The Daily Express.

PLEASE MARK
REPLY PRIVATE.

8, SHOE LANE, LONDON,
E. C. 4.

March 15th, 1928.

Dear Mr. Low:

Sir William Joynson-Hicks has just rung me up to say that he is terribly intrigued with that cartoon of yours, "Jix' Night Out," and he would be enormously obliged if he could have the original.

David Low, Esq.,
"Evening Standard,"
104, Shoe Lane, E.C. 4.

PHONE: CITY 2040 (PRIVATE EXCHANGE)
TELEGRAMS: "EVENING STANDARD, LONDON."

ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO BE ADDRESSED TO
THE COMPANY.

In your reply please refer to

Evening Standard

(EVENING STANDARD CO.LTD.)

47, SHOE LANE,

LONDON, E.C.4.

22nd April 1929

D. Low Esq.,
25, Helenslea Avenue,
Golders Green,
N.W. 11.

Dear Low,

With regard to the recent suggestion
that you should meet J.H. Thomas for some bright
political conversation, would you be willing to do
so next Wednesday week at the Savoy Hotel if I arrange
this?

I am sending a similar note to

J.H. Thomas.

March 26th. 1931.

Dear Mr. Blumenfeld,

With reference to the cartoon original desired by Lady Diana Cooper :- I am delighted, as you know, to oblige you in any way, but in this instance my enthusiasm for the proposed presentation is dimmed by the knowledge that Mr. Duff Cooper recently characterised some of my work as 'offensively vulgar' from a public platform. But, since the request has not come to me directly, so to speak, I will communicate with Mr. Gilliat, who will probably send it discreetly (without my compliments).

I hope you are enjoying good health.

Yours Sincerely,

C O P Y .

50, Grosvenor Gardens,
S.W.1.

April 27th, 1933.

The Editor,
"Evening Standard,"
47, Shoe Lane,
London, E.C.

Sir,

Low - For and Against.

Although you have closed this correspondence,
may I ask you, as originator of this controversy,
to allow me to attempt to summarise the position.

I must first of all thank you for your
courtesy in publishing my original letter on the
subject.

Secondly, I must thank a great number of
people who have written me personal letters to
thank me for my protest without one single dissentient,
and to whom I am unable to reply individually.

I think I may fairly sum up the published
letters on the subject by claiming that I have at
least established my point that these cartoons are
subject to grave criticism on the ground of lack
of good taste, as are no other cartoons in any
other paper of repute, and also that they are a
definite offence to a large number of your readers.

Most of your correspondents have entirely
missed my point. I am not concerned with either the
political or personal application of these cartoons.
Apart from these, while I cannot of course deal in
detail with all the other letters which you have
published in defence, I would refer to one or two.
Uncle Horatio can hardly be considered as an unbiased
critic, but whatever I said about his nephew's drawings,
I was not so unkind as to call him a "gentlemanly lad."

In this connection, I quote the following
from one of the letters I have received. "He always
strikes me as being a man who can never forgive fate

- 2 -

for ordaining that he was not born a gentleman."

Another writer in defence, unkindly refers to him as "a strange survival of some prehistoric morally heroic age." I seem to remember that kind of humour on certain early mural frescoes, but I hesitated to mention it.

The famous artist may be a good judge of draughtmanship, which I did not question, but I cannot accept him as a judge of humour from the evidence of his own undoubted works of art.

He further says that he considers "Low" the greatest cartoonist he has ever seen. I would suggest his turning over the pages of "PUNCH" for the last 50 years and ask himself if these cartoons which he defends would pass the standard set up by that unquestionable authority on humour and good taste, an authority acknowledged as such throughout the world.

Signed: E.S. New.

PHONE: CITY 3000 (PRIVATE EXCHANGE)
TELEGRAMS: "EVENING STANDARD, LONDON."

In your reply please refer to

47, SHOE LANE,

LONDON, E.C.4.

5th May 1933

Dear Mr. Low,

Thanks for your note of the 3rd inst. enclosing
letter you have received from BENCO. I am in communica-
tion with the manufacturers of the toy dogs some years
ago, and when I have heard that they are definitely
no longer interested, I may be able to make some
arrangement with the newcomers.

You will remember that we only got about
£14 or £15 out of Farnells who handled the last lot.

Yours faithfully,
Evening Standard Co. Ltd.

D. Low Esq.
3, Rodborough Road, N.W.11.

PHONE: CITY 3000 (PRIVATE EXCHANGE)
TELEGRAMS: "EVENING STANDARD, LONDON"

47, SHOE LANE,
LONDON, E.C.4.

In your reply please refer to.

14th June 1933.

Mr. David Low,
3, Rodburgh Road,
N. W. 11.

Dear Mr. Low,

You will remember forwarding me a letter you received from 'Benco' who proposed to manufacture some toy "Musso's". I have agreed with them to pay us a royalty of 7½% on their sales under the title of "Musso", for a period of two years, and thereafter three months notice on either side.

For showcard and publicity purposes they are asking for three characteristic sketches of the animal. One for showcard purposes about 8" x 6", one for the label about 4½" x 3" and the third for ticket about 1¼" x ¾". It occurs to me that you can let them have three sketches of uniform size and they can reduce them to whatever size they may require. For the purpose of copyright these should bear your signature.

Will you let me have these at your earliest convenience.

Yours faithfully,
Evening Standard Co.Ltd.

W. Hallewell
Secretary.

November 15th. 1933.

