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President's Secretary's File (Franklin D. Roosevelt Administration)
Diplomatic Correspondence
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Report on the British Press - Report on B.B.C. (Dperation)
Miss Cowles
REPORT ON THE BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION
The war-time machinery of the British Broadcasting Corporation
runs as follows:
There are five main divisions which cover all broadcasting
activity. Each of these divisions is headed by a chief who is
responsible to the B.B.C.'s Joint Director-Generals, Sir Cecil
Graves and Mr. Robert Foot. The divisions and their executives
are as follows: Home Division, Sir Richard Maconachie; Programme
Division, B.E. Nicolls; News Division, A.P. Ryan; Overseas Division,
J.B. Clark; and European Division, I.A. Kirkpatrick.
HOME DIVISION
This department edits the B.B.C.'s newspaper and magazine
"The Radio Times" and "The Listener." It handles all school broad-
casts, lectures and "talks" by eminent personalities. For example,
the Sunday night postscripts come under this category. Sir Richard
Maconachie, the Division chief, works closely with Mr. Cyril Radcliffe,
Director-General of the Ministry of Information, on all matters
in which National policy may be involved.
PROGRAMME DIVISION
Under this department comes all B.B.C. "feature" programmes,
music of all descriptions from Symphony Orchestras to dance music,
concerts, variety shows, religious broadcasts, and the children's
hour.
NEWS DIVISION
This section, headed by Mr. A.P. Ryan, deals with news at home
and in the North American and Empire Services. Service communiques
are issued by the Army, Navy and Air Force, and the news generally
is subject to the same censorship by the Ministry of Information 85
is the Press. The B.B.C.'s news observers and war correspondents
come under Mr. Ryan's direction.
OVERSEAS
- 2 -
OVERSEAS DIVISION
The Overseas Division handles all broadcasts abroad except
for those to Europe. They arrange programmes to the Empire, North
and South America, the African continent and the Near East. Mr.
J.B. Clark, the head of this department, keeps closely in touch with
many Government departments, such as the India Office, the Colonial,
Dominion and Foreign Office. This division also handles the
B.B.C. 's"Monitoring" service the listening-in posts which pick
up, transcribe and condense foreign broadcasts and news. The
United States makes use of this valuable service.
EUROPEAN DIVISION
This division, under the leadership of I.A. Kirkpatrick of
the Foreign Office, comes more under the direction of Political
Warfare than the B.B.C., although it is administered by the latter
for all purposes. All broadcasts to Europe, which includes
neutral countries, occupied territory and enemy territory, are
controlled by this department. Kirkpatrick is responsible on all
policy matters to the Political Warfare Executive, working closely
with the Foreign Office.
With the exception of Kirkpatrick, the heads of the above
divisions are responsible on all matters of policy to the B.B.C.'s
Joint Director-Generals, Mr. Robert Foot and Sir Cecil Graves.
The latter are appointed by the Board of Governors, which is in
its turn appointed by the King in Council. Mr. Brendan Bracken,
head of the Ministry of Information, answers for the B.B.C. in
the House of Commons.
As well as directing B.B.C. policy, the Director-Generals
also control the management of the organization, conferring
regularly with the engineering, financial and administrative chiefs.
The Board
- 3 -
The Board of Governors, which meets weekly with the Directors-
General, is responsible under the Charter for the broad policy of
the B.B.C. - the Directors-General having full executive
responsibility and power for putting it into effect in all
fields of broadcasting. The Board is composed of: Sir Allan Powell,
Chairman; C.H.G. Millis, Vice-Chairman; Lady Violet Bonham Carter;
Captain Sir Ian Fraser; Mr. J.J. Mallon; Mr. Arthur Mann; and
the Hon. Harold Nicolson.
The B.B.C. also has six Regional Directors who are stationed
in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Midlands, Western England
and Northern England. Their job is to prevent the B.B.C.
from becoming too centralized and to keep the various departments
interested in the provincial and sectional angle of broadcasting.
They also are responsible to the Directors-General.
The B.B.C. has a number of outposts overseas, the most important
of which is its New York Office under Mr. Wellington, the North
American Director, who has the status of the Head of one of the
Divisions described in the first paragraph, and reports direct to the
Directors-General.
[1942 an 43 ] as
REPORT ON THE BRITISH PRESS
A.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
SECTION I: The Longlon Press
General Outline
Page 1
"The Times"
If
7
"The Telegraph
If 15
"The Daily Express"
"If
19
("The Evening Standard & Sunday
Express")
"The Daily Mail"
If 24
(The Evening News & The Sunday
Dispatch")
"The News Chronicle
If 29
("The Evening Star")
"The Daily Herald"
If
33
("The People")
"The Daily Sketch
" 36
("The Sunday Graphic, The Sunday
Chronicle ¿: The Sunday Times")
"The Daily Mirror'
If
43
("The Sunday Pictorial")
"News of the World"
If 47
"Reynolds Nows"
If
47
"The Observer"
If
48
"The Manchester Guardian"
-----
11 52
Summary
If 54
SECTION II: The Provincial Press
General Outline
If 55-58
Allied Newspapers
If 59
Westminster Group
11
61
Northcliffe Group
If 63
Harmsworth Group
" 64
Provincial Papers Ltd
"
65
B.
Southern Newspapers Ltd
-------
Page 66
Storey Group
If
67
D.C. Thomas & Co., Ltd.
"
68
George Outram & Co.
If
69
"The Glasgow Horald"
If
69
"The Yorkshire Post"
"
71
"The Birmingham Post"
=
73
"The Scotsman"
"
74
"The Liverpool Daily Post"
11
75
"The Belfust News-Letter"
If
76
"Northern Whig & Belfast Post"
18
76
"Irish Daily Telegraph"
"
77
("Belfast Telegraph")
"Irish News is Belfast Northern
News"
II
78
"Susses Daily News"
"
78
("Evening Argus")
"Western Daily Mail & Bristol
Mirror")
If
79
"East Anglian Daily Times"
if
79
("Evening Star 2: Daily Herald")
"Leamington Spa Morning News"
If
---
BO
"Eastern Daily Press"
If
80
("Eastern Evening News")
"Nottingham Guardian"
18
BO
("Nottingham Evening Post")
Provincial Evening papers
If
82-83
REPORT ON THE BRITISH PRESS
1.
SECTION 1: THE LONDON PRESS.
A study of the British Press is primarily a study of the
London press. To evaluate the latter's power and influence
it is essential to understand that London papers, unlike
newspapers published in key cities in the United States, are
not local in circulation but are distributed and read through-
out the nation.
Excluding purely commercial, financial and sporting
journals, there are twenty-one general newspapers published in
London consisting of eight morning papers, three evening papers
and ten Sunday papers. Their combined circulation reaches
nearly thirty million, which comprises seventy-five percent of
the total circulation of all general papers published through-
out the British Isles.
The remaining twenty-five percent is provided by the
provincial press with a combined circulation of approximately
nine million, nearly half of which is made up of papers controlled
by Lord Kemsley and Lord Rothermere, both of whom are directors of
London papers. With a few exceptions, such as 'The Manchester
Guardian' the provincial press is entirely local in character.
For example, there are thirty-seven general morning papers pub-
lished outside of London in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland;
the combined circulation of all of them does not exceed the two
and a half million circulation of London's 'Daily Express'.
The London press, therefore, is in reality the national press.
This means that the average London paper has a circulation far
in excess of the average American paper. An interesting result
*The provincial press is dealt with in Section 2,
which starts on page 55.
- 2 -
has been that monthly or weekly periodicals have never been able
to gain the same foothold in Britain as they have in the United
States; in America magazines supply advertisers with their only
national vehicle, whereas here the daily press provides an
unsurpassable medium. For this reason the British newspaper
field has remained clear of outside political competition on a
national scale, which has added to the already considerable
stature of the press proprietors.
These proprietors are few in number. Most of them own
two or three papers; some of them, as many as ten or fifteen.
The entire London or national press with its thirty million
circulation and over half the provincial press with its nine
million circulation are controled by less than a dozen men.
These men are known in England as the press lords. They are:
Lord Camrose, Lord Beaverbrook, Lord Rothermere, Lord Southwood,
Lord Kemsley, Lord Astor, Major Astor, M.P., Mr. Laurence Cadbury,
and the sons of the late Sir Emsley Carr.
Some of these men own their papers outright, others are
chief shareholders, still others are directors of companies
with controlling interests. All have acquired their holdings
within the last thirty-five years. Camrose, Beaverbrook, South-
wood, and Kemsley are self-made men. Rothermere, Cadbury and
the Carr sons inherited their interests from their fathers, who
were self-made men. The Astors were born rich.
All of these men live and work in London where they are
in close touch with the politics of the day. This is an
essential factor in understanding the British Press for not
only do the majority take an active interest in current affairs
but play a part as well. All but three are Members of
Parliament or in the House of Lords. Under the British
system men who have distinguished themselves in any field of
endeavor from business to science are raised to the peerage;
- 3 -
in this way, the nation benefits from the experience of its
most able citizens, and men of widely different interests have
the opportunity of expressing their views and bringing an
influence to bear on the events of the day. As members of this
group, therefore, the press lords are part of the machinery
instrumental in running the country.
It is important to understand these facts as no
comparable situation exists in the United States. It is
as though eighty per cent of the owners of the American
newspapers lived in Washington, were members of Congress,
and were on intimate terms with Cabinet officials and members
of the opposition.
It is perhaps for this reason that the British prop-
rietors exercise a more direct control over their newspapers
than the average American proprietor. Most American papers
employ 'political columnists' such as Dorothy Thompson,
Westbrook Pegler, Walter Lippman or Raymond Clapper to
interpret political events for them. Here in England the
'political columnist' is unknown. The proprietors jealously
guard that privilege and for the most part expressions of
opinion on government policy are limited to the editorial columns.
On the whole the press lords are far better informed on the gov-
orment's inside workings than either American proprietors
or American columnists. Due to the enormous circulations
they control they hold positions of great esteem. They meet
cabinet ministers on equal terms and have the advantage of
being friendly with the opposition as well. Members of the
Government find it expedient to keep the newspaper owners
well informed and often take them into their confidence in
the hope of gaining their support. For this reason the
British press has sometimes been accused of being censored.
-4-
There 1s no official censorship but the fact that the
majority of proprietors, by membership in the House of Lords,
are part of the Government machinery engages them with a feeling
of responsibility. If, on occasion they are convinced certain
publicity is detrimental to the national interest they will
'play news down'. It is extremely rare that news is entirely
suppressed, the Simpson-Windsor case being a unique example.
Even in war time expression of opinion is still free, the
Government being open to severe criticism.
In spite of the fact that official persuasion is used on
the proprietors, in peace time it has never yet resulted in
keeping the various papers uniform in their opinion. What one
proprietor might consider harmful to public opinion another
proprietor often feels highly beneficial. For example, on
examining the past record of four newspapers - two "class"
papers and two "popular papers", all classified as "Conservative",
you will find that when "The Times" praised Chamberlain for the
Munich Agreement, the "Telegraph" bitterly attacked him; When
the "Daily Mail" supported Franco's rebellion the "Daily
Express" extolled the defenders of Madrid; when the "Telegraph"
called for Collective Security at the time of the Abyssinian
crisis the "Express" favored 'splendid isolation'.
In analysing the London papers they fall into eleven
ownerships. The owners of the eight morning papers also
own the three evening papers and seven of the Sunday papers.
They reach widely assorted audiences and are of varying political
creeds. I have not listed"The Daily Worker", the Communist Party
paper with a circulation of 100,000, as it is so largely
propeganda it cannot be described as a general newspaper in
the accurate meaning of the word.
-5-
CLASS PAPERS
The Times: Conservative
The Daily Telegraph: Conservative
POPULAR DAILIES
The Daily Express: Conservative
Associate Papers: The Evening
Standard and the Sunday Express
The Daily Mail: Conservative
Associate Papers: The Evening
News and The Sunday Dispatch
The Daily Herald: Socialist
Paper published by same company:
The People (a Sunday paper)
The News Chronicle: Liberal
Associate Papers: The Evening
Star
TABLOID OR PICTURE PAPERS
The Daily Mirror: Radical
Associate Papers: The Sunday
Pictorial
The Daily Sketch: Conservative
Associate Papers: The Sunday
Graphic, The Sunday Chronicle
and the Sunday Times.
SUNDAY PAPERS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH ANY OTHER PAPERS
News of the World: Non-Political
Reynold's News
: Socialist
The Observer
: Conservative
In classifying the various papers as Conservative, Liberal,
and Socialist, it is important to point out that these terms
would not convey an accurate meaning to the average American.
The only two strong parties in England are the Conservatives,
favoring private enterprise, and the Socialists, favoring State
ownership. There is nothing in-between. The Liberals, who
wielded great influence in the 19th century as a force in
favor of economic freedom, have been swallowed up to a great
extent by both parties, and today have no clear-cut platform.
Therefore on the whole if English papers do not fit into a
socialist category they fall inevitably into a conservative
one. But these papers represent varying degrees of conservativism.
- 6 -
Some have moved sharply leftwards since the war began. For
example strange things have happened to "The Times". Today it is
far more a "New Deal" paper than a Tory one. "The Daily Express"
is also flirting with "New Deal" principles and if Captain David
Astor's plans for the "Observer" are carried out another Conserva-
tive paper will be brought into the Leftist Camp. "The Daily
Mail" although still Right Wing is by no means die-hard in its
views and the radical "Daily Mirror" will undoubtedly line up
behind Left leadership.
Instead of the above listing therefore, you will find that
of the two class papers one is Leftist and one Right; of the four
popular dailies with their associates tagging along one is Left,
two Leftist; of the two pictorial papers one is Leftist and one
Right; of the three remaining Sunday papers one is non-political,
one Left and one gazing wistfully after. These changes are
startling ones and if the press has the influence it is reputed
to have many sweeping changes will take place after the war.
In the following review the eight morning papers and their
associates have been listed under the heading "Ownership",
"Influence", "Pre-War Policy" and "Present and Future Policy".
