NORTHCLIFFE PRESS TACTICS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2634, 3 December 1915, Page 5

NORTHCLIFFE PRESS TACTICS

DISCUSSION IN HOUSE COMMONS .. OFFENDERS' REPLY By Telegraph—Rreas AsMciatlon-CoDyrlglt London, December 1. In the House of Commons Mr. Ronald M'Neili (Unionist), discussing Sir John Simon's statement, said that they nad heard no allusion to an; article in tho "Nation" saying that it would be better to lose the war than lose voluntary service. Air. . Hodge (Labour) said that, while he did not think Lord Northcliife was wicked enough to belittle tne country, it was unfortunate that the "Times'' and the "Daily Mail" articles had created a very uneasy feeling in France. Sir A. B. Markham (Liberal) said that the journalists at the Home Office had singled out the "Daily Mail" and the "Times" for unfair treatment, while tile "Daily Chronicle" had been allowed lo go scot free. t ' ' Lord Robert Cecil, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, said it was a delusion to imagine that this was a case worked up by gentlemen connected with another paper in order to injure the "Times. "Articles such as those referred to have a ; discouraging effect on our friends in ' the Balkans, tending to produce the impression that we are done' for, that we are not in earnest, and that our workmen are idlers and drunkards." Mr. John Dillon (Nationalist) charged the Nort/liclille Press .with trying to embroil Britain and America at the most critical period vof the war. If the "Daily Mail" were sliut down for a few weeks it would cool Lord Northcliffe considerably. V ' Sir John Simon (Home Secretary): "We in England know the true value of these jaundiced sheets, but they are a constant disappointment to our Allies and of distrust to neutrals, while the Germans have found in them their principal consolation. The Foreign Office ' lias constantly brought these influences under the Home Office's notice. Several members have taunted the Government with being afraid to suppress the "Times" and the "Daily Mail because they are owned by a wealthy man. "TIMES"AND "MAIL"! REPLY SCOLDINGS AS ARGUMENT London, December 1. The "Times," in .its comments on Sir John Snnon s efiorfc, says:—"lt is merely another attempt to renew last week's attack, which failed so egregiously. If ' Ministers would attack the Germans with half the energy they devote to the "Times" they would be a good deal nearer winning the war."

The "Daily Mail" says that the Northcliffe Press was attacked because it criticised the Government's slackness and blunders in order to obtain a more vigorous prosecution of the war. WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY London, December 1. The "Daily News" says: "Lord Northcliffo, since the war, has held up the country to scorn, causing mischief in the Allied and neutral countries and our forces. Hie Government should not trifle further, for the nation's peril must not longer be the sport of an in< cendiary journalist."