Dear Mr. Talbot,

This is a bad agreement - not their usual form
but one dished up specially for us, I suspect. But I suppose
the Evening Standard will not want to haggle in what will
perhaps be a small matter. There are, however, two points
which should be fixed up. As things stand the Publishers
are granted the sole book rights throughout the world in
perpetuity, and no reasonable limits are attached to possible
delay in publishing. There should be interpolated in par.
2 after the word publish "within a reasonable time", and a
new paragraph added after par. 11, reading :

"If the British Empire edition of the said work
shall become out of print and the Publishers shall
decline or neglect to print and publish a new edition
of the said work within six months after receiving from
the Proprietor a request in writing to do so, then and
in that event all rights of printing and publishing the
said work in book form as granted by this agreement shall
thereupon revert to the Proprietors."

That is usual and I have never seen a book agreement without
it.

Without it you might as well not have an agreement at all,
and just make a present of your rights to the Publishers.

Yours sincerely,

Mr. A. Talbot, E

EVENING STANDARD CO. LTD.

CENTRAL 3000.

In your reply please refer to
MW/MG.

EVENING STANDARD

47 SHOE LANE, LONDON, E.C.4.

18th January, 1934.

Dear Low,

I have received a letter from the secretary of the Fleet Street Branch of the British Legion, saying that at the last meeting of that body, it was unanimously agreed that the secretary should be instructed to try to persuade you to produce another cartoon for their menu. Their dinner is on January 27th.

I retired from the Chairmanship of the Branch at the end of the year, and I therefore pass this invitation on to you, with no comment other than an exclamation that in Fleet Street there appears to be only one cartoonist - for I may say that all the other newspapers are represented on the Branch.

D. Low, Esq.

January 21st.1934.

Dear Captain Hardell,

I have been thinking over our conversation
over the telephone yesterday. The question arises as to just
how far my cartoon treatment of current affairs in which Lord
Rothermere is concerned is to be affected by consideration for
his tender feelings. I know he dislikes seeing his person
caricatured, and I have refrained from drawing him on many
appropriate occasions in order to avoid difficulties such as you
spoke of. (Personally I think it strange and slightly shameful
that one who serves his opponents so roughly should want immunity
for himself from comment in any medium.)

My cartoon for Friday to which you took
exception did refer to Lord Rothermere's announcement of the new
policy of his newspapers and made mention of 'his lordship'. But
it did NOT depict him nor even mention his name. If it be
considered unfeeling or inexpedient for a cartoonist to make an
oblique reference in this vague way to one who widely advertises
himself as a leading protagonist of a sensational political policy?
After all, there are several 'his lordships' in Fleet Street. It
appears to be but a short step to declaring it unfeeling or inexped-
ient to refer as all to the policies which he invents or adopts,
which is obviously absurd.

I suggest therefore (A) that it should be enough
to preserve domestic harmony that I refrain from drawing Lord
Rothermere or specifically mentioning his name, all the policies and
performances of his anonymous and invisible 'lordship' being as fair
game for cartoons as anyone or anything else; (B) that the cartoon
APPLICANTS FOR THE JOB, altered as to Bosley's companions, should be
published an end. Otherwise, in view of the political possibilities
of the near future, I feel an extensive and unreasonable restriction
is implied which justifies me in making a protest.

Yours sincerely,

January 25th. 1954.

Dear Captain Wardell,

I was surprised to hear that despite my having made the modifications we agreed upon as sufficient, the cartoon APPLICANTS FOR THE JOB is still considered unsuitable for publication in the EVENING STANDARD.

I cannot see how the woman's figure, plainly labelled as a symbol of 'Mayfair Sisterhood' could possibly be interpreted as referring to Mosley's sexual relations with any lady friend. This is, however, a minor point and I should be willing to alter the figure to a man if that were all that prevented publication.

I am more deeply perturbed to hear that the cartoon is still objectionable because it might displease Lord Rothermere. I cannot think this is because it bears any personal reflection, because so far as he is concerned it is completely impersonal. His Blackshirt announcement was an event of first-class importance, headlined in the newspapers, talked of everywhere and cartooned at home and abroad. If my cartoon were published now it would be at the tail of the procession instead of at the head where it might have been.

I should like to clarify this matter by asking if it is to be understood in future that not only (A) Lord Rothermere himself, but also (B) his newspapers, and (C) his Blackshirt policy are to be taboos subject to? To me the Blackshirt business seems to be a very definite addition to the local political scene and I do not see how it will be possible to keep it out of cartoons now and then in the future. Certainly I think that to pretend it does not exist would stultify me as a cartoonist and cause certain inferences to be drawn harmful to my reputation as a cartoonist of independent views. If the answer to the questions above is to be yes, I do not see how I am to continue drawing cartoons for the EVENING STANDARD.

I send herewith the cartoon intended for Friday. I had begun it in advance to suit office arrangements) before I saw you yesterday and after a word with the Editor I completed it as usual. I fear that it may be disapproved also since it deals with the same subject.

Yours sincerely,

EVENING STANDARD CO. LTD.

CENTRAL 3000.

In your reply please refer to

EVENING STANDARD

47 SHOE LANE, LONDON, E.C.4.

July 27, 1934.

D. Low, Esq.,
3, Rodborough Road,
N.W.11.

Dear Low,

I should like very much to hit
upon some device by which to relieve the
anxiety of people who will be looking in
vain for your Saturday "Budget" each week
during your holiday.

Would you like in place of one of
your cartoons next week to do a series of
small drawings which could be used on page
seven on each Saturday while you are away?

An idea that occurs to me is that
these drawings might take the form of a
picture post-card from "Low on holiday"
into which Musso, Blimp and the other
characters could be somehow introduced.

Can you please give me a ring to
tell me if you can do this or something
like it, and on which day you would prefer
to do no cartoon?

extract from Hansard, 20.7.36.

I understand the function of an opposition principally
to be that which Mr. David Low, in his topical budget last
week, attributed to the airship "Hindenburg," in its
accidental visits to this country; a function which has
been admirably performed by the right hon. Member for
Epping (Mr. Churchill). Mr. Low said that

"the 'Hindenburg' flew low over Inskip,
circled three times, and departed making
an objectionable noise."