The remaining three Sunday papers are dealt with separately.
Altogether eleven individual controls are discussed, which
covers the whole of the national press.
******
- 7 -
"THE TIMES"
CIRCULATION 1939: 204,491
CIRCULATION 1942: 158,656
OWNERSHIP
"The Times" is controlled by The Times PubMshing Company
Ltd., of which the chief stock-holder is Major the Hon. John J.
Astor. Major Astor is a brother-in-law of Lady Astor, whose
husband, Lord Astor owns the "Sunday Observer".
Major Astor purchased his shares in "The Times" from
Lord Northcliffe's estate upon the latter's death in 1919.
Lord Northcliffe had been the chief proprietor since 1908. He
had bought his shares from the famous Walter family whose ancestors
had founded "The Times" in 1785, and the only other large share-
holder besides himself had been Sir John Ellerman.
When Major Astor bought up Lord Northcliffe's holdings,
however, members of the Walter family re-acquired an interest
by purchasing Ellerman's shares.
The Times Holding Company Ltd., was subsequently formed
for the purpose of establishing joint ownership of the Astor
and Walter holdings. It has 8 capital of £580,000 divided
into 10,000 Ordinary A and B shares and 570,000 Preference
shares. Major Astor owns the 9,000 B Ordinary Shares and 513,000
Preference shares. The 1,000 A Ordinary shares and 57,000 Pre-
ference shares are in the name of Mr. John Walter. The whole
of the voting rights are vested in the B Ordinaries, except in
the event of the sale of the paper or the liquidation of the company
owning it. The A shares then have nine votes each which gives
them equal voting rights with the others.
*All circulation figures unless otherwise specified, are given for
the first six months of 1939 (the last pre-war figures) and for
the first six months of 1942 (the last war figures). The '42
figures are controlled, due to the rationing of paper and therefore
should not be judged as indicating the normal public demand.
- 8 -
However there are strict restrictions on the sale of the
Ordinary shares. "The Times" cannot be bought for cash alone.
With a view to preserving the highs tanding of the paper,
a trust agreement has been drawn up by which the ordinary shares
cannot be transferred unless the purchaser is approved by a
committee consisting of the Speaker of the House of Commons, the
Governor of the Bank of England, Warden of All Souls College,
Oxford, the Master of the Rolls, the Lord Chief Justice and the
Headmaster of Eton College. These trustees have absolute discretion
in saying whether any proposed transferee in a proper person to
hold shares and "are expected to have r egard to the importance
of (a) maintaining the best conditions and political independere
of "The Times" newspaper, and (b) eliminating as far as reasonably
possible questions of personal ambition or personal profit".
INFLUENCE.
threepence
"The Times" costs twopence instead of a penny. It has
less circulation and more influence than any other national paper.
To appreciate this influence one must understand something
of the history and tradition which lies behind it. "The Times"
has existed for over a hundred and fifty years and during that
time has had only six owners (four of whom were in the same
family) and eight editors.
The paper was founded by John Walter on January 1st, 1785.
The French evolution was brewing and a new wave of democratic
thought was spreading over Europe. Walter was aman of quick
intelligence and robust spirit who enjoyed the somewhat precarious
sport of attacking the authorities of the day. He paid for his
criticisms not only by costly fines but by several sojourns to
Newgate prison. One of these offences consisted of an attack
on the Prince of Wales of the time and other royal princes who,
he claimed, had by their misconduct incurred the just dis-
approbation of George the III.
- 9 -
This first Walter set the independent spirit of "The Times"
During the following hundred and twenty-five years it has been
handed down from Walter father to Walter son. Under two great
editors in the nineteenth century, Thomas Barnes (1817 - 1841)
and John Delaine (1841-1877) the paper established itself almost
as a fourth estate of the realm. On one occasion it even
dictated to the Duke of Wellington on what terms it would support
a ministry he was trying to form. It was during this same
period that it won for itself the nickname "The Thunderer". This
was due to Barne's assistant, a young man named Captain Edward
Stirling, who seized the opportunity of writing# the leaders
during his chief's illness. His explosive style caused Thomas
Carlyle to say:"
he more than any other man was "The
Times", and thundered through it to the shaking of the spheres."
From then on "The Thunderer" stuck.
By 1850 "The Times" reigned unchallanged over all its
competitors. All other London dailies combined had less than
half its circulation. This had risen from 5,000 in the year of
Waterloo to around 40,000, and the brilliant reporting of
the Crimean War by Russell, added a further 10,000 readers
within three years.
Much of "The Times" ascendency was due to its excellent
intelligence service. In the nineteenth century "communications"
were not easy; information could not be got by telephone or radio
but had to be gathered from personal conversations. Connections
with influential people were of paramount importance. "The Times"
staff excelled at both securing and interpreting news and the
public was often better informed of the Government's activities
than members of parliament. In 1878 one of its foreign corres-
pondents, a man named de Blowitz, secured a scoop by publishing
the text of the Berling Treaty on the very day it was signed.
It was not only in political matters that "The Times" excelled.
It took great pains with all other departments as well. Its
- 10 -
financial news was done by experts and it was the only paper
whose law reports were recognised by the Courts as authentic
being prepared by skilled barrister reporters. Letters to
"The Times" became such an important institution, many men of
influence considered this method of airing their views as
satisfactory as pronouncing them in Parliament.
On the business side, financial changes which helped "The
Times" reach its pinnacle in the nineteenth century, was the
Reform Act of 1832 which, until that date, had deliberately kept
up the price of newspapers to prevent "radical propaganda".
Four years later a reduction of taxation enabled "The Times" to
reduce its price from 7d to 5d; in 1855 the abolition of the
hated newspaper duty brought it down to 4d. In 1861 "The Times"
could be bought for 3d; in 1908 Northcliffe reduced it to 2d. at
which price it remained until 1941, when due to war conditions it
was again raised to 3d.
"The Times" still maintains its great prestige. On a
census taken EL few years ago it was found that subscriptions to
the paper were taken almost exclusively by people of the upper
and middle classes: in more than half the families the chief
earner had an income of over 5000 dollars a year.
Its influence is based largely on the fact that it stands
first in the reliability and thoroughness of its news coverage.
The staff is not as highly paid as those of the popular papers
because the privilege of working for "The Times" is considered
important enough to outweigh financial considerations. Most
"Times" correspondents are university graduates, many of whom
have obtained the highest scholastic honours. The editorials
are of a high literary standard and articles on military matters
and special political problems are written by experts.
Foreign news is treated with the utmost care. In peace
time, "Times" dispatches are more informative and lengthy than
- 11 -
those of any other paper. When messages are received from
abroad they are sent to the foreign news editor where they are
multiplicated and circulated to all who have an interest in the
particular subject such as leader writers and foreign sub-editors.
Every fact and place name is carefully checked, and great
attention is paid to keeping reports fair and impartial. Some-
times the messages have to be shortened but as few changes as
possible are made. Headlines are designed to suggest as
accurately as possible the pith of the message and maps are pre-
pared whenever they can make the meaning clearer.
This thoroughness and scrupulous care has been paramount in
maintaining "The Times" high reputation. For government officials
and people seriously interested in domestic and foreign affairs
the reading of it has become a necessary part of keeping well
informed. But not only is it an essential part of British
political life; it is read regularly by foreign offices and
chanceries all over Europe. For instance, a complete file is
always kept in this Embassy.
The very fact that "The Times" is studied by such an import-
ant audience gives it greater influence and authority than any
other one paper in the world.
PRE-WAR POLICY.
"The Times" is the only one of the eight morning papers whose
policy is dictated by its editor rather than its financial con-
troller. For the past twenty years its proprietor, Major Astor,
has been satisfied with the prestige of ownership, and asks
little more than to out an important figure at press luncheons.
The policy of the paper was left to Geoffrey Dawson until he
resigned the editorship in 1941; at present it is held by the
suceeding editor, Barrington Ward.
The pre-war policy of "The Times" was therefore Geoffrey
Dawson's personal policy. Under his directorship "The Times"
- 12 -
continued as an Independent Conservative paper which it had
been for many years, and until 1936 was fully in favor of the
League of Nations. It supported the National Government in
the General Election of '35, in which adherence to collective
security was a major issue. That same year relations between
Italy and Abyssinia reached a crisis. After several trips to
Paris, Sir Samuel Hoare, the Foreign Secretary, submitted to a
startled House of Commons the famous Hoare-Laval plan which
proposed the carving up of Abyssinia in direct contradiction to the
League r incipals which he Government had proclaimed only a
2.
few months later. "The Times" rose up in great moral indignation
and the Telegraph followed suit. The proposals were abandoned,
Hoare resigned, Eden succeeded him and sanctions were declared
against Italy. This is, all sanctions except oil sanctions.
It is important to point out that the General Election
had supported collective security as a method of avoiding war;
when it was realised that oil s anctions would, on the contrary,
provoke a conflict for which Britain was not prepared, many
League supporters turned against collective security in favor of
the old system of power politics; that is, of abandoning set
rules of international behaviour in favor of playing one nation
off against another with separate alliances and treaties.
Neville Chamberlain was one of these men. With such power-
ful European nations aw Germany and Italy outside the League he
did not believe the latter was an instrument capable of securing
peace. To prevent war he was convinced it was both necessary
and possible to establish a four-power pact between Britain,
France, Italy and Germany, as the dominent forces in Europe. He
tried to placate the aggressors one of the first steps toward which
which was recognition of Franco's Government. He sincerely
believed that a mutual understand could be reached which would
result in a lasting peace. His policy became known as a
policy of appeasement.
Geoffrey Dawson shared Chamberlain's views. He was
- 13 -
influenced to some extent by the late Lord Lothian, a staunch
Chamberlain supporter, and through Lothian's friendship with
Lady Astor, often spent weekends at the Astor Estate, Clivenden.
Chamberlain and Lord Halifax were also frequent guests and thus
the catch-phrase "the Clivenden set" became a national catchword.
It is essential to point out, however, that it was not Lady Astor's
influence through her brother-in-law, Major Astor, that controlled
"The Times" policy, but Geoffrey Dawson's own personal views.
During the 1937-1939 period "The Times" was in favour of
recognizing Franco-Spain; of trying to detach Italy from the Axis;
of sending emissaries to Berlin to flirt with Hitler. During the
Nazi Parteitag in Nuremberg, a few weeks before Munich, "The Times"
suggested that Czecho-Slovakia be partitioned and that Germany
expand its borders to include Sudetenland. Whether this actually
emanated from Chamberlain is doubtful, but Dawson revealed a fairly
clear picture of what was in the latter's mind for Munich resulted
in just such a division.
The policy of appeasement ended in March, six months after
Munich, when Germany violated her agreement and occupied Prague.
Lord Lothian publicly apologised for his mistaken policy and
Neville Chamberlain slapped down guarantees on Poland, Greece and
Rumania. This marked the end of conciliation. Germany was ringed
in; her next act of aggression meant war.
It is essential to stress that "The Times" political views
were confined for the most part to its editorial columns. During
the two years before the war, the main "appeasement period", its
news columns were unbiased and unrestricted. The dispatches from
"The Times" Berlin correspondents, James Hoburn and Euan Butler
(son of Harold Butler) were brilliant, informative and bellicose;
in fact in complete contradition to any form of appeasement. This
in itself prevented many Churchillian supporters from cancelling
their subscriptions.
- 14 -
PRESENT AND FUTURE POLICY.
Under the directorship of Geoffrey Dawson, "The Times" was
an Independent Conservative paper which supported the Conservative
or National Government of the day. This classification is no longer
correct. Under the editorship of Barrington Ward (formerly
assistant editor to Dawson) "The Times" has moved to the Left and
if it were published in the United States it would be classified
as a "New Deal" paper.
The present policy has been due chiefly to the influence of
Professor Edward Carr, formerly professor of international politics
in the University College in Wales, and now a member of the Times
editorial staff. Carr is a close friend of Barrington Ward. He
has impressed the latter with his opinions, and now holds the
position of chief editorial writer.
His views which are outlined in his book "Conditions of
Peace", have now become the views of "The Times"; they are in
brief as follows: First, all possible help to Russia; Second,
the necessity of close cooperation not only with America but with
Russia after the war; Third, the post-war socialization of Great
Britain through planned economy; Fourth, the impossibility of
divorcing international politics from economics which leads there-
fore to the necessity for a European Planning Authority with
representatives of Great Britain, Russia and the United States
in key positions to organize the whole of Europe on a controlled
planned-economy system.
"The Times" supports the present Government, but is known to
be critical of Churchill's administrative ability; if a severe
Government crisis occurred its support of the Prime Minister
could not be relied upon one hundred percent. What candidate
it would select is doubtful, as Anthony Eden, the selected "runner-
up", is also a "Times" non-favorite.
-15-
"THE DAILY TELEGRAPH"
CIRCULATION 1939: 755,131
CIRCULATION 1942: 648,773
OWNERSHIP
No possible questions exist about the ownership of
"The Daily Telegraph". The owner is Lord Camrose. He
has dictatorial powers in what is essentially 8 family
concern.
In conjunction with his brother, Lord Kemsley, and
with Lord Iliffe, Lord Camrose bought "The Daily Telegraph"
in 1927 from the late Lord Burnham. At that time it had
a circulation of only 80,000 and was definitely a "losing
proposition". Camrose reduced the price of the paper from
twopence to one penny, and entirely revised the layout and
set-up.. Under his brillient management the circulation
rose with amazing I' apidity. Only ten years later, in
1937, "The Telegreph" was strong ehough to absorb its
rivel paper "The Morning Post" which r aised its circulation
another hundred thousand, bringing it close to the three
quarters of a million mark.
The partnership between Lord Camrose, Lord Kemsley
and Lord Iliffe had been dissolved a few months before
this event when Camrose became the sole owner of the
paper. The Daily Telegraph Limited, is & private company
in which the whole of the Ordinary capital and a large
proportion of the Preference shares belonged to Camrose
and to members of his immediate femily. By a resolution
passed in January 1939 Camrose became entitled to hold
the offices of Director of the Company, Chairman of the
Board, the Editor-in-Chief of the Company's publications
88
-16-
S.S long as he lives. His sons, John Seymour Berry
and William Michael Berry, were also made directors for
life. Besides this, Camrose has powers to appoint his
successors in any of his three officers "for life or any
less period".
