Evening star., 1941-05-18

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time, is still recalled as an exemplar
Of journalism. Lord Kitchener thought
war correspondents only trifie less
dangerous than Prussians, and ruthless
ly hunted them out of France. Aitken
believed the policy to be unwise, and
stretched regulations to the breaking
point in order to reverse it.. Canadian
intelligence headquarters became known
as a center where correspondents were
welcomed and encouraged to see for
themselves what was happening.
The effect on Dominion morale and
neutral sentiment was so striking that.
after Kitchener's death, the government
created the post of minister of informa-
ton for It. Col Aitken DR.. Joseph
Goebbels was then schoolboy. Ait
ken's expert use of every engine of pub
licity and psychology entities him to
rank as the father of scientific propa-
ganda. His particular field was the
Western Hemisphere. He is credited
with paralyzing the intrigues of Ger
man minorities in the Latin American
republics, and with being as responsible
as any one man for the entry of the
United States into the war.
Failed to Save Churchill.
At the same time, behind the domestic
scene, he was engaged in political ma
nipulation on grand scale. The costly
failure of the Neuve Chapelle offensive
early In 1915 enabled his faction of the
Unionist party to force on Prime Minis
ter Asquith the first coalition cabinet,
with David Lloyd George as minister
Of munitions. Aitken's victory was
soured, however, by the failure of one
item close to his heart.
He had been quick to sense the great
ness Of Winston Spencer Churchill,
and lavished every influence to keep
him in Office as First Lord of the Ad-
miralty. The Unionists were resolved
to punish Churchills desertion of their
party for the Liberals. He was dis
missed, and Lord Balfour installed in
his place. Churchill never forgot this
distinterested championship, just as
Lloyd George never forgave Aitken for
his part in making the Welshman Prime
Minister. Lloyd George. 1t is said, al
ways resented the fact, known to insid-
ers, that he owed his rise partly to the
aid of an "upstart intriguer"
Refused a Place In Cabinet.
Lord Kitchener's death at sea in the
summer of 1916 left vacancy at the
head of the War ONCE. Relations be-
tr-a
we're distinctly cold. Aitken brought
them together one historic week end at
Cherkley and, after hours Of concilia-
ton, persuaded Law to pledge his sup
port to Lloyd George for Minister OF
War. Law and Aitken motored to
Asquith's country place and coerced
him into an agreement to name Lloyd
George to the post. Only a step now
remained between the latter and No. 10
Downing street. Aitken was offered a
place in the cabinet, but refused. He
accepted barony. and chose the name
Of Beaverbrook after New Brunswick
hamlet beside trout stream in which
he had f1shed happily as boy.
After the war Lord Beaverbrook re-
signed all his directorships, and ex-
planned to friends that he was bored
with money making. For s85.000 he
bought control of the London Daily
Express, tottering newspaper of small
circulation, which had lost nearly a
quarter of million dollars the previous
year. Under the new management It
became, ironically, a gold mine.
Works is Hours a Day.
"The way to run newspaper" the
press lord once confided, "is to have a
young man as editor and an old bird
like me on top of him." Because of his
capacity for work at top speed 16 hours
a day, with "a brain literally incapable
Of fatigue" the staff nicknamed him
''the Beaver" AS one columnist summed
it up: Positive, bee; comparative, beav-
er; superlative, Beaverbrook." Thanks
to his Incompatible contacts, he was
his own best, reporter and supplied a
goodly proportion of the important news
stories each day. He had private radio
station at Cherkley, f1ocks of dicta-
phones, even beside his bathtub, and
more telephones than any man in Eng
land. The moment thought struck
him, he could snatch up an instrument
and speak to his Office There were
telephones at every step both at Cherk-
ley and his London house, Stornaway
Hall; they lurked behind every bush and
tree on the Cherkley grounds.
In 1880 he surrendered controlling
interest to his son and heir, the Hon.
Max Aitken, and ostensibly retired.
He remained, however, the dynamic
force behind the enterprise. As pub
licist he had large hand in creating
the Irish Free State and disowning the
American war debt.
Fought for Empire Trade.
His greatest service was considered to
have been tremendous crusade in be-
half of free trade within the empire.
1t was recognized that he had surpassed
Lord Northcliffe and his brother, Lord
Rothermere, on their own ground.
The Daily Express had more readers
than any newspaper extant; its sale at
one time outstripped the capacity of the
presses, so that circulation had tenn
porarily to be reduced. 1t added Sum
day issue and daily tabloid, the Evening
Standard, and was earning net profit
of more than million dollars annually.
The Express, since the war, has been
cut to four pages and its advertisements
are rationed. But 1t Is still declared to
be making money.
Lady Beaverbrook died in 1927 having
done much with charm and tact to