The New York herald., 1921-07-27
NORTHCLIFFE TELLS
OF NEWS PANSION
Says Foreign Press Carries
Wide Range of Stories
From America.
HE DOUBTS PROHIBITION
Asserts England Is vitality In
terested in Operation of
Dry Law.
HE DOUBTS PROHIBITION

Lord Northcliffe, holding open
house" yesterday at the Hotel Gotham,
received some personal friends; d
delegation from the American Zionist
organization, who called to thank him
for his sympathetic support of their
cause; the members of the Associa-
ton of Foreign Press Correspondents
and several dozen individuals who
wanted either to sell him something
or to ask him some foolish questions
He was genial to them all.
To the thirty foreign press corre
spondents, who represent newspapers
in every quarter of the world, Lord
Northcliffe delivered a brief discourse
upon the influence of news in pro-
noting international amity. Although
high cable tolls still are a bar to the
dissemination of news, he said that
papers everywhere, notably in Eng
land and on the Continent. gradually
are increasing the amount Of space
given to American affairs.
II remember when + was much
younger" he said, "the papers in Eng
land mentioned only such American
events as cyclones, big fires or other
disasters. A little later they carried the
more important divorce cases. 1t is diff
ferent now. And / want to commend
you gentlemen for not cabling provoca-
tive news. Every correspondent should
realize that newspapers are dangerous
as pin-prickers. just as they are powerful
in influencing friendship and under
standing between nations
The news most eagerly sought after
he said, Is news about prohibition. He
considers news about prohibition as Of
universal interest. But he did not APP
pear to be enthusiastic over prohibition.
'.In England" he said. many have
the impression that prohibition has
caused the Americans to work twenty
three hours a day and put 80 per cent.
of their money in savings banks. j am
beginning to doubt If that Is true. Soon
after arrived here / went to restau-
rant with some friends and had de-
lightful dinner from which nothing was
missing. 1t was like London"
Lord Northcliffe said he considered 1t
hopeful sign that the newspapers of
various countries are carrying more
sporting news. and particularly news re-
garding international sporting events. He
Association of Foreign Press Corre-
spondents and representative of the
London Daily Telegraph. that he ap-
proved of the recent suggestion OF Lord
Burnham that an international press
conference should be held within the next
two or three years to discuss cable tolls
and other matters of interest.
He gave little encouragement to the
Zionists. He told them that he under
stood unemployment already was a
problem in Palestine and that cer-
tainly this condition could not be i'm
proved by taking more people there.
Besides. he said. he had been there
and did not see how the country
could support a very large population.
A delegation of young women from
the Columbia School of Journalism.
who interviewed Lord Northcliffe yes
terday morning also had some of their
hopes dashed. He told them that women
were good as writer's of fiction.
children's stories and fashions, but that
he did not think much OF them as
political writers. He also said that
many immature young newspaper men
were sent abroad who did not have a
proper knowledge OF European history
and politics.
There were plenty OF other callers.
One man wanted to sell him 10000
acres of wood pulp land in Newfound-
land; another wanted him to publish a
novel he had written, and another
thought he should found a magazine
with the man who made the suggestion
at the head OF 1t.
Lord Northcliffe probably will remain
In this city to-day and leave for Wash
ington tomorrow.