INFLUENCE
The main bulk of "Daily Telegraph" readers, like
those of "The Times", are members of the upper and middle
classes. These two papers are the only morning "class"
papers published in London. They correspond roughly to the
"The New York Times" and "The New York Herald Tribune".
Although "The Daily Telegraph" costs a penny less than
"The Times" and has a circulation three times as great,
it has never been able to establish the same prestige.
It has, however, created a record for great reliability
and next to "The Times" wields more influence than any
paper in England.
PRE-WAR POLICY
"The Telegraph" is a conservative paper which supports
the conservative or national government of the day. It
supported Baldwin and Chamberlain and it now supports
Churchill. It has a political reputation of "sitting
on the fence". This is due to the fact that it seldom
attempts to lead opinion contrary to the policy laid down
by the Government and its editorial columns are mostly
devoted to praising, explaining or condoning government
policy to its readers. Even when its tone is critical,
its
- 17 -
its arguments are presented mildly and both sides of the
situation are well reviewed.
During the last seven or eight years "The Telegraph" has
allowed itself only two short bursts of rebellion against the
government both on matters of high principal. One was over the
Hoare-Laval proposal to partition Abyssinia; the other was on Munich
which the paper condemned as disgraceful and dishonourable. The
last was somewhat illogical in view of the fact that in the months
preceding Munich it had failed to back Churchill's plea that
Britain must join France in guaranteeing Czechoslovakia against
Nazi aggression; and after Munich in spite of its disapproval,
it took the attitude that "what was done was done" and returned
to support the government. The reason for this was not
inspired by any desire on Camrose's part to "appease" Germany,
but by the belief that England needed time to rearm. There was
a sharp divergence of opinion between Camrose and his brother
Kemsley on the issue as a whole, the latter being a genuine
and enthusiastic Chamberlain follower.
"The Telegraph's" most constructive attempts to open
the eyes of the people to the dangers they werefacing were
first by printing a fortnightly article by Winston Churchill from
the spring of 1938 to the spring of 1939, in which the latter had
an opportunity to put forward his views; and second, by insisting
that Churchill be included in Chamberlain's government after
the German occupation of Prague in March 1939.
PRESENT AND FUTURE POLICY.
Lord Camrose actively and directly controls the policy
of the Telegraph. He is the best-liked of all the press lords.
He is a self-made man who through his own ability and endeavor
built up a great chain of newspapers in conjunction with his
two brothers Lord Kemsley and Lord Buckland. He- is a man of
sound judgement and thorough integrity. Hebelieves in the
democratic system and would fight to maintain his beliefs through
all vicissitudes.
- 18 -
On internal matters, his views are conservative. He
does not favor planned economy or state control of industry.
He believes that a country cannot be prosperous and maintain
a high s tandard of living unless it allows the capitalist
system to flourish and respects the natural laws of supply and
demand. If this becomes one of the great issues after the war,
he will defend private enterprise far more vigorously than the
Times.
Camrose is one of the most "pro-American" of the press
lords. Some years ago he lived and worked in New York and has
always had a keen admiration for American principles. He
favors the closest ties between the two democracies and in the
post-war world would support a United Nations scheme for organizing
and protecting all countries.
Although at one time before the war Camrose, like many others
in England, was doubtful as to whether Churchill had the stability
or judgement for the premiership, he has given the latter full
support ever since he assumed office. His leyalty is more
certain than that of any other newspaper proprietor and he may
be relied upon to defend Churchill through any storm.
- 19 -
THE DAILY EXPRESS
CIRCULATION 1939: 2,543,274
CIRCULATION 1942: 1,496,379
ASSOCIATE PAPERS:
THE SUNDAY EXPRESS
1939: 1,496,379
CIRCULATION
1942: 1,636,556
THE EVENING STANDARD
1939:
385,370
CIRCULATION
1942:
478,130
OWNERSHIP
"The Daily Express" has the largest daily circulation of any
newspaper in the world. It is controlled and actively directed by
Lord Beaverbrook. The latter acquired his first holding in the
Express in 1913. At that time the Daily Mail Trust, headed by Lord
Rothermere also had holdings in the paper, but during the following
twenty years Lord Beaverbrook bought up the latter's interest.
The owring Company is a public one in which nearly 1,500,000
seven per cent Preference shares were issued to public subscription.
But out of the 408,000 Ordinary shares, which control the paper,
over 75 percent are held by Lord Beaverbrook directly and indirectly.
The remainder is in the hands of the public, but some of the chief
holders are Express employees such as Christianson the editor, and
John Gordon the columnist.
Allied with the Daily Express and owned by the same Company
are the Sunday Express founded by Lord Beaverbrook in 1918, and the
"Evening Standard" acquired by him in 1923 from Sir Edward Hulton.
Lord Rothermere and the Daily Mail Trust purchased a considerable
interest in the Standard at the same time, but these shares have
since become wholly Besverbrook's.
INFLUENCE
The Daily Express with a circulation of over two and a half
million, has the largest circulation of any of the "popular dailies
- 20 -
published in England, or indeed of any daily paper in the world.
Curiously unique in its presentation of news, the whole tone of the
"Express" reflects the capricious personality of its proprietor,
Lord Beaverbrook; from news captions and feature articles to
editorials and reviews and it is amusing, provocative and mischievous.
Its lightness of touch has given it a universal appeal; although the
greater bulk of its circulation is among the lower middle class, it
has & large following in influential and serious circles, where you
find it read side by side with "The Times".
The paper's established policy of "cheerfulness" is one
which has been laid down and dictated by Lord Beaverbrook who
personally dislikes a heavy or pompous method of dealing with news.
During the pre-war period when Europe was reverberating to one crisis
after another, Beaverbrook ran headlines: "WHY ALL THE GLOOM?".
He went on to assert there would be no war, a statement which he ran
on the front page of the paper each morning.
When he was once
asked why he took so firm 8. stand on so shaky a limb he replied:
"People who expect a war every other month can be wrong a dozen
times. I can be wrong only once."
The actual influence of the Express on government policy
is negligible. Identified 8.8 it is with Beaverbrook's personal
fettishes it lacks the reputation for both reliability and judgment
necessary to lead opinion on matters of policy. Where it wields
power, however, is in its ability to discredit through ridicule.
It is never afraid to launch "personal attacks" on leading officials.
Unfortunately these attacks are less often instigated by moral
principal than personal animosity. A feud of long standing between
Beaverbrook and Duff Cooper was chiefly responsible for unseating
the latter as Minister of Information. The Express carried out a
long and persistent attack on the Ministry seizing every opportunity
of discrediting its chief. When the Ministry sent representatives
throughout the country to canvas housewives and compile a survey on
domestic problems the Express ran headlines: "COOPER'S SNOOPERS."
- 21 -
Slogans such as these caught fire, and the Ministry of Information
finally became such a laughting stock, Duff Cooper was forced to
resign.
This form of ridicule has been applied to many officials
and as a result few important people wish to cross swords with
Beaverbrook. He consequently wields more power "behind the
scenes" than any other press Lord.
PREWAR POLICY.
One man and one man alone directs the policy of "The Daily
Express". That man is Lord Beaverbrook. The pre-war policy
of the paper was clear-cut and emphatic. Its keynote was
"splendid isolation". From the early nineteen-twenties to the
present war Beaverbrook opposed collective security, favoring
a strong Empire policy in which Britain would be a complete and
self-sufficient unit in herself, disassociated from all conflicts
and disagreements on the European continent. He favored
"Empire Free Trade" which meant high tariffs for all foreign
goods and low tariffs for all British Colonial and Dominion goods.
He occasionally preached that the only possible and workable
alliance Britain could ever have, (which at that time was a
remote possibility) was with the United States.
With these isolationist views, the Express supported
Chamberlain's policy of appeasement. It did not support it,
however, with Chamberlain's object of establishing a four power
pact between Britain, France, Germany and Italy, but with the con-
viction that isolation could be upheld and war prevented only by
giving the agressor nations a free hand on the continent. Indeed
Beaverbrook carried on the policy of appeasement long after
Chamberlain had abandoned it. Chamberlain's government ceased to be
appeasers in March 1939, when Germany broker her agreement and marched
into Prague, and retaliated by slapping guarantees onto Poland,
Greece and Rumania. Beaverbrook opposed these guarantees, and
although he called for a strong armed Britain, advised the nation
to mind its own business and stay out of Europe. Even after war
- 22 -
was declared, he privately expressed himself in favor of making
a peace.
In spite of Beaverbrook's "isolationist" policy, he never
championed the cause of the agressor nations as Lord Rothermere did.
His news columns were free and impartial and on the whole "anti-
fascist". This was due to the fact that the majority of his staff
(the most highly paid of any newspaper staff in London) had Left
Wing sympathies which fite made no effort to curb. Although the
editorial policy of the Express supported Non-intervention in
Spain, the feature articles and news items were always favorable
to the Loyalists. This sympathy was later apparent to all
countries who opposed Italy and Germany. In the Evening Standard,
the brill ant artist Low, was allowed to produce the boldest
of anti-dictator and anti-appeasement cartoons.
Through all this period Winston Churchill remai ned a close
personal friend of Beaverbrook. During 1937 the latter printed a
fortnightly article by Churchill in "The Evening Standard" but
in the summer of 1938 discontinued the series due to a growing
disagreement on foreign policy. It is curious to think that
although Beaverbrook was one of Churchill's strongest political
adversaries, the Prime Minister has always had a great admiration
for him. Many people think his influence harmful and his advice
unsound; he is greatly resented in more than one quarter.
PRESENT AND FUTURE POLICY.
Although Beaverbrook professes to support the Government and
Mr.Churchill's leadership, many people believe that his agitation
for a second front in Europe in 1942 was chiefly designed to embarass
the Government. This may be doing him an injustice. He argues that
unless Russia is upheld this year by a diversion in the west, the
Soviet armies will collapse, the main bulk of the Germany army will
move back to France and an invasion will not be possible for many years
He considers the situation so critical that an attempt should be made
- 23 -
this year no matter how precarious the chances of success.
His motives, however, are regarded with suspicion by those
who believe his chief aim is to provoke a Government crisis and
assume power himself. The chances of his succeeding Churchill are
slim but not to be entirely discounted. In such an event one would
have no guarantee that appeasement would not again figure in foreign
relations.
The fact that Churchill's friendship with Beaverbrook remains
unimpaired has caused much misgiving. The latter is the most
distrusted man in the public eye. He is known to be an arch mischief-
maker and although endowed with an agressive nature and a perverse
charm, is not one whose integrity can be relied upon. The Daily
Express Centre of Public Opinion, an organization started by
Beaverbrook a few months ago which sends speakers to all parts of
the country, is suspected by some to bear the seeds of a future
independent party.
Whatever post-war policy Beaverbrook adopts it is bound to be
influenced less by principal than by publicity value. He is said
to have swung greatly to the Left and there are reports that he is
now drawing up a "manifesto" which will shortly be published in the
Express. It will attack class and monied interests, favor increased
control over industry, and will call for the general socialisation
of the country.
On foreign affairs his isolationist views are shelved and he
will support a United Nations program led by Britain, Russia and the
United States. His opinions, of course, are always subject to
change.
- 24'-
"THE DAILY MAIL"
CIRCULATION 1939: 1,532,683
CIRCULATION 1941: 1,446,730
Associate Papers: "THE EVENING NEWS" Circulation) 1939: 837,628
) 1942: 852,661
"THE SUNDAY DISPATCH"
Circulation) 1939: 823,692
) 1942:1,094,038
OWNERSHIP
"The Daily Mail" and its associate papers "The Evening
News" and "The Sunday Dispatch" are owned by Associated Newspapers
Limited, but no single person any longer holds a controlling
interest. The present Lord Rothermere, however, as Chairman
of the directors of the company possessing the largest number
of shares in Associated Newspapers is permitted to direct the
political policy of the papers.
"The Daily Mail" was founded by Lord Northcliffe in 1896
and for many years had the largest circulation of any paper
in England. Upon the latter's death his shares were bought
by his borther, the late Lord Rothermere, who formed a company
called The Daily Mail Trust (later changed to The Daily Mail
and General Trust) to which he transferred his holdings,
issuing capital to the public in the form of debentures, which have
since been redeemed. The ordinary shares were taken up by
Lord Rothermere and his associates, and placed on the market
at a later date.
The Daily Mail and General Trust is the largest holder
of Associated Newspaper shares and, therefore, is the real
controller of the three papers. But who controls this Trust?
The answer is apparently no one man. The 2,494,059 shares in
the Trust are widely distributed among the public. The
largest disclosed shareholder, however, is another newspaper -
the Daily Mirror. The Mirror has 168,145 ordinary shares in
the/
- 25 -
the Trust; and the Sunday Pictorial, which 1s under the
control of the Mirror, holds 148,500 shares. Their combined
holding is 316,645 £1 ordinary shares out of a total of
2,494,000. Thus the Daily Mirror, while having an important
voice in the Trust, has not got control.
However, Lord Rothermere, as chairman of the board of
directors of both Associated Newspapers and The Daily Mail
and General Trust, was able to control the political policy of
the three papers; his son, Hamond Harmsworth, who succeeded to
the Rothermere estate upon his father's death a year ago,
now holds the same positions.
Besides controlling "The Daily Mail", "The Sunday Dispatch"
and "The Evening News" (which has the largest circulation of
any London evening paper), Association Newspapers owns 10
evening provincial papers, with a circulation of approximately
400,000. Except for Lord Kemsley, Lord Rothermere is the only
London proprietor who controls provincial papers as well, which
adds considerably to his influence.
INPLUENCE.