I have no desire to be objectionable to anybody, least of
all to the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence, who,
I am convinced, has undertaken a most difficult task under
conditions which, in spite of the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, I venture to think are almost impossible for
him to fulfil.

Telephone—METROPOLITAN 0498

Evening Standard
CITY OFFICE

5, DRAPERS' GARDENS,

LONDON, E.C.2

7th August, 1936.

David Low, Esq.,
3, Rodburgh Road,
N. W. 11.

Dear Low,

I am one of four founders of a City luncheon club. We call it the Economic Luncheon Club. It has no connection with Evening Standard politics or religion. Its object is to get together monthly a number of really intelligent bankers, insurance men, stock brokers, underwriters and some foreign journalists. At each lunch an address lasting about half an hour is given.

You will see that I have reached the point when I want to appeal to you. So far we have had three lunches; the speakers have been Harold MacMillan M.P., Hartley Withers, and Herbert Morrison M.P. In each case both audience and speakers have been enthusiastic. I have been asked to put it to you as to whether you could come and talk to us for twenty minutes or half an hour on a Tuesday or Wednesday -15, 22 or 29w 16th, 23rd, or 30th - in the second half of September.

Of course, you can talk on any subject you choose. I am sure, if you agree to do it, you would meet a lot of charming people and give them a great deal of pleasure. Can you possibly do it?

All best wishes,

ASW/FJD
Enc. 1.

CITY EDITOR.

EVENING STANDARD CO. LTD.

CENTRAL 3000.

In your reply please refer to

EVENING STANDARD

47 SHOE LANE, LONDON, E.C.4.

July 30. 1936.

Dear Low,

During the period of Olympic Games, especially, it is of vital importance that nothing should appear in English newspapers which might tend to prejudice international peace and, particularly, the good relations between all the countries now represented in Berlin.

I rely on your kind co-operation in seeing that as far as the "Evening Standard" is concerned, nothing is published which is in the slightest degree likely to prove detrimental to our friendship with other nations.

EVENING STANDARD CO. LTD.

CENTRAL 3000.

In your reply please refer to

EVENING STANDARD

47 SHOE LANE, LONDON, E.C.4.

Nov. 24. 1936.

Dear Low,

We have talked over the ventriloquist cartoon very carefully, and have decided to hold it over for the present for this reason:

We do not want at the present time to run what will seem to be a cartoonist's campaign against the dictators. You dealt with them on Monday, so that there can be no question of your appearing to ignore the international situation.

But a succession of such cartoons at this time might very well do serious harm.

The present international situation is one in which a newspaper must be very keenly alive to its responsibilities; and my admiration for the ventriloquist cartoon -- and for the one you sent me on Friday -- as works of art has now to be subjected to those responsibilities.

I suggest, therefore, that for the present you avoid the dictators altogether. Meanwhile, I should like to keep the ventriloquist cartoon by me until the present tension relaxes, with the object of using it then.

EVENING STANDARD CO. LTD.
CENTRAL 3000.
TELEGRAMS: "EVENING STANDARD, LONDON."

In your reply please refer to

EVENING STANDARD

47 SHOE LANE, LONDON, E.C.4.

January 20, 1937

Dear Low,

I am sorry your cartoon was badly printed. I am passing on your complaint to Capt.Wardell.

The disappearance of Bruce's eyebrow was a stupid error made by a Process man. He did not recognise the mark as an eyebrow and erased it. We restored the eyebrow in the Late Night Final.

COPY OF LETTER FROM MR. HERBERT MORRISON.

THE LONDON LABOUR PARTY.

23 February 1937

Dear Sir,

I beg to acknowledge your letter of the 23rd
instant, and, whilst I think your attitude is regrett-
able, I have given instructions that the caricature
about which you are apprehensive is not to be used.

Secretary.

COPY

The Rt.Hon.Herbert Morrison,M.P.,
55, Archery Road,
S.E.9.

Feb.

23rd

1937

Dear Sir,

Referring to the advertisement which
has been issued for publication in the Press
relating to your broadcast, I confirm the
telegram I sent last night to you as follows:-

HAVE JUST SEEN PROOF OF ADVERTISEMENT ISSUED
BY LONDON LABOUR PARTY INCORPORATING CARICATURE
OF YOU DRAWN BY LOW STOP LOW IS UNDER CONTRACT WITH
THIS NEWSPAPER HIS WORK IS COPYRIGHT NO APPLICATION
HAS BEEN MADE TO ME FOR PERMISSION TO PUBLISH STOP
IF YOU PUBLISH SHALL TAKE MEASURES TO PROTECT OUR
INTERESTS IN THE MATTER.

This morning a representative of yours
spoke to me on the telephone concerning the inclu-
sion of the caricature in your proposed advertise-
ment.

I have carefully considered the matter
in the light of all your representative said, but
I am unable to give the necessary permission for
the caricature to be included in the advertisement.

Mr. Low is under contract with the
"Evening Standard," and you will appreciate that his
work is copyright. I must, therefore, ask you to

SYNDICATION DEPARTMENT

EVENING STANDARD
DAILY EXPRESS
SUNDAY EXPRESS

W. H. ROBERTSON, Manager.

CENTRAL 3000.

Telegrams:
Syndication, Evening Standard, London.

47, SHOE LANE,
LONDON, E.C.4.

4th June, 1937.

David Low, Esq.,
3, Rodborough Road,
Golders Green,
London, N.W.11.

Dear Low,

The Managing Editor of the "Glasgow Evening Times" (Mr. James Willock) is very anxious to meet you. He is a very fervent admirer.

