Canada I ina that while these
TWO countries are proceeding with their
war preparations with d terror and en-
thus.asm Ectle understood on this side
D: the Atlantic, while the United States
instantly put into operation conscrption
over which We woob.ed for two years
and is making short work Of sedition
such proofs " thoraughness as the dis
franchisemeat Of conscientious directors
ana the Observation-Disclosures Of all enemy
aliens naturalized within the last Is
years; while we, for our part, are ask
ing immense sacrifices from these peo-
Pies. there st.N are in Office here those
who daily with such urgent questions
as that Of unity OF war control. eradIca-
ton Of sedition. mobilization Of the whole
man and woman power OF the country
and the introduction ~ compulsory food
rations.
Censorship Misused
II had personal experience while in
America OF the obstruction and delay in
certain departments IN London which,
for example. postponed sending Lord
Readings vital and most successful mis-
SION / End the censorship still being
.nisused and that men in various posi-
lions ot authority who should have been
punished have been retained and in some
cases elevated. The spirit Of the men
ana women Of Great Britain is clearly
al eager ana as splendid as ever. we
nave. in nv belief, the most efficient
army in the worN. led by one Of the
greatest generals and l am we'll aware OF
the fine achievements Of many others OF
our soldiers. sailors and statesmen but
feel in the present circumstances | can
do no better work IL I maintain my IN
dependence and am not gagged by 10y
atty that do not feel towards the whole
Of your administration.
Il take this opportunity u thank
ing YOU and the war cabinet tor the
handsome message Of praise sent 70
me as representing the 500 officials
OF the British war mission. many
of them volunteers and exiles. Their
achievements and those Of their 10
900 assistants deserve to be better
known by their countrymen. The TACT
that their work is not better known Is
due TO the absurd secrecy about the
war which still is prevalent. Every
thing these officials are doing Is known
ia our American friends and Of course
to the Germans.
II trust [ make no breach of conf
dcnce in saying that some Of the doc
uuents which have passed through
NV hands as head of the mission are
such as if published, would greatly in
crease our prestige in the United States
and hcartcn our people AT home.
Praises United States
May also take this opportunity Of
giving warning about our relations
with that great people from whom l
come. We have had the tragedy of
Russia. due partly to lack Of allied
propaganda to countcract that of tho
Germans. We have had the tragedy
Of Italy, largely due to that same enc
my propaganda. We have had the
tragedies of Serbia Rumania and Mon
tencgro. There is one tragedy which
am sure we will not have and that
is the tragedy Of the United States.
but from countless conversations
with leading Americans ! know that
unless there is swift improvement in
our methods here the United States
will rightly take into its own hands
the entire management Of great part
Of tho war | will not sacrifice it's
blood and treasure to the incompetent
handling Of the affairs Of Europe.
In saying all this. which is very
much on my mind. believe me / have
none but the most friendly feeling to-
ward yourself and that | am greatly
honored by your suggestion.
yours sincerely.
hNORTTJCT JL-LNL,s,