"The Daily Mail" is the only one of the four popular
dailies which is read predominantly by England's prosperous
upper and middle classes. Under Lord Northcliffe, a brother
of the late Lord Rothermere, it had the largest circulation
in England but today is in arrears of both "The Express" and
"The Herald". Its advertising rates are still the highest,
however, as the bulk of its readers have more "buying power"
than those of its rivals. Due both to the calibre of its
followers and the fact that its tone is more serious than
"The Express", it can be said to wield more influence than
any of the popular dailies. "Daily Mail" readers are
important/
- 26 -
important people in their local communities. They sit on
the local conservative committees, they run the women's
clubs, they are town clerks, aldermen and magistrates. They
are the people who bring pressure on their M.P.'s. They
don't bring it often, for they are neither imaginative nor
rebellious; they are complacent and correct, but in peace time
a challenge to the established order of things will always
provoke an indignant outery from them.
PRE-WAR POLICY.
The late Lord Rothermere directed the pre-war policy of
The Daily Mail. He was the only press lord who, from the
early thirties to the outbreak of war, came out violently
and doggedly for rearmament. He was also the only press
lord who foretold the tremendous power of aviation as a
destructive weapon and advocated that Britain, should build
the largest air armada in the world.
Rothermere believed that it was only by strength on
sea, land, and in the air that Britain would avoid a war.
He was therefore anti-collective security which at that time
was coupled with disarmament in the fallacy that the League
as an instrument in itself was powerful enough to prevent a
conflict. Having lost two sons in 1914-1918, he had a
bitter hatred for war and wished to prevent it at all costs.
When France went into the Ruhr in 1933, The Daily Mail ran
headlines "HATS OFF TO FRANCE". Soon after that, however,
it became apparent that both Germany and Italy were building
up more powerful weapons than France, and Rothermere's policy
from then on fell dearly into two categories: first, tremendous
rearmament for Britain, second, friendly relations with
Germany and Italy.
Rothermere/
- 27 -
Rothermere did his best to paint a palpable picture
of Nazism and Fascism. His chief correspondent, Ward Price,
became on intimate terms with Hitler and Mussolini, and any
surprise action on the part of the aggressor nations was usually
8. Daily Mail "scoop". Part of this condonance of Fascism
sprang from Rothermers hatred of Bolshevism. All during
the Spanish civil war, the Mail supported Franco's cause and
even in the news columns the Loyalists were never referred to
as anything but "the Reds".
Although "othermere upheld Chamberlain's policy of
appeasement, he did not share the latter's optimism that peace
could be maintained without strength, and continued to warn
the people of Britain what to expect if war came. While
Beaverbrook was asserting cheerfully that there would be no
war, Rothermere was predicting the end of civilization. A
study of these two popular papers, both classified as
"conservative" gives a fair 1dea of the variance of opinion
in the British press.
PRESENT AND FUTURE POLICY.
The present policy of the Daily Mail is directed by the
second Lord Rothermere, who succeeded to his father's
estates upon the latter's death a year and a half ago. As
he is a man of no firm convictions, the policy of the paper
is unstable and difficult to define.
Its most decisive feature is its critical attitude to-
ward the present administration. Although the Mail is 8.
conservative paper, it could not be relied upon to support
the government in a crisis. This is due to Rothermere's lack
of faith in Churchill and his advisors. He believes the latter
has failed as Prime Minister and if any other man showed
signs of gaining the public confidence would give him his
backing. After the Singapore debacle, the Daily Mail
publicized/
- 28 -
publicized Cripps more fully than any other paper.
Lord Rothermere 1 acks his father's initiative and drive.
This is partly due to uncertain health and partly due to lack
of ambition. He is well educated and widely read but his
interest in the affairs of the day is that of an onlooker
rather than a participant. Although he shares neither his
father's admiration for Fascism, nor his antipathy for
Bolshevism, he has no deep convictions. If the war should
reach a point where both sides appeared to be dead-locked and
peace terms were offered, the chances are he would favour them
rather than fighting on to a blind end.
As he is not a man of strong character, however, he could
be influenced to various ways of thinking without great
difficulty. The problem would be to sustain his interest, as
his enthusiasms die easily. Although the late Lord Rothermere
was a close friend of Churchill, the present one is seldom
invited to Downing Street since his criticism of the government
became marked a year ago.
On pest-war external matters, Rothermere will undoubtedly
favor a United Nations plan for organizing and policing the
world, based on a close Anglo-American cooperation. He will
favor co-operation with Russia, so long as the latter does
not benefit at Britain's expense.
On internal matters, his own views are still undefined.
It is safe to prophecy he will not lead opinion. If the post-
war tide swings left he will probably follow the procession,
as he is by no means die-hard in his conservative views. If,
on the other hand, the Tory party presents a sound reconstruction
plan which gains initial approval, he is even more apt to
give his backing to them. It will depend upon his mood at the
time.
- 29 -
THE NEWS CHRONICLE
CIRCULATION 1939: 1,298,757
CIRCULATION 1942: 1,196,085
ASSOCIATE PAPER: THE EVENING STAR.
CIRCULATION 1939: 502,639
CIRCULATION 1942: 535,000
OWNERSHIP
Control of "The News Chronicle" is in the hands of the great
Quaker Family of Cadbury, who made their fortune in chocolate and
cocoa. "The News Chronicle" 1s an amalgam of the "Daily News"
and the "Daily Chronicle". This last paper once belonged to
Mr.Lloyd George and his party fund, and had 8. circulation of
nearly a quarter of a million. It was unable to compete with the
"popular papers", however, who increased their circulations by
tremendous leaps through a complicated system of gift and
insurance schemes, and in 1930 finally merged with the "Daily
News".
The "Daily News" had previously swallowed two other Liberal
papers, the "Morning Leader" and the "Westminster Gazette". Lord
Camrose in his pamphlet "London papers" writes that the Gazette
was "transformed into a morning paper by the first Lord Cowdray
after an existence of 28 years as an evening journal. During the
whole of that period it is said to have made a profit in only
one year.
"Famous for the cartoons of F.Carruthers Gould and the able
front page leaders of Mr.J.A.Spender, it was anything but efficient
in other respects. As a morning paper it achieved a sale of something
like 300,000 a day, based almost entirely on an insurance scheme.
Lord Cowdray and his heirs are said to have lost nearly three
quarters of a million sterling before refuge was found in the arms
of the "Daily News".
The "News Chronicle" is owned by the Daily News Limited
through its 100% subsidiary - - News Chronicle, Limited. The Daily
News, Limited has a capital of £563,185 (of which £1,935,500 is
in Ordinary shares of 2s each) but the money engaged in this
enterprise/
- 30 -
enterprise is obviously much more than this amount. of the
1,935,000 shares, 990,000 are owned by the Cadbury Trust, and
a further 680,000 are the private property of members of the
Cadbury family and their Trustees. Other holders are Mr.
B. F. Crosfield (Working Diredor) with 50,000. Sir Walter
Layton (Chief Director) 75,000 and Mr. Ernest Parke 50,000.
All the Preference shares are held by the owners of the
Ordinary shares.
The member of the Cadbury family believed to own the
greatest bulk of shares, and therefore the real owner of "The
News Chronicle", is George Cadbury, the second son of the
late George Cadbury who laid the foundations of the family
fortune as chairman of Cadbury Brothers, Limited, and who
died in 1922. The present George Cadbury studied chemistry at
University College, London, and travelled in Germany and Austria
before he joined his father's firm. He is a man of about
fifty, heavily moustached and severe looking and for
some years now has lead the life of a recluse. Few people
know him and he has the distinction of being the only news-
paper proprietor whose name does not appear in WHO'S WHO.
His half-brother, Laurence Cadbury, as Chairman of the
Daily News, Limited, holds the reigns of the paper, but the
active management and working control have always been left
to Sir Walter Layton, the Chief Director.
INFLUENCE.
The majority of "News Chronicle" readers are neither so
prosperous as those of "The Ma11", nor so limited as those of
"The Herald". Its circulation is more evenly distributed
among the population than any other morning paper. Politically,
it is read by avast army of "in-betweens" whose views are
neither Conservative nor Socialist. It 1s usually described as
a Liberal paper, due to the fact that the Cadburys are members
of/
- 31 -
of the Liberal Party; a more accurate classification would be
"New Deal". It has a broader and more "idealistic" point of
view than either the Express or Mail and does not attempt to
express the personality of its owners in the same flamboyant
manner. It therefore raises less controversy in Government
circles.
PRE-WAR POLICY.
The pre-war policy of "The News Chronicle" was controlled
by its chief director, Sir Walter Layton, who, until a year
before the war, also edited the weekly paper, "The Economist".
This policy was one of the 8 trongest and most consistent
supporters of collective security; it was anti-fascist from
the earliest days. It championed Abyssina and the Spanish
Loyalists; it opposed relations with renegade Italy and Mr.
Chamberlain's attempts to appease Germany; it favored the
guaranteeing of Czechoslovakia against Nazi aggression and
the inclusion of Russia in the European scheme; it was always
highly critical of Chamberlain and was one of the first papers to
call for Churchill as Prime Minister, when war broke out.
The weakness of the paper's policy lay in the fact that
it failed to urge for rearmament, It did not oppose the issue
as the Labour Party did, but merely ignored it, devoting its energies
somewhat incongruously to louder demands for forceful action.
"The News Chronicle" has always been 8 trongly pro-Roosevelt.
It has shown a kean interest in "The New Deal", publishing more
information on American internal affairs than any other paper in
England.
Its foreign correspondents are of a high caliber. Its news
is carefully edited and it is & paper that can usually be relied
upon to champion a principal for the sake of that principal no
matter how inconvenient the moment.
PRESENT
- 32 -
PRESENT AND FUTURE POLICY
Although Sir Walter Layton is now serving as Director-
General of the Ministry of Production, and therefore is unable
to actively control the paper, it is generally thought that he
still has a finger in the pie. If you ask who has taken his
place you are told Mr. Laurence Cadbury, Chairman of the
Controlling Company and part owner.
The paper's present policy backs the Government. It is
pro-Churchill and can be counted upon to continue its support.
Its post-war policy is still in the embryo. Although the
Cadburys are a "Liberal" family, Liberalism has not yet found
its place in the twentieth century. Throughout the nineteenth
century and up to the last war it served a great cause by
championing freedom, which meant freedom for manufacturers and
traders as well as for thinkers and orators. Logically, a
planned economy is the antithesis of Liberalism; however,
Fascism is also its antithesis. This last has thrown the
Party definitely leftwards, although it is not yet clear how
it will eventually define itself.
In the post-war world Sir Walter Layton will favor
increased state control of industry. Mr. Laurence Cadbury,
a director of the Bank of England, will probably balk at this,
in which case the policy of "The News Chronicle" will be a
compromise between the two. It will definitely be more to the
Left than to the Right, however, and will champion many schemes
for the general socialization of the nation.
It will, of course, support a United Nations League favoring
close cooperation with both Russia and the United States. It is
perhaps worth mentioning that at the present moment the Editor
of "The News Chronicle", Gerald Barry, is firmly in Beaverbrook's
pocket.
########
- 33 -
THE DAILY HERALD
*CIRCULATION: Over 2,000,000
Sunday paper, "The People" (circulation over 3,000,000),
published by same firm, Odhams Limited, but unlike "The
Daily Herald" entirely non-political in character.
OWNERSHIP
"The Daily Herald", second in circulation to "The Daily
Express", is a Socialist paper, the political control of which
is in the hands of the Trades Unions.
"The Daily Herald" first appeared in 1912 and had an un-
certain existence, financed by collections amongst Socialist
supporters and later by Party money, until it was taken over
in 1930 by Odhams, Limited, a printing and periodical firm,
which publishes "The People", a non-political Sunday paper
with a circulation of over 3,000,000.
An arrangement was made by which Odhams took 51% of the
shares, the remaining 49% being retained in the name of the
thirty-two Trades Union officials as trustees for the Union.
Of the nine directors five are nominated by Odhams and four by
the Labor Party. The present respresentatives of the latter
are Sir Walter Citrine, Mr. Andrew Conley, Mr. William Kean
and Mr. Charles Dukes.
The extreme members of the Labor Party and the Communists
objected violently to the fact that the Socialist "Herald" had
turned to a capitalist organization in order to continue its
existence. In fact, "The Daily Worker" was founded as a protest
against the "betrayal" of "The Herald".
In truth, there was no betrayal. Although Odhams, of
which Lord Southwood is the chairman, has financial control of
the paper and through its excellent management has raised the
circulation from & million to over two million, it has no power
to direct the political policy of the paper. An arrangement was
made by which only the directors selected by the Trades Unions
*Pre-war figure and only one available; approximately the same today.
- 34 -
could vote on political matters; in the case of a dispute
arising between Odhams and the Trades Unions it was agreed
that Lord Sankey was to act as a referee with Sir William
Jowitt 8.3 a deputy referee. Both these men were expelled
from the Labor Party in 1931 but have since been restored
to favor. So far no disagreement has ever arisen.
INFLUENCE
"The Daily Herald" is second in circulation to "The
Daily Express". The great bulk of its 2,000,000 readers
are working-class people; it has less sale among the
middle and upper classes than any other morning paper,
including the tabloids. The majority of its followers
are members of the Socialist Party and Left Wing sympathizers.
It cannot be said, therefore, that it has any great influence
in "leading" opinion as it preaches to the already converted.
It is the official Labor paper and its true function is to
keep its party members instructed on the correct Socialist
point of view.
PRE-WAR POLICY
The paper's pre-war policy was the Labor Party's policy.
That policy was support of the League of Nations, and verbal
opposition to Fascism and aggression. The incongruity of
the situation was that it took a firm and persistent stand
against re-armament, voting against conscription even five
months before the outbreak of war.
The explanation for this inconsistent point of view had
its roots in the fact that many leaders of the Socialist
party were pacifists in the last war. As a Party, the
Socialists upheld the belief that armaments manufacturers
with their desire for profit were responsible for war and
had therefore pledged themselves to oppose rearmament to the
- 35 -
bitter end. They also had a childish faith that the League
of Nations as an instrument in itself was powerful enough to
prevent & war, even though unbacked by guns.