Do you think you could have lunch with him and me sometime? I don't know when he is likely to be in London next, but I should like to establish the principle before carrying the matter any further.

He is a very charming person. He writes that even more than having lunch with you in London he would be "delighted to entertain you in Glasgow" if you ever go there.

Will you let me know what you think of this suggestion?

EVENING STANDARD CO. LTD.

CENTRAL 3000.

In your reply please refer to

EVENING STANDARD

47 SHOE LANE, LONDON, E.C.4.

July 18th.1937.

Mr. David Low thanks you for your letter dated the 16th.last, but he regrets that, for obvious reasons, he must decline to provide explanations and solutions of his cartoons.

21st July, 1937.

Dear Robertson,

The enclosure is from a man named Jay Allen, a well-known American newspaper man, who sought me out the other day to tell me that he and his friends, who run ESQUIRE the American periodical, plan to start a new news-review shortly and would like to come to an arrangement with the EVENING STANDARD to use my cartoons in it. According to him the new publication will outside TIME, will cost 25c., and has a million dollars behind it, mostly from Lehmann's Bank. He led me to believe that everybody concerned was most enthusiastic about my stuff, so this would appear to be a serious matter worthy of your consideration if you have not fixed things up with the N.Y. TIMES.

Apparently his letter was delayed for I only got it last night. Now any communication will have to go to New York.

Yours sincerely,

EVENING STANDARD CO. LTD.

CENTRAL 3000.

In your reply please refer to

EVENING STANDARD

47 SHOE LANE, LONDON, E.C.4.

September 17, 1937.

Dear Low,

I have been thinking over your "Hit-Mus" idea and I would prefer that you did not do this just now.

In any case, I am going away for a fortnight's holiday this evening and I am anxious that Tiquet, who will be deputising, shall not be faced with knotty problems of policy over the cartoons. Your cooperation would assist me in the peaceful enjoyment of my holiday.

David Low, Esq.,
3, Rodborough Road,
N.W.11.

PRIMROSE 1308

157 ADELAIDE ROAD
LONDON - N.W.3

October 28th 1937

David Low Esq.
c.o.Evening Standard Co.Ltd.
47, Shoe Lane - E.C.4.

Dear Mr. Low,

How is Colonel Blimp to-day? Gad, sir! I
had thought of writing to him, but decided that I would
leave you to discuss the following matter with him and the
Editor of the "Evening Standard".

I, as an artist, and (animatet) cartoonist
would love to bring your Colonel and Turkish bath companion
to the screen in An Animated Colour Cartoon, possibly as a
continuous series of adventures, and of course, the ideas,
scenario and artistic supervision would be under your
direction.

I hope that this suggestion appeals to you
and I would be very glad if you would grant me an interview
to discuss the possibilities.

I have written by the same post to the
Editor putting the scheme before him in the light of high-
class publicity for the paper.

Yours faithfully
H. J. ELWIS

Daily Express

LONDON EXPRESS NEWSPAPER LIMITED

FLEET STREET · LONDON

TELEPHONE
CENTRAL 8000

November 23rd, 1937

My dear Low,

We are giving Strube a dinner on December 11th to celebrate his twenty-five years association with the Daily Express. Will you do us a caricature of him for the menu cover? I do hope that you will be able to find the time to do so, because not only will the Daily Express staff appreciate it very much but George himself will be greatly flattered.

By the way, I wonder whether you would like to come to the dinner? It is being held at 30, Curzon Street and it goes on from 7.30 until 2.30. If you and Mrs. Low would care to be my guests I should be really delighted.

This invitation is not a bribe!

With kindest regards,

Yours sincerely,

David Low, Esq.,

... World's Largest Daily Net Sale ...

Daily Express

FLEET STREET · LONDON

TELEPHONE
CENTRAL 8000

December 1st, 1937

My dear Low,

Many thanks indeed for agreeing to do
the Strube caricature. I am delighted that you
are coming to the dinner and I will send the tickets
well in advance. Did I mention, by the way, that
the date of the dinner is December 11th?

If you could let me have the caricature
a week beforehand it would be a great help. Or
earlier, if you have the time.

With kindest regards,
Yours sincerely,

David Low, Esq.,
Evening Standard.

In your reply please refer to

EVENING STANDARD

47 SHOE LANE, LONDON, E.C.4.

December 14, 1937

Dear Low,

I attach a drawing which one of our advertisers wants to use for advertising purposes. The idea is that the artist's version of Col. Blimp should appear in the advertisements.

Could you let me have your views on this? The matter is rather urgent, and I should like to have the drawing back right away; so I will send a boy to your house for it during the morning.

Perhaps you would let me have your views on the telephone.

D. Low, Esq.,

EVENING STANDARD CO. LTD.

CENTRAL 3000.

In your reply please refer to

MW/BD

EVENING STANDARD

47 SHOE LANE, LONDON, E.C.4.

2nd May 1938

Dear Low,

The Milk Marketing Board are trying to get some money for some charitable purpose connected with the farming industry and ask whether they can have a cow or some such beast by you for auction. I may say that they have got something from Tom Webster. I expect, therefore, it is a round robin.

As you can imagine, I have been very non-committal and told them that it is unlikely you will accede to their request. So you have an easy way out.

David Low, Esq.,
3 Rodborough Road,
N.W. 11.

SYNDICATION DEPARTMENT

EVENING STANDARD

DAILY EXPRESS

SUNDAY EXPRESS

W. H. ROBERTSON, Manager.

CENTRAL 3000.

47, SHOE LANE,

LONDON, E.C.4.

7th February, 1938

Dear Mr. Low,

This is a very difficult letter to write, as I hate asking favours and I should hate it still more, if you thought this was an attempt to presume on our mutual association with the "Evening Standard."

