An Eminent Editor
MR. J. A. SPENDER, who has written his reminiscences in two agreeable if somewhat portly volumes, was for a quarter of a century (1896-1921) editor of the Westminster Gazette, while it was still an evening paper. In that capacity he gave great pleasure nightly to those readers who like sober and instructed comment on current topics. Moreover, his leading article was regarded as 'reflecting the greatest common measure of conflicting Liberal opinions. Mr. Spender, who has always been more of a politician than a journalist, made it his main object in life to keep the distracted Liberal Party together, through the quarrels that followed Mr. Gladstone's retirement, through the split over the South African War, and through the more fatal controversies occasioned by Mr. Lloyd George's post-War ambitions. As a peacemaker he was adroit, ingenious and unwearying. He never tired of bridging gulfs, devising formulae, reconciling the irrecon- eilables. To the dispassionate onlooker the technical dexterity of his leading articles minimizing Liberal differences seemed wonderful. Whether Mr. Spender's skill and energy might have been expended to better purpose is another question. He loved the political game, as some people love chess, and he may perhaps have delayed the final break-up of his old party. Mr. Spender has been too fortunate in his career to have any thrilling experiences. He was at Balliol in a good period, with the future Archbishop of York, Lord Curzon and many other clever men. An uncle made him editor of the Eastern Morning News at Hull, where he learned his business. He then became assistant editor of the Westminster Gazette under that very remarkable journalist, the late Sir E. T. Cook, and succeeded him in the editorship after five years. Mr. Spender tells us that his paper never paid its way, but, with a circu- lation of about 20,000, had a loss of £5,000 or £10,000 a year in its best days and considerably more later. Lord Northcliffe; the author says, used to maintain that he would have made it pay in six months without altering its character or itS politics.. Probably he would have made it more of a news< paper. Mr. Spender thought first of its political significance. He confesses that he declined to publish what purported to be an interview with the German Emperor, long, before the War, because his journal " was supposed abroad to be in close touch with the Foreign Office and Sir Edward Grey," A modern news editor would not have cared twopence what foreign wiseacres might think, if he could instruct and interest his public here at home..
Mr. Spender has much of interest to say about his dealings with the German diplomatists, and admits that he under- estimated the -power of the military' and anti-British Corm
in Berlin. He writes well about the leading Liberal statesmen whom he knew intimately. He speaks of Lord Morley's passion for resigning ; his colleagues counted twenty-three resignations of office on his part between 1906 and 1910. When he resigned the India Office in the latter year, Mr. Asquith took him at his word, and Lord Morley was distressed. After this disclosure, his resignation on the eve of the War loses •most of its significance. Of Mr. Churchill the author says that he " is endowed by nature with the most rhetorical mind that I have known in any public man." " I have heard Mr. Churchill called unprincipled by people who were angry with him, but that is to do him an injustice. His mind did honestly work in this way, and his real inclination was to conclude that a thing was right and true if it could be stated in a rhetorically effective manner." Mr. Spender's account of the fateful days preceding the War is attractive and sincere. Indeed, the book recalls very truthfully the state of mind of the average Liberal before 1914, when war was the last thing to be dreamed of.
Previous page