Of all policies advocated in the pre-war period, the
Labor Party's was the most illogical, which has greatly
hampered its cause. It is untrue, however, to claim that
their opposition "prevented" the Tory party from re-arming
as the Socialist percentage in the House of Commons has
always been greatly out-numbered.
"The Daily Herald's" treatment of news 1s, fair and
impartial. Its point of view is confined to editorials and
feature articles; its news coverage is no different from
that of its more plutocratic contemporaries.
PRESENT AND FUTURE POLICY
The present policy of "The Daily Herald" is to support
the National Government, which includes several members of
the Labor Party. Although it revolted a few weeks ago on
the question of Old Age pensions and was highly critical of
the general situation after the fall of Tobruk (as was almost
every other paper), its policy is dictated by the Labor Party
and it will continue to support the Government as long as
the Socialists remain in harmony with the present Administra-
tion.
The Labor Party's post-war policy will certainly favor
(a) a United Nations World League with close cooperation
between Britain, Russia and the United States, (b) a planned
economy and state control of industry for Britain.
********
- 36 -
THE DAILY SKETCH
*CIRCULATION 1939: 712,548
CIRCULATION 1941:
750,396
ASSOCIATE PAPERS:
#THE SUNDAY TIMES
CIRCULATION 1941:
382,734
THE SUNDAY GRAPHIC
CIRCULATION 1941:
855,218
THE SUNDAY CHRONICLE
CIRCULATION 1941:
976,178
OWNERSHIP
The above papers are owned by Allied Newspapers, Limited,
which is controlled by Lord Kemsley who, as the largest share-
holder, holds 25% of the shares, the rest being widely
distributed among the public. Allied Newspapers also own a
large string of Provincial papers, sixteen in all, which makes
Kemsley one of the most powerful proprietors in England.
This company was formed in 1924 by Kemsley and his
brother, Camrose, then known as the "Berry brothers". It be-
came not only the largest newspaper proprietory in Britain,
but in the world. The Berrys' rise in the newspaper business
was as romantic 8.8 their success phenomenal. Their vast
interests were the creation of little more than ten years'
activities. The story is told in the Encyclopaedia Britannica
as follows:
"The founder of the business, William E. Berry (now
Lord Camrose), like Alfred Harmsworth before him, served
an apprenticeship in the humble spheres of journalism,
beginning on the MERTHYR TIMES. He went to London in
1898 as sub-editor on the INVESTORS' GUARDIAN, and
though he quickly showed a special penchant for financial
journalism, he worked on the staffs of several papers be-
fore launching out as a newspaper proprietor. In 1901 he
#Circulations based on full years; 1941 are latest available
figures.
- 37 -
"started the ADVERTISING WORLD, the first production of
the kind in the United Kingdom, and in the same year was
joined by his brother Gomer (now Lord Kemsley). To-
gether they started and owned various weekly and monthly
papers, and when in 1915 they acquired the "SUNDAY TIMES"
and introduced a new vitality into that old established
newspaper they were already recognized as important new-
comers to the press industry. In quick succession they
acquired the GRAPHIC, the DAILY GRAPHIC, the BYSTANDER,
the FINANCIER, the FINANCIAL TIMES, the old established
house of Cassells, with its periodicals and big publish-
ing business, and Weldon's Fashion Journals. In 1923
they bought KELLY'S DIRECTORIES, including the famous
LONDON POST OFFICE DIRECTORY. Later an alliance was
formed between the company owning Kelly's directories
and Iliffe and Sons who own a leading group of trade and
technical journals. Large printing works went with these
two concerns. While the foregoing were big transactions
from the financial point of view, the Berry's were not
firmly established in the newspaper world until 1924 when
they bought most of the publications of Edward Hulton
Limited, which had been acquired by Lord Rothermere and
Lord Beaverbrook, and formed the Allied Newspapers Limited,
which included the SUNDAY TIMES. The group contained
widely circulated and popular newspapers, including the
MANCHESTER DAILY DISPATCH, the MANCHESTER EVENING CHRONICLE,
the SUNDAY CHRONICLE, the EMPIRE NEWS, the SPORTING
CHRONICLE, and sundry other publications. About the same
time they took over the control of another important news-
paper property, the SHEPPIELD DAILY TELEGRAPH and EVENING
TELEGRAPH, with a number of popular periodicals. Another
- 38 -
"big milestone in their progress was reached in the
following year when they bought all the newspapers in
Newcastle except one, namely the NORTH MAIL, the NEWCASTLE
EVENING CHRONICLE, the SUNDAY SUN, etc., and simultaneously
acquired the GLASGOW DAILY RECORD, the GLASGOW EVENING NEWS,
and SUNDAY MAIL. To this group was added in 1926 the NORTH
EASTERN DAILY GAZETTE of Middlesbrough, and the Allied
Northern Newspapers Company, Limited, formed with a capital,
including debentures, of four million pounds. Very soon
afterwards the Berry's purchased from Lord Rothermere the
two papers which he had retained from the Hulton group,
namely, the DAILY SKETCH and the SUNDAY GRAPHIC, which were
formed into a separate company. Towards the end of 1927
Sir William and Sir Gomer Berry - both having been made
baronets in recognition of their public services, Sir
William in 1922 and Sir Gomer in 1927 - started the news-
paper world by acquiring the DAILY TELEGRAPH from Lord
Burnham and his family. Sir Edward Iliffe was a partner
in this transaction. The new owners immediately began to
put new life into this sound and sedate organ of the English
commercial and middle classes. Important paper-making works
went with the newspaper. The capital involved in this
transaction has not been made public.
"It is probable that the Berry's would have been content
to have consolidated their properties but in 1928 a new news-
paper war was started and they took up the challenge. They
bought the DERBY EXPRESS, the BRISTOL TIMES AND MIRROR, the
BRISTOL EVENING TIMES, the ABERDEEN PRESS AND JOURNAL and
the ABERDEEN EVENING EXPRESS.
- 39 -
"For several years the Berry family have had control
of the WESTERN MAIL and EVENING EXPRESS, Cardiff, and in
August 1928 bought the SOUTHWALES DAILY NEWS and SOUTH
WALES ECHO - the other papers in Cardiff.
"While the foregoing list of newspaper properties
controlled by the Berry companies are a formidable
combination they do not by any means complete the wide
range of their interests in the publishing business. In
1927 they bought the Amalgamated Press Limited, the
business founded by the late Lord Northcliffe and his
brother, Lord Rothermere. It was largely in the hands of
the trustees of the Northcliffe estate and the Berrys were
the successful bidders. It is the largest periodical
business in the world and published over 120 weekly and
monthly publications. Its capital was £3,000,000. The
Berrys paid £9,000,000 and have paid dividends on the
increased capital.
"Like all big combinations the Berrys proceeded to
safeguard themselves regarding the supply of raw material.
They acquired with the Amalgamated Press the Imperial
Paper Mills and in 1927 bought the famous Edward Lloyd
Paper Mills, the biggest single concern of the kind in the
world, so that they became the biggest paper manufacturers
in Great Britain as well as the largest newspaper and
periodical owners."
Until a year ago the Berry brothers acted as a unit,
but in January 1937 there was a shuffle of the Directorates
and shareholdings. Lord Camrose kept the DAILY TELEGRAPH,
the FINANCIAL TIMES and the AMALGAMATED PRESS, while Lord
Kemsley retained control of the bulk of the group's news-
paper interests.
- 40 -
INFLUENCE.
"The Daily Sketch" is a Conservative tabloid picture paper
whose readers are drawn from all walks of life with the largest
percentage from the working classes. It devotes little space
to politics, and beside from occasional articles of a serious
nature by Beverley Baxter, specializes in women's news and
family features and human interest stories.
Its owner, Lord Kemsley, however, owns the largest chain
of provincial papers in England. There are sixteen of them
in all - six morning papers, seven evening papers and three
Sunday papers, with a combined circulation of close to four
million, which is nearly half of the total combined circulations
of the entire provincial press - "The Sunday Graphic", a tabloid,
"The Sunday Chronicle", mainly circulated among the lower
income group, and "The Sunday Times", a class paper of great
influence. Rather than discuss the policy of "The Sketch"
individually, therefore, Kemsley's policy for Allied
Newspapers as a whole will be dealt with. The combined
circulation for the entire group is approximately six-and-a-half
millions, and is larger than that controlled by any other
single man in England.
PRE-WAR POLICY.
The policy of all papers under the control of Allied
Newspapers is personally directed by Lord Kemsley. They are
conservative, and support the Conservative or National Government
of the day. Lord Kemsley, like his brother, Lord Camrose,
has a reputation for integrity in business. In both popularity
and ability, however, he has always been overshadowed by the
latter and therefore has never held the same influence in
political affairs. Some of the reason for this is due to the
fact/
- 41 -
fact that when the two brothers were in partnership Camrose
controlled matters of policy while Kemsley specialized in the
financial and business side of the papers. It was not until
the partnership was dissolved in 1937, therefore, that the
latter took an active interest in the political side of
journalism.
Lord Kemsley had travelled little and his qualifications
to judge foreign affairs were not extensive. In 1931 he
married Madame Dresselhuys of Mauritius, formerly the wife
of the Liberian Minister in London. Through Lady Kemsley's
connection with diplomatic life she had great pretentions to
knowledge of world affairs and was influential in coloring
many of Kemsley's views.
Lady Kemsley's sister was married to Pierre Flandin's
brother-in-law which brought her into touch with France's
rich industrial class, most of whom turned out to be the
country's Fifth Column. They impressed Lady Kemsley with
their talk of "Bolshevism" which she came to regard as a.
far greater danger than Nazism.
Kemsley became pro-Chamberlain and pro-appeasement.
Although his wife's influence was apparent and her motive
may well be doubted, he himself was not an unpatriotic man
(he now has five sons in the armed forces) but became
convinced that peace could be maintained by reasonable
negotiation. He was received by Hitler the summer before
war broke out and shared Chamberlain's naive conviction
that Hitler had no quarrel with England and only needed to
be "handled" tactfully. He opposed the Eden School as being
"pro-French" and fought against Churchill's inclusion in the
Cabinet to the end.
- 42 -
PRESENT AND FUTURE POLICY.
Allied Newspapers support the Government, but Kemsley
has never revised his opinion of Churchill and if there
were anyone else to take his place would undoubtedly give
him his backing. He believes the Prime Minister should
relinquish his role of Minister of Defense, and will
continue to attack him on this score.
With his wife giving him full encouragement, Kemsley's
post-war policy on internal matters will favor a return to
pre-war standards as rapidly as possible. He will oppose
government control of industry and defend the profits
system vigorously. He will do so with conviction; being
a self-made man he will argue that a system cannot be said to
discriminate which allows a man to rise from obscurity
to power as he has. His point of view, in fact, will
represent Republicanism versus the New Deal.
On foreign matters, he will favor an international
police force and & United Nations world policy dominated
by proposals from Washington and London. He will oppose
giving Russia and equal voice.
- 43 -
THE DAILY MIRROR
CIRCULATION 1939: 1,600,000
CIRCULATION 1942: 1,700,000
ASSOCIATE PAPERS: THE SUNDAY PICTORIAL
PRESENT CIRCULATION: About 1,750,000
OWNERSHIP
"The Daily Mirror" and "The Sunday Pictorial" are owned
by separate companies but their boards of directors are
almost identical and the chairman of both is Mr. John Cowley.
During the last few years there has been B. good deal of
speculation about the ownership of these companies. At one
time they belonged to the late Lord Rothermere but in 1931
he publicly announced that he had severed his connection with
them and no longer owned shares in either one.
The fact is that as the result of sales on the market of
Lord Rothermere's holdings and those of other large owners,
the shares of both companies are so widely distributed among
the public that there is no control in any possible combina-
tion of large holders.
There are in all 5,600,000 five shilling Ordinary shares
in the Daily Mirror Company. The largest holdings are in the
names of Drummonds Branch nominees and C. 0. nominees (Lloyds
Bank) with 250,000 and 228,180 shares respectively. The next
largest is that of F. G. Burt and Sir John Ellerman with
153,725. Mrs. Evelyn Staines, c/o Coutts nominees, has
92,672 and also owns 56,403 shares in the Sunday Pictorial
Company. Mr. John Cowley has 34,142 standing in his own name.
The Sunday Pictorial Company has 1,050,000 £ Ordinary
shares, of which roughly a quarter are owned by its companion
company. There is, as stated above, one holder of 56,403
- 44 -
shares and the remainder, with the exception of the
comparatively small holdings of the directors, are held by
the public.
The working control of the two papers, however, is in
the hands of three men: Cecil King (Rothermere's nephew),
Harry Bartholomew (formerly Editor of "The Mirror"), and
John Cowley, the chairman. King and Bartholomew, both
members of the board of directors, are also "editorial
directors". King acts for Pictorial and Bartholomew for
the Mirror. They are given a free hand but in the last
instance are responsible to Cowley.
one of
Bartholomew is considered the greatest pictorial
journalist in the world and is himself an expert photographer;
most of the photographs in "The Daily Mirror" War Exhibition
were taken by him. Cowley was one of the original directors
of Northcliffe's great company, Associated Newspapers.
INFLUENCE
The tabloid paper, "The Daily Mirror", has a definite
upper and middle class appeal. After "The Times, "The
Telegraph" and "The Mail", it has the largest circulation in
the higher income brackets of any other morning paper. It
is interesting to note that in spite of its efforts at
sensationalism it has a smaller circulation among the lowest
class than any other paper except "The Times" and "The Telegraph".
At one time the rival "Daily Sketch" exceeded it in
popularity, but today "The Mirror" has not only outstripped but
doubled the latter's sale.
Both tabloids are described in Mitchell's advertising
journal as "family" papers. This has caused "The Sketch"
much annoyance for it claims that "The Mirror's" appeal is
due to a very un-family-like emphasis on sex. There is no
doubt but what "Jane", a figure who appears in a daily strip
cartoon and invariably finds herself stranded on a desert
- 45 -
island with only a sarong at hand, has become a
national celebrity.