The fact is, that in a weak moment, I consented to produce a magazine in connection with the Annual Angling Supper of the Brighton Cruising and Angling Club, of which I am a member, and we should very much welcome a contribution in the form of a "Blimp" drawing or any other from you. I have already approached other well-known cartoonists, some of whom have agreed to contribute.

The object of this supper, is to obtain money for the "Scarlet Pimpernel Fund," in which I believe the late Sir Harry Preston was greatly interested. This fund disburses sums to any deserving charity despite its creed.

TELEPHONE: CENTRAL

{ 1793
1794

CABLES ADVERBURO, LONDON.

DATE. 18th Mar. 1938

David. Low, Esq.,

3. Redborough Road,

No. 119

TO THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS-CUTTING BUREAU,
110, Fleet Street, London, E.C.4

To renewal of subscription for ... 100 ... £1.11.6d
British, Foreign & Colonial press-cuttings.

In all communications, kindly quote the
following reference number:

846

EVENING STANDARD CO. LTD.

CENTRAL 3000.

In your reply please refer to

MW/BD

EVENING STANDARD

47 SHOE LANE, LONDON, E.C.4.

9th April 1938

Dear Low,

The advertisers want to plagiarise you in this way.
I expect you would prefer that they didn't?

Do you mind returning the drawings to me in the
attached envelope.

David Low, Esq.

EVENING STANDARD CO. LTD.

CENTRAL 3000.

EVENING STANDARD

47 SHOE LANE, LONDON, E.C.4.

27th June 1938

My dear Low,

I have been spending the weekend with your book. As I turned over the pages I remembered each cartoon as it was originally published. But the memory, recalling as it did the incidents which gave birth to your outbursts, rather sharpened than otherwise the enjoyment of it.

But I must not flatter you - that would be impertinent of me. I must leave that to your enemies and victims. You run a real danger, however, in losing their disapprobation. For example, Lady Astor broke into her own luncheon party last week with an encomium. "Low", she said, "is the only brilliant genius in the world - damn him". If that sort of thing goes on we shall not have anybody threatening to give up the EVENING STANDARD because of you. And that would be very bad for your reputation.

I wish you would sign the book for me sometime when you are in the office. I would like to send the other copies to some of your illustrious models, but will wait until I see you as I do not want to double.

EVENING STANDARD CO. LTD.

CENTRAL 3000.

In your reply please refer to

EVENING STANDARD

47 SHOE LANE, LONDON, E.C.4.

19th October 1938

Very many thanks for your cheque as a
contribution to my list for the Printers' Pension
Fund. It is kind of you to respond so readily and
I am very grateful.

You will be receiving an acknowledgment
direct from the Printers' Pension Corporation in
due course.

Again many thanks.

David Low Esq.

Although I am known as a cartoonist, I have been asked to speak on newspaper work generally as a career for boys. The subject might be divided under several heads, and I propose to speak only from an artist's point of view. In the first place it goes without saying that an aspirant must be able to draw, -by which I mean he must be able to express himself in pictorial terms. This need not involve more than a modest technical capacity, though, of course, the better the draughtsmanship the better the expression. In addition he must know WHAT to draw, and this involves an understanding of the common mind and all-round knowledge of life. He must be able to visualise quickly and decisively what is necessary to support and amplify a readers conception. It is hard work and there are many disappointments. Great success depends in the main upon personality backed by adequate merit. To begin with the study of drawing is necessary and then the aspirant may begin the long severe apprenticeship upon the principle of trial-and-failure as a freelance contributor or a member of the staff of some paper. Cartooning is a department of newspaper work which demands certain additional qualities, -first in the artist himself and through him, in his work.- A keen interest in life, a definite point of view, and an elastic, acrobatic mind. Concentration, comparison and hard work will go far to achieve the latter.

EVENING STANDARD CO. LTD.

CENTRAL 3000.

In your reply please refer to

EVENING STANDARD

47 SHOE LANE, LONDON, E.C.4.

26th October, 1938.

D. Low, Esqr.,
3, Rodborough Road,
N. W.11.

Dear Mr. Low,

My friend "George" Strube advises me that we will be lunching together either next Tuesday or Friday, an event to which I am looking forward with very great pleasure.

Before then however I would like to have a word with you with regard to the weekly page which was such an excellent feature and one which I miss greatly in the Standard.

Perhaps I could have a word with you on the phone one day this week.

COPY

EXPRESS & STAR

Wolverhampton.

"I wonder if it is possible to enlist your help in supporting an annual effort which the 'Express & Star' makes on behalf of the poor of the district at Christmas? We publish annually a humorous paper entitled 'The Christmas Star' to which many members of the staff and others contribute, and it occurred to me that you might be able to persuade Mr. Low to contribute a cartoon, free of charge, with a seasonable and humorous rather than a political flavour.

We generally raise something like £250 on the 'Christmas Star', which is part of an effort which produces between £2,000 and £3,000 each December to provide toys for poor children and food vouchers for the aged and unemployed in our district."

SYNDICATION DEPARTMENT

W. H. ROBERTSON, Manager.

CENTRAL 3000.

Telegrams:

47, SHOE LANE,
LONDON, E.C.4.

1st November, 1938.

Dear Mr. Low,

One of the writers whose letters you passed on to me last week came to see me yesterday. The one with the illegible name. It turns out to be Tibor Elszasz, which makes it not only illegible but unpronounceable.

He has an idea for marketing your drawings of various public personages in postcard form. The example he has is a postcard something like a letter card with the ends closed. On the outside is one of your photographs from "Picture Post" with a hole cut in it - not in a vital part. Inside the letter card arrangement is a circular wheel with the drawings of the personages at intervals. As the wheel is rotated a different drawing comes into the hole and so on until the wheel turns full circle.

