Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-04-07
Lord Halifax
Interview
Defended
But British American
Calls Newsmen Rude
DIET R O IT
BY EDWIN c. HILL

BY EDWIN c. HILL
WE HAVE a letter today from
British-American citizen
expressing considerable indigna-
ton over the bad taste and
rudeneSs of the inquisition 10
which Lord Halifax was sub
mitted by the American press
men The reference was TO
The New York interview in
which Lord Halifax ably and
adroitly parried rapid-fire cues
tons shot at him by the local
scribeS.
They were questions which
would have been unthinkable in
the decorous setting Of a Pill
grimS Society dinner. or among
any Of the exchanges of interna-
tIOnal amenities in which the
rules of social and diplomatic
punctilio cuStomarily govern ~
A typical question was. Can
You point 10 a specific failure IN
world economic dealings which
may be corrected in the fu-
ture - And typlc was his
lordship's reply Il think sit
would be unwise One news
paper account reported that
British newSpapermcn IN the
group We're shocked by such
goingS on and held an i'm
promptu indignation meeting. =
I THINK the complaint OF my
Il BritlSh-Auerican correspond
ent should be considered with
sympathy and understanding
ANY one who ever has hunted
with the pack in the quaint anCN
uniquely American custom Of
running down news knows that
the chase IS not conducted under
the rules OF either QueenSberry
or Ely Culbers0n
Nicely reared boys. perhaps
Just OUT of an Ivy League col
lcgc frequently are overcome
with morlIficatIon when they
FIRST soc their hard-boiled mates
in action. IN a session like the
siege of Lord Halifax. but later
on. they. too. become Unsuitable
news hounds and While"-they
may mind Their grammar and
an the trimmings. they do ask
blunt and embarrassing quc>-
uon~ That's the way new
often must bc extracted
Tho fTec-lor-all in which our
reporters get into q grapplc with
everybody on UP 10 and lnclud-
ING The President IS-an- -nSt.ti+4-
uonal proceeding which. IS p
more effective instrumFrt Of
democratic control than the tra-
diuonal Interpolation Of the
government IN Europe
TIVE trouble with the Euro
L pean system particularly IN
France Was the fact that the
parliamentary challenge was
Quite apt 10 bee a hippodromc
and France had no vigorous or
sufficiently honest newspapers
10 show up the inside Job De
featsts and traitors louriShed
and France was delivered 10 her
enemies because she lacked the
loud continuous and articulate
challenge OF an honest and loyal
press
The French pTcss vas free
enough. 10 b. sure blt putting
II IN blunt AmerICancSe n was
as crooked as "a dog hind leC.
Il was back m 1928 that ~
= Germans began buying edltorlai
space IN The great French news
papers. first 10 hamstrine the
League OF Nations. as the time
for disarmament under the COW
enant drew near, and then.
steadily through decade and
more. TO sTjVert and poison
French public opinion.
The starvation and slavery OF
France today attest the success
Of many millions Of column
inches Of treason bought and
paid for by Germany or by
French traitors
DRITAIN has a free and
ID honest press, though some
what Shackled by tradition and
blinded by the grand razzle-
dazzle of caste. decorum and
7 tho old school tic 1t Is un-
touched. however by venahty
and greed
When SIR Neville Henderson
or Sir Samuel Hoare or Sir John
simon or Northclftc came back
from Germany 10 report thai
this Hitler was rather a decent
sort OF "A chap. there were plenty
of people IN Britain who knew
better. bat il would have been
unthinkablc for the newspapers
TO sic the reporters on statesmen
such as these They moved on
steadily to appeasement and II.
tragic aftermath.
ne Inllcd StdltS OF IltiiId
IS the only country in which q
man in a $40, ready-made suit
can ask embarrassing questions
of morning coat and a gar
denia. 1t Is an old. established
custom over here. 1t saved us
during the Civil War. Not ever
Lincoln could stop the graft and
looting of war material con-
tracts. until the most uninhibiFS