"The Mirror" devotes comparatively little space to
politics but its jibes are often sharp enough to sreate
more stir than the long and pontifical articles of serious
papers. The very fact of its large and well-to-do audience
gives it an influence not to be discounted.
PRE-WAR POLICY.
The policy was designed first and foremost to make
money.
It was strongly anti-Fascist and pro-Collective
Security. It opposed Mr.Chamberlain from 1937 on, and
WRS one of Churchill's earliest and strongest champions.
Its columns were sensational and often unreliable
but seldom failed to provoke 8 response. Its greatest
delight was setting its machine-gun sites on the 'Old
School Tie'. Its light-hearted and derisive tone found
its closest counterpart in "The Daily Express". Unlike
the latter, however, "The Mirror" had the advantage of being
dis-associated with a dominating personality; although Left
in its views, it also had the advantage of being independent
of Party politics. Both of these factors appealed to its
readers who regarded it with less suspicion than papers with
an "axe to grind".
PRESENT AND FUTURE POLICY.
"The Daily Mirror's"financial interests remain its
chief consideration.
After Chamberlain resigned it supported Churchill and
the Government; a year later it was still supporting
Churchill but attacking the Government.
It revived its diatribes against the 'Old School Tie'
and its leading columnist, "Cassandra", an Irishman by the
name/
- 46 -
name of Connor, became more outspoken than ever in his
stinging criticism of the "class" system. The Editor
was warned by the Government that its policy was under-
mining morale and therefore not in the national interest.
Such hints were unheeded until last spring when there was
a threat to close the paper altogether. The question was
debated in Parliament, which evidently was sufficient to
frighten the money-minded directors, for over-night the
tone changed. Talk of suspension was dropped and "Cassandra"
suddenly found himself called up for service in the army.
At present "The Mirror" is lying low. It still supports
Churchill and still rebukes the Government but its criticisms
are only pale shadows of former days. Championing the Left
has always provided more facility for creating a stir than
adhering to the Right, but, in the post-war era how loudly
the directors will allow the paper to call for a Government-
controlled planned economy remains to be seen.
It will stay in the Radical camp insomuch as it will
continue to stick pins into the Existing Order, no matter
what it is. If its former views on foreign affairs are any
indication of the future, it will advocate a United Nations
World League dominated by Great Britain, the Soviet Union
and the United States.
#******
- 47 -
The eight morning papers and their associates have
covered the whole of the national press with their morning,
evening and Sunday papers, except for the following three
Sunday papers: "The News of the World", "Reynold's Weekly",
and "The Observer".
NEWS OF THE WORLD.
CIRCULATION: Over 4,000,000
The "News of the World" has the largest circulation
in the world. It is owned by two families; the sons of
the late Sir Emsely Carr and the sons of the late Charles
Jackson, all of whom are now serving in the armed forces.
The paper supports the Government and the war effort but
otherwise is completely non-political. It specializes in
home features, sporting news, comics and is famous for
its serial stories. It 1s edited by Major Davies, a
middle-aged Scot, who is given a free hand in running
the paper. Its great appeal is in its human interest and
almost the entire bulk of its circulation is among the
working classes.
REYNOLD'S NEWS.
CIRCULATION About 500,000
"Reynold's News" is owned by the Co-operative Movement,
an affiliation of the Labor Party, headed by Mr.A.V.Alexander,
Socialist member of Parliament and First Lord of the
Admiralty. Mr.A. Barnes M.P., is chairman of the board
of directors. The paper is published by the Co-
operative Press Limited and edited by Sidney Elliott. Its
policy is dictated by the Movement; at present it supports
the Government and, like the "Daily Herald", will continue
to do so as long as Labor remains in harmony with the
administration. Its readers are chiefly among the working
classes; its small circulation has not expanded, as was
hoped/
- 48 -
hoped, and it is extremely doubtful that the funds of the
Movement have been increased by its entry into journalism.
As it is registered under the Friendly Societies particulars
are not available.
THE OBSERVER
CIRCULATION 1939: 224,815
CIRCULATION 1942: 243,767
OWNERSHIP
"The Observer" is owned by Lord Astor who inherited the
paper upon his father's death in 1917. The latter had
originally purchased it from Lord Northcliffe a few years
previously.
The circumstances that provoked Northcliffe to sell are
curious ones. Soon after he acquired the paper, he appoint-
ed J. L. Garvin, a close friend, to the editorship. Both
men were vigorous personalities with decided opinions of
their own. It was not long before they disagreed on policy
and neither one would give way to the other. Northcliffe
saw the hopelessness of attempting to control Garvin and,
in order to preserve their friendship, told the latter that
if he could find a purchaser for the paper who was willing
to give him (Garvin) a free hand he would agree to sell.
Garvin found the Astors.
INFLUENCE
"The Observer" and "The Sunday Times" are the only
national Sunday papers with a "class" circulation and there-
fore have considerable influence. "The Observer" was at
one time alone in the Sunday field and unrivalled in
prestige. It was established not long after the French
Revolution in 1791, and was ultra-conservative in its lay-
out and presentation. It reported the Battle of Trafalgar
- 49 -
in 1805 without headlines and a year later ran
Wellington's despatch on the Battle of Waterloo as if
it were the heading of 8. Parliamentary Blue Book. It
maintained its somber aspect until the late Lord Astor
bought it from Lord Northcliffe in 1909. Under the
editorship of J. L. Garvin, one of the outstanding
figures in English journalism, its tone was greatly
enlivened and it became one of the most discussed and
quoted papers in London. It was famous not only for
its editorials and articles on foreign affairs but for
its literary reviews, and its musical and theatrical
notes. Although its circulation has decreased in the
last few years, it still has an influential and well-
informed audience.
PRE-WAR POLICY
"The Observer" is a conservative paper which usually
supports the Conservative or National Government of the
day. Due to the original agreement between the Astors
and Garvin, the latter was allowed to direct the policy
until the last year or so when differences of opinion
became so acute he was forced to resign the editorship.
Garvin was & prolific writer on international affairs and
a man of wide interests and knowledge. In his spare time
he edited the 1929 edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica:
His opinions on foreign affairs were always pronounced,
and he reserved for himself the privilege of writing a
weekly article in which he expounded them; often these
articles were so long they took up nearly the whole
editorial page.
His views coincided with those of his proprietor's
wife, Lady Astor. Although he backed the Conservative
Party in the 1935 general election on an issue upholding
- 50 -
the League of Nations, two years later he was a
Chamberlain supporter favoring non-intervention in
the Spanish Civil War; promoting the appeasement of
Italy and Germany's claims to the right of a free
hand in Central Europe.
However, all this changed when the Germans broke
their word six months after the Munich Agreement and
occupied Prague. He turned bitterly against appease-
ment and became one of Churchill's most belligerent
supporters. Here he ran into trouble with his
proprietors. Lady Astor stubbornly maintained her
enmity to Churchill, which W&S based on a personal
feud of long standing, and accentuated by the fact
that he had been more often right than not, and continued
to fight against the latter's inclusion in the
Chamberlain cabinet.
Garvin began to have sharp encouters with his
proprietors. He was a forceful enough personality,
however, to keep his flags flying and continued to
urge that Churchill's abilities be made use of; this
advice was not accepted until war broke out and he was
at last taken into the government as First Lord of the
Admiralty.
The Astor antipathy continued even when Churchill
became Prime Minister. In the spring of this year Garvin
wrote an article counter to the Astor's wishes, upholding
Beaverbrook as Minister of Production and defending
Churchill's dual role of Prime Minister and Minister for
Defense. The Astors were so indignant that they demanded
his resignation. He is now writing for the "Sunday Express".
PRESENT/
- 51 -
PRESENT AND FUTURE POLICY.
"The Observer" is now edited by Ivor Brown, the music
and theater critic, but its policy is run by the Astors.
It professes to support the Government but is
decidedly anti-Churchill. It attacks the latter for holding
the dual role of Prime Minister and Minister of Defense.
If another man showed signs of gaining the public confidence
there is little doubt but what the paper would back him
against Churchill.
It is likely that after the war "The Observer" will
be run by the Astors' second son, Captain David Astor who
already is interesting himself in the direction of the paper.
If this is the case and the latter is allowed to control
the policy without family interference, it may show as marked
a change as that of "The Times". Captain Astor is 33 years
old and is a close friend of Michael Foot, the Left Wing,
29-year-old editor of Beaverbrook's "Evening Standard".
Although his views are not yet solidified, he is more
sympathetic to the Left than the Right; if he continues on his
present line "The Observer" may one day favor state control
of industry and & system of planned economy. In any case, it will
emphasize the need for improvements in housing, education
and recretional facilities for the working classes. It will,
in fact, support a "New Deal".
On Foreign affairs it will approve full cooperation
between the United Nations, dominated by Anglo-American ideas.
This, of course, will meet with the elder Astors' approval,
but close relations with Russia may be a matter of controversy
between the two.
- 52 -
THE MANCHESTER GUARDIAN
This report would not be complete without a few words
about the Liberal paper, "The Manchester Guardian". Al-
though it has a small circulation of only forty thousand
and, published in Manchester belongs, strictly speaking,
in the provincial category, its high prestige has lent it
a national influence.
It was first founded in 1821 as a weekly organ, being
transformed into a daily paper some thirty years later
when it became recognized as the chief exponent of Liberalism
outside of London. During the greater part of this period
it was edited by the distinguished scholar, C. P. Scott, and
gained a world-wide reputation for general excellence.
Today it is not a money-making proposition. Owned by
Mr. John Scott, whose family have controlled it for many
years, it is supported financially by its associate evening
paper, "The Evening News" which sells over a hundred and
sixty thousand copies daily. It has maintained an un-
surpassed literary standard, however, and the high quality
of its correspondents and the excellence of its foreign
news is rivalled only by "The Times". Although it has a
limited audience it is a select one and the paper's editorial
opinions are carefully noted by the London press.
Its pre-war policy, like that of the liberal "News
Chronicle", was anti-fascist and pro-collective security.
It failed, however, to emphasize the necessity for re-
armament, assuming (again like the "Chronicle") that the
enemy could be routed with threats.
- 53 -
Its present policy backs the Government. Its post-
war policy will be Left in its pressure for social reform.
How far it will go in support of a state-controlled planned
economy depends upon how the Liberal Party eventually
defines itself.
- 54 -
CONCLUSIONS.
Conclusions which may be drawn from analyzing the
London, or national, press with its eight morning and ten
associate papers, and the remaining three independent
Sunday papers, are as follows:
First, the majority support Mr. Churchill. Out of
the twenty-one papers only five are opposed to him, and
these not openly. They are: "The Times," "The Observer",
and "The Daily Mail" and its associates "The Evening News"
and "The Sunday Dispatch".
Second, Isolationism is permanently dead. All papers
will favor a United Nations world plan.
Third, Internal policy indicates a definite swing to
the Left. "The Times", once the bulwark of Conservatism,
has moved toward planned economy. "The Express" gives
indication of following in the latter's footsteps, and if Captain
Astor is given full control of "The Observer" he, too, may
follow suit. The Liberal "News Chronicle" and the radical
"Daily Mirror" have always been Left Wing sympathizers,
while "The Daily Herald" and "Reynolds News" are straight
Labor papers. This means that out of nineteen politically
minded papers ("The People" and "The News of the World"
are non-political) only eight are clinging firmly to the
Conservative camp. They are: "The Daily Telegraph"
(Camrose); "The Sketch", "Chronicle", "Graphic", "Sunday
Times" (Kemsley); "The Daily Mail", "Evening News" and
"Sunday Dispatch" (Rothermere).
If the press is influential in the post-war world,
These facts indicate that Great Britmin will undergo many
interesting and revolutionary changes.
- 55 -
SECTION 2: THE BRITISH PROVINCIAL PRESS
The British "provincial press" is a term applied to all
general morning, evening and Sunday newspapers published
outside London. In England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern
Ireland there are one hundred and six newspapers which have a
total combined circulation of over nine and a half millions,
about one third of the combined circulation of the London press.
Before assessing the influence of these papers, it must
be emphasized that little parallel can be drawn between the
provincial papers of Britain and America. The reason for this
lies chiefly in the fact that British provincial papers are
largely overshadowed by the great London dailies which, due to
the small area composing the British Isles, circulate nationally.
In America this situation does not exist. Vast distances
prevent any one daily paper from becoming a national organ.
Even if these distances were overcome, however, it is doubtful
whether New York papers would interest people in San Francisco,
or Chicago papers those in Boston. Varying conditions, pro-
blems, and climates, as well as the multitude of important
commercial metropolises, have made American cities more or
less independent communities; in peace time no one center can
be said to dominate the interests of the country as a whole.
Here it is different. London is not only the capital city
with an ascendency as a political and international hub but a
great commercial and financial focal point as well. This fact,
coupled again with the relatively small area composing the
British Isles, has given London papers and London news a uni-
versal appeal for people in all parts of the country.
The provincial/
- 56 -
The provincial press, therefore, has carved out a role
of its own. Rather than compete with the wealthy and highly
controversial London dailies, it has chosen not to attempt a
thorough coverage of national events but to concentrate for
the most part on sporting, agricultural, and financial
features, local news and advertising. This has proved a pro-
fitable market for no matter how satisfying the London papers
may be for news of world events, a local paper is always in-
dispensable for announcements of births, marriages, cricket
matches, cinema programs, and monthly sales at the local
grocers.
There are, of course, exceptions to the general non-
political character of the London press. Lord Kemsley runs a
political policy in his large provincial string. The most out-
standing provincial political papers are, however, six morning
papers, all of which, except for the 'Glasgow Daily Herald',
are independently owned. They are: The 'Manchester Guardian',
the 'Yorkshire Post, the 'Birmingham Post', the 'Glasgow Daily
Herald', 'The Scotsman', and the 'Liverpool Daily Post'.
Although these papers have great prestige, none of them
maintains its own foreign service, with the exception of the
'Manchester Guardian', which has a few "special correspondents"
who contribute articles; neither do they circulate to any great
extent outside their own community. Although the 'Manchester
Guardian' has a national reputation, and for that reason has
been included in Section 1 of this review, it is estimated that
out of a circulation of 40,000, less than 2,000 copies a day
are circulated in London.