His idea is to get your approval for the scheme and then take the idea to some publisher to get him to market it. I couldn't get him to leave the specimen card he had with him to send it to you.

If the idea interests you he would like to see you. His address is 134, Goldhurst Terrace, N.W.6. It seems to be more a project for you to decide upon than for us.

GOLDEN JUBILEE DINNER

(50 YEARS OF SPORT JOURNALISM)

TO

BEN BENNISON

OF THE "EVENING STANDARD"

AT NATIONAL SPORTING CLUB.
HOTEL SPLENDIDE,
105. PICCADILLY. W.

FRIDAY DEC. 9, 1938.
7 FOR 7-30 P.M.

24th November, 1938.

D. Low, Esq.,
3 Rodborough Road,
N.W.11.

Dear Low,

Ben Bennison completes 50 years of sport
journalism this month.

A dinner is being arranged to mark the
occasion. It is felt that many of his large
number of friends in Fleet Street, sport, films
and on the stage would like to join in entertain-
ing him at the Hotel Splendide on December 9

Tickets are 1 guinea each and this sum will
include a subscription towards a small memento of
the occasion for Ben Bennison.

As the number who can be present is limited
it would help a lot in rounding off arrangements if
you could let me know early that it is possible for
you to be one of the gathering on what must be an
outstanding evening.

REPLY TO W. S. CLUCAS. SPORTS EDITOR, EVENING STANDARD. SHOE LANE, LONDON, E.C.4.
CHEQUES TO W. S. CLUCAS. (BENNISON DINNER ACCOUNT).

SYNDICATION DEPARTMENT

W. H. ROBERTSON, Manager.

CENTRAL 3000.

47, SHOE LANE,
LONDON, E.C.4.

28th November, 1938.

Dear Mr. Low,

I have written to Curtis Brown with regard to the suggestion that the McNaught Syndicate should handle your cartoons in America.

Whether the suggestion develops will depend on how much they are prepared to offer as a guaranteed minimum.

Mr. Low the Evening Standard cartoonist feels that he is aggrieved by an article in the Sunday Graphic & News of the 20th November by Mr. Beverley Baxter, M.P., headed:

"Those who slander England"

After mentioning German Propaganda which he says is absurd and does not matter much Mr. Baxter goes on to say:

"I am much more perturbed by the more subtle anti-British propaganda and comment going on in friendly countries especially U.S.A."

After saying inter alia we have staunch friends in the American Press particularly the New York Times - he then goes on to refer to another kind of publication - the ultra sensational type - to which the enemies of Britain turn as a market for their wares. He mentions a column writer in the New York Daily Mirror and some renegade Scots and Englishmen in Western Canada and adds:

"This is not the most dangerous enemy we possess."

He follows this up by saying:

"A more difficult problem is that new type of Publisher who combines nudity in pictures and sheer recklessness in political comment. There is a comparatively recent and most successful publication of this type in America which is doing so well that it can afford to employ a famous British Cartoonist (resident in London); to draw large double-page cartoons which almost invariably hold up the British Government to ridicule and contempt.

I hope the toe is a good one. - After all one should not take less than the standard rate of 30 pieces of silver for that kind of work.

In a recent edition of this magazine the statement is openly made that Mr. Chamberlain's foreign policy is dictated by his heavy holdings in armament shares."

-3-

Mr. Low says his own outlook is that of a lover of peoples generally not limited to the British but inclusive of them.

Mr. Low says he has the reputation of being an independent commentator on public affairs and it is important to him that this reputation should not be damaged. With respect to the arguments which Mr. Baxter's article convey Mr. Low calls attention to the World's Press Reports of the 26th, 27th and 28th November which refer to the Baxter Article under the headline:

"Low, Baxter and "Thirty Pieces of Silver"

"Watch anti-British Propaganda"

The following is the descriptive matter above referred to:
5th. May 1938 (P. 25) Let us be Realists.

This was drawn well before the Czechoslovakian crisis. Hitler and Mussolini are discussing the making of four power pacts with Chamberlain and Britain. Low's suggestion is that this is merely a trap to separate France from Russia and to help France. At that time (beginning of April) Britain and France had no announced policy on the subject of the four power pact. So far as Chamberlain is concerned the caricature merely says he is standing in a difficult place.

Page 10. Eastern ORBIT

The suggestion in this caricature is that all have been dehumanized and stupified by Japanese diplomatic lies.

1936. May 1936. (p. 25) The law in the law of Mussolini but

The suggestion here is again "Wake up Democracy" also be careful of Mussolini who is being used as a coverup by Hitler.

-5-

Nation".

**25th August** (p.21) You invited it papa.

This was a reference to the Abysinian venture consuming
more Italian resources than Italy could afford or expect to
get repaid.

**8th September**. (p.21). *Twilight on the Yellow River.*

This is a reference to the Sino-Jap position: the Jap cash
shortage and the flooding of the Yellow River - in this phase
the caricature is meant to suggest that the Japs were just
drifting along - in a situation they could not control - had
undertaken more than they could deal with.

**22nd September** (p.21). *Dance Marathon.*

This conveyed a general suggestion that all political
systems depend upon trade and economics - it was pre
the Czechoslovakian crisis. The suggestion is that the longer
the dictators survived the longer it may be expected their
regimes would go on.

**6th October** (p.22). We're certainly making a good job of the first door.

This may be something on which Baxter will fire.

The caricature dealt with Europe generally and mentioned Spain
in particular. The threat from Mussolini's acceptance in
Majorca - this was drawn well before the Czechoslovakian crisis.
Brow says he was saying no more here than Churchill and others
have repeatedly said, via: the democratic friendship of Spain
is necessary to the Empire - via: to leave Spain to fight its own

ENCLOSURE. RECEIPTED BILL.

