A Spectator's Notebook
The continued suppression of the diaries of the late Richard Crossman is now no less than a scandal. For years we have been waiting for what those who have read them know to be flil,song the most entertaining, instructive and Informative diaries written this century (as one Would expect them to be, coming from such a scintillating man). For six months the editor of the Sunday Times has had the serialisation Tights in his pocket and has had to keep them there; the publishers, Messrs Hamish Hamilton, have had to abandon one publication date after a. Other. There now appears to be no way in which the diaries can appear without an enormous, and enormously expensive legal battle (which Mrs Anne Crossman, one of Richard's literary executors, cannot possibly afford, especially if she wete to lose the battle and the memoirs as well). Suppression implies a suppressor. Who is he? 611.spicion automatically falls on the Prime Minister, but he has disclaimed knowledge of the affair. Who then is the culprit? It is quite Clear that the responsibility must lie at the door a the secretary of the Cabinet Office, Sir John "Int, who appears to be behaving exactly aiong the lines laid down by his predecessor, Sir Burke Trend. Sir John is elected by nobody and aPpears to be accountable to nobody. Other Politicians — Harold Wilson in particular sPrings to mind — have published their 11131erroirs. So have Harold Macmillan, George George Wigg and others. Is there to be -ne law for them and another for Richard Crossrnan? It begins to look so. H How long can this state of affairs continue? "OW long, as Mr Anthony Howard put it in last hweek's edition of our distinguished contemrarY, the New Statesman, can the secretary the Cabinet Office continue in his role of u self-aPpointed Platonic Guardian"? It is high lnle that those members of the Cabinet who, t°411Y a few short weeks ago, were talking about need for more open government, showed us `flat they really meant what they were saying.
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