None/
- 57 -
None of the provincial evening papers are political with
the exception of the 'Belfast Evening Telegraph', which is
dealt with later on. The fact that the evening papers are far
more numerous and have larger circulations than the morning
papers is chiefly due to the fact that the London evening papers
cannot circulate nationally because of the time element involved.
Out of the 106 provincial papers 7 are Sunday papers, 29 morning
papers, and 70 evening papers.
the provincial
The ownership of these papers falls into two groups:
(a) those controlled by combines and (b) those controlled by
private individuals or companies. There are nine combines, and
the great bulk of the provincial press falls under them; they
control sixty-one of the 106 papers, with a total circulation
of 7,487,000 out of the grand total of 9,095,000. Out of the
nine combines all except two are controlled by London companies
and directors; the exceptions are D.C. Thomson & Co. and George
Outram & Co., both Scottish firms.
On the following page a list of the provincial newspapers
is given under the headings "GROUP OWNERSHIPS" and "INDEPENDENT
OWNERSHIPS" in order that the reader may gain a quick estimate
of control and circulation. It is well worth noting that the
combined circulation of Lord Kemsley's papers totals 4,707,000,
over half the circulation of the grand total.
58.
THE PROVINCIAL PRESS
GROUP OWNERSHIP
ALLIED NEWSPAPERS
Total Circulation
6 morning papers
1,081,000
7 evening
"
877,000
4 Sunday
=
2,935,000
WESTMINSTER GROUP
4 morning papers
185,000
9 evening
=
435,000
1 Sunday paper
150,000
NORTHCLIFFE GROUP
10 evening papers
385,000
PROVINCIAL PAPERS
4 evening papers
310,000
SOUTHERN NEWSPAPERS LTD.
3 evening papers
122,000
HARMSWORTH GROUP
1 morning paper
46,000
3 evening papers
84,000
STOREY GROUP
3 evening papers
118,000
D.C. THOMSON & CO., LTD.
1 morning paper
70,000
1 evening "
55,000
1 Sunday
=
250,000
GEORGE OUTRAM & CO.
2 morning papers
184,000
1 evening paper
200,000
Total circulation:
7,487,000
INDEPENDENT OWNERSHIPS
15 independent morning papers
516,000
29 independent evening papers
1,042,000
1 independent Sunday paper
50,000
Total circulation:
1,608,000
Group total:
7,487,000
Independent total:
1,608,000
Grand total: 9,095,000
- 59 -
ALLIED NEWSPAPERS. (Controlled by Lord Kemsley; see page 40)
Aberdeen
Circulation
Press & Journal
(morning)
40,000
Evening Express
(evening)
60,000
Cardiff
Western Mail
(morning)
120,000
South Wales Echo
(evening)
180,000
Glasgow
Daily Record
(morning)
275,000
Evening News
(evening)
100,000
Sunday Mail
340,000
Manchester
Daily Dispatch
(morning)
416,000
Evening Chronicle
(evening)
180,000
Sunday Chronicle &
Referee
975,000
Empire News (Sunday)
1,500,000
Middlesbrough
Eastern Gazette
(evening)
60,000
Newcastle
Newcastle Journal &
North Mail
(morning)
130,000
Evening Chronicle
(evening)
170,000
Sunday Sun
120,000
Sheffield
Telegraph &
Independent
(morning)
100,000
The Star
(evening)
127,000
The political editorials printed each day in all of these
papers are written in London at the direction of Lord Kemsley.
The editors have no authority of their own aside from handling
news and events of a local nature.
The most important feature of the group is the fact that it
holds a monopoly in three cities - Cardiff, Newcastle, and
Sheffield. With the field clear of rival newspapers Kemsley's
political/
- 60 -
political views naturally predominate.
Kemsley's most important provincial daily paper and the
one which he himself is most interested in with a view of
publishing it in London one day, is the 'Manchester Daily
Dispatch' which has a circulation of 400,000. He is attempting
to build it into a prestige paper along the lines of the
'Manchester Guardian' and the 'Yorkshire Post'.
Although Kemsley owns no "class papers", his readers being
drawn mainly from the middle and lower-middle classes, his
enterprises are all highly successful financial ventures. With
the number of papers and the enormous circulations he controls,
he ranks as one of the most powerful newspaper proprietors in
the world. His provincial group is more politically minded
than any other provincial chain in Britain, he himself being
keenly interested in influencing events of national importance.
In any efforts to launch American views in Britain the
Kemsley Press should not be overlooked; it would not be unwise
to contact Kemsley personally in securing his cooperation. For
his policy and views please see page 40.
*********
- 61 -
THE WESTMINSTER GROUP.
Birmingham
Circulation
Birmingham Gazette
(morning)
70,000
Evening Dispatch
(evening)
120,000
Sunday Mercury
150,000
Nottingham
Nottingham Journal
(morning)
35,000
Notts. Evening News
(evening)
100,000
Darlington
Northern Echo
(morning)
50,000
Northern Evening
Dispatch
(evening)
20,000
Bradford
Yorkshire Observer
(morning)
30,000
Evening Telegraph &
Argus
(evening)
50,000
Oxford
Mail
(evening)
30,000
Swindon
Evening Advertiser
(evening)
20,000
Shields
Daily Gazette
(evening)
25,000
Evening News
(evening)
40,000
Barrow
North Western Evening
Mail
(evening)
30,000
The above group is the second largest string of provincial
papers in England. Some of the control lies with the Rowntree
family, but the bulk of shares is believed to be held by the
Cowdray Trust which was founded by the late Lord Cowdray, a one-
time oil magnate. Cowdray started his newspaper ventures by
acquiring the 'Westminster Gazette', a famous London liberal
morning paper which was swallowed up some years ago by 'The
Daily/
- 62 -
Daily News', which in turn eventually became amalgamated with
the 'News Chronicle'.
Among
the present Directors of the Cowdray Trust are Cowdray's
daughter-in-law, Lady Cowdray, Lady Denman, and Lord Rosebery.
The man who controls and directs the papers, however, is the
Managing Director, a Mr. W.T. Bailey, president of the News-
paper Society.
Although the general policy of the Westminster Group is
Liberal, during the last ten years it has gradually become more
commercial than politically-minded. All the papers are good
business ventures but none has ever acquired outstanding
prestige. In each city they have taken their place as "second
best".
The two most successful and important papers in the group
are the 'Birmingham Gazette' and the 'Nottingham Journal'. In
both cases they are over-shadowed by the 'Birmingham Post' and
the 'Nottingham Guardian'.
...******
- 63 -
NORTHCLIFFE GROUP. (Controlled by Lord Rothermere; see page 24)
Bristol
Circulation
Evening World
(evening)
75,000
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire Echo
(evening)
25,000
Derby
Evening Telegraph
(evening)
20,000
Gloucester
Evening Citizen
(evening)
20,000
Grimsby
Evening Telegraph
(evening)
25,000
Hanley (Stoke-on-Trent)
Staffordshire Sentinel
(evening)
60,000
Hull
Daily Mail
(evening)
60,000
Leicester
Evening Mail
(evening)
50,000
Lincoln
Echo
(evening)
20,000
Swansea
South Wales Evening Post (evening)
30,000
Lord Rothermere's provincial papers consist only of evening
papers which carry little political news. As an enterprise they
are mainly commercial. When views are occasionally expressed,
however, on important national issues they are dictated from the
'Daily Mail' office in London, and usually follow conservative
lines.
This group is the third largest chain of provincial papers
in England but being non-political carries little influence. For
information as to Lord Rothermere's policy please see page 24.
**********
- 64 -
THE HARMSWORTH GROUP.
Plymouth
Circulation
Western Morning News
(morning)
46,000
Western Evening Herald
& Western Evening News
(evening)
46,000
Exeter
Express & Echo
(evening)
25,000
Torquay
Torbay Herald & Express (evening)
13,000
The above papers are owned by Sir Harold Harmsworth who
inherited them from his father, the late Sir Leicester Harmsworth,
a brother of Lord Northcliffe.
Sir Harold is a member of the Liberal party and keenly
interested in the political policy of his papers. He writes and
supervises many of the leaders, exercising a direct control over
the editorial as well as the business management.
As evening papers deal very little with national affairs,
the 'Western Morning News' is the most important of his group.
It was anti-Fascist and anti-Chamberlain before the war and is
now a staunch supporter of the Government.
**********
- 65 -
PROVINCIAL PAPERS LTD.
Preston
Circulation
Lancs. Daily Post
(evening)
70,000
Leeds
Yorkshire Evening News (evening)
100,000
Northampton
Chronicle & Echo
(evening)
40,000
Edinburgh
Evening News
(evening)
100,000
The Provincial Newspaper Group is owned by Provincial
Newspapers Ltd., a company the largest shareholders of which
is United Newspapers Ltd., once publishers of Lloyd George's
aggressive Liberal paper, 'The Daily Chronicle'.
Sir Herbert Grotian, K.C. (at one time & Conservative M.P.)
is the present Chairman of both Provincial and United. The
direction of the papers, however, is left to Mr. J.C. Akerman,
formerly manager of 'The Times'. The above papers are all
successful commercial ventures but devote practically no space
to politics.
- 66 -
SOUTHERN NEWSPAPERS LTD.
Bournemouth
Circulation
Daily Echo
(evening)
42,000
Southampton
Southern Daily Echo
(evening)
60,000
Weymouth
Dorset Daily Echo &
Weymouth Dispatch
(evening)
20,000
These papers are owned by a local Southampton family by the
name of Perkins. A nephew of the present Chairman was a
Conservative M.P. for Strouder. The papers are all sound
business ventures and almost entirely non-political.
- 67 -
THE STOREY GROUP.
Portsmouth
Circulation
Evening News & Southern
Daily Mail
(evening)
62,000
The Hartlepools
Northern Daily Mail
(evening)
16,000
Sunderland
Sunderland Echo
(evening)
40,000
These papers are owned and directed by Mr. Samuel Storey,
a Conservative M.P. and formerly a chairman of Reuters. Being
evening papers they are non-political, dealing almost entirely
with local news and events.
- 68 -
D.C. THOMSON & CO., LTD.
Dundee
Circulation
The Courier & Advertiser
(morning)
70,000
The Evening Telegraph &
Post
(evening)
55,000
Glasgow
Glasgow Sunday Post
250,000
The firm of D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd. of Dundee, Scotland, is
chiefly a large periodical firm. It has acquired the ownership
of the above papers during the last 20 years. The director is
Mr. Thomson, a hard-working Scot with conservative political
views. Although he controls the only morning and evening papers
in Dundee, both of which are extremely profitable business
ventures, he is more interested in the financial management than
the editorial side of his properties.
Both papers are widely read but neither devotes much space
to national political events; in the case of a big issue, however,
Thomson would support the Conservative party. People keenly
interested in politics usually subscribe to the 'Glasgow Herald'
or 'The Scotsman' as well as the Dundee papers.
The 'Glasgow Sunday Post' is another highly successful
property, but is also non-political.
*******..*
- 69 -
GEORGE OUTRAM & CO.
Glasgow
Circulation
Glasgow Herald
(morning)
61,000
Bulletin & Scots
Pictorial
(morning)
123,000
Glasgow Evening Times
(evening)
200,000
George Outram & Co. is a Glasgow firm controlled by its
chairman, Mr. James Gourley, a director of the Bank of Scotland,
and its managing director, Mr. A.E. Eawing, a chairman of the
Press Association and Reuters. Both men are over 70.
All three of these papers are valuable and successful
financial properties. The 'Glasgow Herald' is one of the six
most important provincial papers in Britain.
The 'Herald' was founded about 1870 which marked the end
of the American Revolution and the beginning of the great In-
dustrial Revolution in England. It has, therefore, been closely
linked with the growth of Glasgow from a comparatively small sea-
port to a great manufacturing and shipping center.
INFLUENCE AND POLICY OF THE 'HERALD'.
Gourley, a cautious Scot, directs the policy of the 'Herald'.
He is conservative and cautious in all matters. The paper was
pro-Munich and tepid about conscription. At the present time it
fully supports the Churchill government. It is a serious paper
with great influence among upper and upper middle-class families
but seldom takes an aggressive or independent line. It will un-
doubtedly oppose any radical changes in the post-war era.
********.*
- 70 -
Besides the papers listed under group ownership there
remain 15 morning papers, and 24 evening papers. The following
report will deal with the morning papers and their associates;
the 24 evening papers will merely be listed at the end as all
of them are non-political in character.
From the point of view of prestige and influence the most
important provincial papers in Britain are: The 'Manchester
Guardian', the 'Yorkshire Post', the 'Birmingham Post', the
'Glasgow Herald', 'The Scotsman' and the 'Liverpool Daily Post'.
With the exception of the 'Glasgow Herald', whichhas been
listed under George Outram & Co. on page 69, none of these
papers is owned by combines, but they are private properties
independently controlled. The 'Manchester Guardian', the most
influential of all, has been listed under the national papers
on page 52. The following, therefore, will include only the
'Yorkshire Post', the 'Birmingham Post', 'The Scotsman' and the
'Liverpool Daily Post'. The remaining 10 morning papers with
their associate evening papers will then be listed alphabetically
according to locality. The one independent provincial Sunday
paper, the Plymouth 'Western Independent' is owned and controlled
by Lord Astor. For his views and policy see page 48 of Section 1.
- 71 -
THE YORKSHIRE POST
Circulation: 102,000
Associate paper: THE YORKSHIRE EVENING
POST
"
43,000
OWNERSHIP.
The 'Yorkshire Post' and its associate paper, the 'Yorkshire
Evening Post', are owned by the 72 year old Hon. Rupert Beckett,
chairman of the Westminster Bank and uncle of Mrs. Anthony Eden.
The 'Yorkshire Post' has a long historical tradition, having
sprung from the 'Leeds Intelligencer' which was established in
1754. In 1866 the name of the paper was altered to the 'Yorkshire
Post and Leeds Intelligencer', 20 years later the latter being
dropped altogether. Only three years ago, in 1939, the 'Post'
achieved a great victory by amalgamating its most formidable
rival, the 'Leeds Mercury'. Mr. Rupert Beckett inherited his
control of the paper from his father, the Beckett family having
been prominently associated with the present Company since its
inauguration.