MESSRS. WILLIAM CHARLES CROCKER

42, GRACECHURCH STREET,
LONDON, E.C.3.

WILLIAM CHARLES CROCKER.

VERNON S. WOOD, J.P.

WALTER A. CROCKER.

THEODORE LORD.

STANLEY J. LOE.

R. A. LLEWELLYN, M.A.

W. P. HOLFORD.

AND AT

LLOYDS BUILDING, LONDON, E.C.3.

42, KING STREET WEST, MANCHESTER.

LOWTHER STREET, WHITEHAVEN.

BANK CHAMBERS, COOK STREET, LIVERPOOL.

4, QUEEN'S SQUARE, NEWCASTLE.

116, HOPE STREET, GLASGOW.

TELEPHONES: MANSION HOUSE 8733

EXTENSION 25 AT LLOYDS BUILDING

CABLES & TELEGRAMS:

WILCHARCRO, LONDON.

CODE A.B.C. 6TH EDITION.

DAVID LOW ESQ.,
3 RODBURGH ROAD.
N.W. 11

DECEMBER 21st. 1938

DEAR MR. LOW,

OUR REF M 53986 RE. MR. BEVERLEY BAXTER.

Thank you for your letter of the 20th. inst.,
enclosing Cheque in settlement of our account.

I hope you will have no further trouble with
Mr. Beverley Baxter but in the event of his appearing
to make a dead set at you in the future it may be
desirable for you to collect everything he may say
in that direction. I agree with Mr. Holmes in think-
ing that a Cartoonist, and particularly a political
Cartoonist, must be prepared to stand for a lot but I
think Mr. Holmes will be the first to agree the line
has to be drawn somewhere.

Of course, if at some future time Mr. Beverley
Baxter should overstep the line and you decide to go
for him then provided that time is not more than six
years distant you will be able to bring him to task
with regard to this matter as well.

25

ENCLOSURE.

UEP

AND AT
LLOYDS BUILDING, LONDON, E.C.3
42, KING STREET WEST, MANCHESTER
LOWTHER STREET, WHITEHAVEN.
BANK CHAMBERS, COOK STREET, LIVERPOOL.
4, QUEEN'S SQUARE, NEWCASTLE.
116, HOPE STREET, GLASGOW.

DAVID LOW ESQ.,
3, RODBURGH ROAD,
N.W.11.

30TH NOVEMBER, 1938

DEAR MR. LOW.

OUR REF. M.53986. RE. MR. BEVERLEY BAXTER.

This is a short note to confirm the appoint-
ment for 5.15 on Friday evening at the Chambers of Mr.
Valentine Holmes, 1, Goldsmith Buildings, Temple.

On looking through the copies of "Ken" which
you left with me I find that I have the complete series
of fortnightly issues from 5th May to 17th November
except 19th May. In order to save Mr. Holmes time
I have put down a short note on paper a copy of which
I enclose herewith which is my present impression of
the case you wish Mr. Holmes to consider.

If there is anything you would like added
or corrected will you please return one of the enclosures
amended as you think proper.

3155

PHONE DEARBORN 8462

CONSOLIDATED SERVICE BUREAU

140 N. DEARBORN STREET
CHICAGO

WHEN REPLYING REFER TO NO.

December 10, 1938

Mr. Low
c/o Mr. W. H. Robertson
Syndication Dept.
London Evening Standard
London, England

Dear Mr. Low:

Mr. Lester Markel, Sunday Editor of the New York Times suggested we write to you.

We will shortly publish a book in which will appear only the "Editorials and Cartoons" that appeared in about three hundred of America's and Canada's largest newspapers, dealing exclusively with the "Czechoslovak Nazi Crisis."

Mr. Markel has given us permission to reproduce the "Marcus" cartoons, and we would like to reproduce in our book all of your cartoons on the "Czech-Nazi Crisis."

We anticipate publishing two volumes. Volume one will contain the editorials and volume two will contain the cartoons. Each volume will consist of approximately 1500 pages, and the size of the pages will be 8-1/2 x 11-1/2, and we expect to use approximately two thousand editorials and two thousand cartoons.

We are receiving the cooperation of the most prominent newspapers in the United States and Canada. It will be the first time in the history of Journalism that cartoonists and editors will be able to get together and present their ideas on so important a subject in book form.

These volumes will probably be the most outstanding contribution to 1939 publications and will be kept for posterity. These books will be handsomely bound and will be a credit to any library.

A complimentary copy of the book will be sent to each managing editor of at least three hundred of the largest newspapers in the United States and Canada who have cooperated with us and consequently they will have before them all of your cartoons and believe that some benefit may be derived by you.

You will be given full credit for all of your cartoons, and we can also

PHONE DEARBORN 8462

CONSOLIDATED SERVICE BUREAU

Mr. Low -2-

WHEN REPLYING REFER TO NO.

list the newspapers in which your cartoons appear i.e. on top of
the pages we could have wording similar to this:

The cartoons on pages ____ and ____ by Mr. Low appear in
the following American & Canadian newspapers: -- *etc.*

The Times
Etc.

New York City, N. Y.
Etc.

We would like to have copies of your cartoons from August first
up to and including December 10, of course complimentary copies
of these books when completed will be sent to you.

Thanking you in anticipation for your cooperation and hoping
that we will have the pleasure of hearing from you by return
mail, we remain,

JBC:BB

EVENING STANDARD

CENTRAL 3000.

47 SHOE LANE, LONDON, E.C.4.

Feb. 23. 1943.