INFLUENCE AND POLICY.
The 'Yorkshire Post' stands second only to the 'Manchester
Guardian' as the most influential of all the provincial papers.
It is a "class" paper and highly political.
It was the only provincial paper in the country, aside from
the 'Manchester Guardian', which attacked Munich and the Chamber-
lain Government. Many of its leaders were reprinted in London
papers and debated in the House of Commons.
This vigorous and independent line was not due, as most
people suppose, to Rupert Beckett's connection with the Anthony
Edens, but to the editor, Mr. Arthur Mann. Beckett's interests
were confined to the business management and Mann was allowed to
direct the political policy. He did his job fearlessly; among
other/
- 72 -
other things the 'Yorkshire Post' was the first paper to "break"
the story of Edward the VIII's threatened abdication. Mann's
attack against Munich was so strong that the elderly Mr. Beckett
grew frightened and tried to persuade the former to adopt a more
compromising tone. Mann's answer was his resignation. He was
succeeded by Mr. W.L. Andrews, formerly editor of the 'Leeds
Mercury'.
The policy of the 'Yorkshire Post' is conservative and, as
has been shown, is more than capable of an independent line. It
is now a whole-hearted supporter of the Churchill government.
*
*
*
- 73 -
THE BIRMINGHAM POST
Circulation: 46,000
Associate paper: THE BIRMINGHAM MAIL
"
160,000
OWNERSHIP.
Sir Charles Hyde Bt. is the sole proprietor of the
'Birmingham Post'. He lives in Birmingham and is a nephew of
the late Mr. John Feeney, a son of the original founder.
In the middle of the last century the first Mr. Feeney went
into partnership with a man called John Jaffray who for some
years had printed a paper called the 'Birmingham Journal'.
After several enterprises they launched the 'Birmingham Post' in
1857. It started with a circulation of about 4,000 copies and
in 12 months had reached the 10,000 mark. From then on it was
firmly established, the circulation increasing through the years;
no other paper in the Midlands has been able to rival its prestige
and standing.
INFLUENCE AND POLICY.
The 'Birmingham Post' is a paper read by upper and middle
class families, and has a wide influence in the Midlands. Its
policy is directed by Sir Charles Hyde and supports the Con-
servative party. In the years before the war it was pro-
Chamberlain and pro-Munich; it now supports Churchill's govern-
ment. Sir Charles Hyde is not a clever man, reputed on the whole
to prefer horse-racing to newspapers. As he has never taken an
independent line, it is safe to assume that after the war he will
continue to back the Conservative party in whatever stand the
latter seems fit to adopt.
- 74 -
THE SCOTSMAN.
Circulation: 50,000
Associate paper: EVENING DISPATCH
"
90,000
OWNERSHIP.
'The Scotsman' is owned by a private company, the chief
directors and shareholders of which are Sir Edmund Finlay Bt.,
Peter Finlay, and George Law. The paper was first founded in
1817 by members of the Finlay and Law families, and at that time
was a 100% family concern. From & financial point of view it
has gone downhill a good deal in the last 20 years and now,
although still held by the family, is a limited liability concern
with a capital of £300,000.
Sir Edmund Finlay holds the great bulk of the shares but
due to his tendency toward alcohol and the fact that his brother,
Peter, is tubercular, the management of the business is left
almost entirely to 70 year old George Law. After Law's death it
is doubtful whether the paper will remain in the Finlay family;
already such proprietors as Lord Rothermere and Lord Kemsley are
putting out feelers with a view to purchasing it.
INFLUENCE AND POLICY.
The prestige of the paper is greater than any paper printed
in Scotland, and is ranked as one of the six leading provincial
papers in Britain. A great deal of space is devoted to national
politics, and a high literary standard in special articles and
features has always been maintained. Although Law has the last
word as to policy much is left to the judgment of its editor,
Mr. Waters. Its view is staunchly conservative. It supported
Munich and the Chamberlain Government and is now firmly behind
Churchill. It is not a paper renowned for taking an independent
line.
- 75 -
THE LIVERPOOL DAILY POST
Circulation:
48,000
Associate papers: EVENING EXPRESS
"
71,000
LIVERPOOL ECHO
"
200,000
OWNERSHIP.
These papers are controlled by a private company, the chief
director of which is Mr. Allan Jeans of Liverpool.
The 'Daily Post' was inaugurated in the middle of the 19th
century by half a dozen leading Liberals of Liverpool. The
present Board of Directors still represent the original families.
INFLUENCE AND POLICY.
The 'Daily Post' is a class paper with wide influence and
prestige. It carries a good deal of political news and usually
supports the Conservative government of the day. However it is
not wedded to any party line and in the pre-war days was
vigorously anti-Fascist, although it did not go so far as to call
for Chamberlain's resignation. The 'Liverpool Echo' is one of the
best known evening papers in the country but carries little
political news.
- 76
BELFAST.
The five papers listed below, printed in Belfast, are the
only general newspapers published in the North of Ireland. They
are in a forceful and unique position due to the fact that the
London or national papers arrive late and the inhabitants there-
fore are more dependent on the "local" press for their views than
people in any other part of the British Isles. Four of the five
papers are Unionist and pro-British; the fifth is Nationalist
and pro-De Valera.
BELFAST NEWS-LETTER.
Circulation: 40,000
The 'Belfast News-Letter' was founded two hundred and five
years ago, and has had a single family of proprietors, the
Henderson family, for 145 years.
Its present managing director and owner is James Henderson,
who was President of the Newspaper Society and is a director of
the Press Association and Reuters.
The paper has a "class circulation, is conservative in policy
and pro-British. Although it does not maintain its own staff of
foreign correspondents, relying on other established services,
it devotes a good deal of space to parliamentary reports. It
has a good deal of influence as & prestige paper, and has a long
reputation for thoroughness and accuracy. It supports the Con-
servative government of the day and rarely adopts an independent
line.
NORTHERN WHIG AND BELFAST POST.
Circulation: 37,000
This paper is controlled by a private company and is the
'News-Letter's" chief rival. It was first established in 1824 by
Francis Finlay of County Down, who, in his own words, believed
that/
- 77 -
that "the North of Ireland should have a free and unpurchasable
press, a press that no man should ever call servant, and that
would acknowledge no master but the law."
During the Gladstonian era the paper was profoundly Liberal.
Today with Liberalism difficult to define it fits more accurately
into the Conservative category. Like its rival paper, it is
Unionist, pro-British, and usually gives its support to the Con-
servative government of the day. It devotes less space to
politics, however, than the 'News-Letter'.
IRISH DAILY TELEGRAPH
Circulation: 9,000
Associate paper: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
:
77,000
This is a unique case where the morning paper has far less
prestige and influence than its evening associate. The 'Irish
Daily Telegraph' is a small non-political paper, but the 'Belfast
Telegraph', known from one end of Northern Ireland to the other
as the 'Tele', is one of the most popular evening papers in the
country.
It is published by Messrs. W. & G. Baird Limited. This firm
was founded in the last century by Mr. William S. and Mr. George
Baird, commercial printers. The present managing director is
Major William Baird, D.L., a son of the eldest co-founder.
Politically, these papers are undeviatingly Unionist with
their policy firmly loyal to the King and their British
connections. The 'Belfast Telegraph' has adopted a far more
vigorous and independent line than any of its rivals. In the
pre-war years it warned the British Government repeatedly that
one of the gravest risks of endowing the sister isle with an
all-Ireland Parliament was that in the event of a world war the
retention of Northern Ireland as a bridgehead for Britain was a
vital/
- 78 -
vital consideration.
The 'Belfast Telegraph' has been whole-heartedly pro-
Churchill. Early in the war it organized a Spitfire fund, and
in a few weeks time raised nearly £100,000 from its readers to
provide almost a score of fighters for the Royal Air Force.
IRISH NEWS AND BELFAST NORTHERN NEWS.
Circulation: 29,000
This paper is the only daily Nationalist newspaper published
in Ulster. It was founded about the middle of the last century by
two brothers, Robert and Daniel Read. It has gone through various
ownerships, and is now controlled by three directors: Dr. Daniel
McSparren, Mr. Michael McHugh, and Mr. James Fitzpatrick.
This paper has an entirely Catholic circulation and calls
for a Nationalist Ireland united under De Valera's leadership.
It support De Valera's views on the war, and upholds Eire's wish
to remain neutral. It may be depended upon to follow the Dublin
"party line".
*******.*
BRIGHTON.
SUSSEX DAILY NEWS
Circulation: 12,000
Associate paper: EVENING ARGUS
#
32,000
The 'Sussex Daily News' was established in 1868 by a local
family named Infield; its evening associate was founded eleven
years later. Both papers are still controlled by the original
family, the present chairman being Mr. E. Infield Willis.
These papers are conservative in policy, but aside from
the "London Letter", a feature printed in the morning paper,
summarizing political events from the capital, little space is
devoted to national issues. The 'Daily News' concentrates for
the most part on local news, and runs a good many feature
articles on art and literature. It has established a local
prestige/
- 79 -
prestige of its own, strongly supports the Churchill government,
and is proud of the distinction of being the nearest daily paper
to the enemy's front lines in the west. After the war it will
undoubtedly continue to support the Conservative government.
..........
BRISTOL.
WESTERN DAILY MAIL AND BRISTOL MIRROR.
Circulation: 15,000
Although the circulation of this paper is small, it has
considerable prestige in its own community. It was the first
established daily paper in the West of England, being founded in
1858, with Mr. Walter Reid as the first editor. Reid's son is
now the chief owner, with Mr. A.A. Allan as the present managing
director.
The paper concentrates more on local events than national
ones. Politically, it claims to be free from any party or creed,
with its columns open to all factions. Non-political as it is,
it is a loyal support of Churchill.
**********
IPSWICH.
EAST ANGLIAN DAILY TIMES.
Circulation: 30,000
Associate paper: EVENING STAR AND DAILY
HERALD
"
25,000
The 'Daily Times' and its evening associate circulate in the
counties of Suffolk, Essex, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, and Hert-
fordshire. They are the leading daily and evening papers of East
Anglia, and are both non-political. They are "popular" papers,
concentrating chiefly on local, sport, financial and agricultural
news. Financially they are highly successful properties but have
little prestige.
- 80 -
LEAMINGTON SPA.
LEAMINGTON SPA MORNING NEWS.
Circulation: 3,000
This tiny paper is non-political. It was founded in 1896 by
the late Mr. Sydney Churches, a local inhabitant of Leamington
Spa, who acted as editor until his death in 1937. It is now
mainly directed by Churches' widow and his eldest son, the present
editor. It is read in the Leamington and Warwick districts for
local news and events.
*********
NORWICH.
EASTERN DAILY PRESS.
Circulation: 30,000
Associate paper: EASTERN EVENING NEWS
=
40,000
The Eastern Daily Press was founded in 1870. The names of
Colman, Tillett, and Copeman, which appeared on the first
committee, are all represented on the board of directors today.
It is the only morning daily paper printed in Norfolk. Both this
paper and its evening associate carry all the latest news, and
politically support a liberal policy. On national issues, however,
they rarely take an independent line, prefering to follow the
leadership of the national government of the day.
**********
NOTTINGHAM.
NOTTINGHAM GUARDIAN.
Circulation: 25,000
Associate paper: NOTTINGHAM EVENING POST
=
80,000
The 'Nottingham Guardian' is the leading paper of Nottingham.
It was founded in the middle of the last century by a printer
named Thomas Forman. It has remained in the same family for four
generations, its present proprietor being T. Bailey Forman.
It has/
- 81 -
It has a large and influential circulation, and although
politically conservative, does not fail to take an independent
line when it disagrees with party policy. It attacked the
Government on unilateral disarmament and its India policy.
Although it does not enjoy the same prestige as such a paper as
the 'Yorkshire Post', it is influential and widely read. The
'Nottingham Evening Post' is a valuable property but gives little
space to national issues.
**********
82.
REMAINING PROVINCIAL EVENING PAPERS.
(All of these papers are non-political)
Est.
Ownership
Circulation
BARROW-IN-FURNESS
North Western Daily Mail
Local family
30,000
BLACKBURN
Northern Daily Telegraph
Ritzema family
70,000
BLACKPOOL
West Lancashire Evening
Gazette
Local company
30,000
BOLTON
Bolton Evening News
Tillotson family
53,000
BURTON-ON-TRENT
Burton Daily Mail
Local company
20,000
CAMBRIDGE
Cambridge Daily News
Control owned by
Kelly's Directories
Ltd.
17,000
CARLISLE
Cumberland Evening News
Local family
13,000
HALIFAX
Halifax Daily Courier &
Guardian
Local company
27,000
HASTINGS & ST. LEONARDS
Evening Argus
Local family
15,000
HUDDERSFIELD
Huddersfield Daily Examiner
Woodhead family
25,000
KETTERING
Northamptonshire Evening
Telegraph
Local company
25,000
LEICESTER
Leicester Mercury
Local company
85,000
LUTON
Beds. & Herts. Pictorial
Home Counties
& Evening Telegraph
Newspapers Ltd.
(Local company)
11,000
NEWPORT
South Wales Daily Argus
Local family
40,000
NUNEATON
Midland Daily Tribune
Leamington Spa
Courier Ltd.
18,000
OLDHAM
Oldham Evening Chronicle
Local company
35,000
PAISLEY/
- 83 - -
PAISLEY
Paisley Daily Express
Local company
20,000
PENZANCE
Evening Tidings
Local company
5,000
SCARBOROUGH
Scarborough Evening News
& Daily Post
Local company
15,000
STOCKPORT
Cheshire Daily Echo
Local company
15,000
WOLVERHAMPTON
Express & Star
Graham family
116,000
WORCESTER
Evening News and Times
Local company
25,000
YORK
Yorkshire Evening Press
Local
43,000
THE END
***.......