Dear Low,

Here is an idea for a cartoon which may be following your present line of argument. How about a couple of tank soldiers from the Eighth Army squatting under the lee of their tank in the bitter cold of the desert, wrapped up in their blankets and the tarpaulin of the tank, and in the complete blackness of an Egyptian or, as it now is, a Tunisian night? By the light of a match or cigarette, which they are not supposed to light when in leaguer, one of them is reading a letter from home to his pals who are registering horror at the sufferings at home. He is reading out the news that they have cut off the heat in the trains - suburban trains - and his pal is saying "dreadful!" Then he says, "the blackout's worse than ever". And another one says "awful!" Then he says, "The beer ran out at the Bull and Bush at 8.30 last night." And his third pal says with anguish, "Ain't it all 'orrible?"

I think this is a very fair vote of sympathy from the Eighth Army.

This idea comes from Frank Owen, so you'll have to put in the tanks and the berets just to please him. He says he will get this cartoon put round every pub in England and that will be more use to you than the freedom of any city.

Yours,

EVENING STANDARD CO., LTD.

Telephone
22233

Express & Star

24th February, 1944.

QUEEN STREET

WOLVERHAMPTON

Syndication Manager,
DAILY EXPRESS,
Fleet-street,
London, E.C.4.

Dear Sir,

As you know, we have for some years been using
Low's cartoons. Recently Low has shown a tendency to
produce very complicated designs, with very long legends
scattered all over them. Not only does this often make it
difficult to see the point of the cartoons without long study,
but it creates considerable difficulties in reproduction,
for, with our small pages and the pressure on our space of
the mass of local news which does not enter into the
calculations of the London evening papers, we find it necessary
to reduce the sizes of the cartoons more than you do. We
get over it sometimes by painting out the legends from the
cartoons themselves and setting them in type below as captions,
but this is not always satisfactory.

I know that it may not be easy to persuade Low to
alter his style for the benefit of a provincial paper published
in a town which he has probably never seen. I will merely
say, therefore, that whenever I receive a cartoon that is
bold, simple, and without a mass of incorporated lettering
of small size, I am duly grateful. I shall be doubly grateful
if that type of drawing is in the majority in the future.

March 22nd. 1948.

My dear Herbert,

I have your letter of March 17th. I fully appreciate your difficulties about space in the small newspaper, and I think you understand mine. Therefore I will not labour the point about the cut in width, since the present size is already too small to "operate" properly, beyond noting that the new size will permit only the bare illustration of ideas and will make artistic quality not merely difficult but impossible. This is a dismal prospect for me, who wants to DRAW, and for my reputation, which must suffer a decline here and wherever E.S. syndications go. But I know the situation cannot be helped so far as you are concerned, therefore I make the following suggestion which would ease my case and give me a chance, while remaining your crippled cartoonist, to keep alive artistically until better times.

Clause of my Evening Standard contract says that during its currency I am permitted to take three months holiday to go abroad to study foreign parts. I have not taken advantage of this Clause during the last ten years, but I propose to do so this year by going to the United States to cover the Primaries for the Presidential Election and to get some first-hand experience of the people we are so mixed up with. I have been feeling a bit stale since the war ended, I have been wanting to do this for a long time and now seems a good time. I suggest that the Evening Standard gives me liberty to make engagements with American newspapers to cover my expenses, the Evening Standard to retain non-American rights over the material I shall produce; or, alternatively, Canada Wide and our own syndication could handle the whole thing.

Kindest regards,

Yours sincerely,

March 31st. 1948.

Dear Herbert,

Thanks for your letter and
your compliment on yesterday's cartoon.
I did the best I could with the space, but
the result gives me no satisfaction.

Regarding the space question:
The depth of my cartoons (title included)
under the previous arrangement was never
5 inches, but usually between 5½ and 5¾.
If your comment is a suggestion that in
addition to the cut in width, there should
also be a further cut in depth, then I
have had enough.

Yours sincerely,

ROYAL COMMISSION ON THE PRESS

15, PORTLAND PLACE, LONDON, W.1

W.61

Telephone: MUSeum 8152-4

7th April, 1948

Dear Sir,

The Chairman of the Royal Commission
on the Press asks me to thank you for your
letter of the 3rd April about the evidence
given by Mr. R. J. Minney.

Your statement will be laid before the
Royal Commission.

David Low Esq.,

February 21, 1949

The Editor,
"The Irish Press",
Burgh Quay,
Dublin.

Sir,

I strongly protest against the disgraceful misrepresentation contained in the "Tailpiece" to "Down-patrick Terror Night" in your issue of Saturday, February 19. The cartoon therein described is by Low, a name which is sufficient in itself to give the lie to the assertion that the cartoon suggests that "the priests are stirring up hatred and bigotry among the people of the Anti-Partition areas".

The cartoon depicts a road frontier barrier with a signpost pointing North and South. On the South side stands a figure representing Mr Costello, bearing a befraggled bouquet labelled "Republican unity". Facing him are a group of priests and two figures, one representing the ordinary Southern Irishman and the other is Low's caricature of himself. All the figures, it should be noted, are on the South side of the barrier so that by no stretch of the imagination could it be interpreted as suggesting that "the priests are stirring up hatred and bigety among the people of the Anti-Partition areas".

I enclose a cutting of the cartoon.

As Mr Low's reputation/

EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS

Daily Express, Sunday Express, Evening Standard

SYNDICATION DEPARTMENT

47 SHOE LANE, LONDON, E.C.4

PHONE: CENTRAL 3000

JCD/MEH

14th April, 1949.

D. Low, Esq.,
3 Rodburgh Road,
N.W.11.

Dear Mr. Low,

I was horrified at the cutting you sent to Bill, taken from the
"Trinidad Guardian".

This paper usually publishes from our mats, extremely well, and
I cannot understand this lapse,

I am writing to the Editor straight away telling him how you
feel, so I hope he will not slip up again in the future.

Bill is away on his travels in Hong Kong at the moment, but
I'll show him your letter on his return.

Evening Standard

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