DOWNING STREET "DOPE"

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 57, 1 December 1919, Page 3

DOWNING STREET "DOPE"

Mβ. LLOYD GEOKCE'S PRESS AGENT HOW HE WORKS The strained relations between Lord NovlhcHll'e and Mr. Lloyd George are well jllustratcd by the lollowing amusing tirade published in the London "Daily Mail," the most widely circulated Kortliclilt , '. , organ:— The publication of the Downing Street "dope" broad-sheet the "Future" has called attention again to the Primo Minister's Press Bureau, which is situated at Ko. 10. At the head is Sir William Sutherland, an astute Scotsman, who first came under hw present master's notice, by reason of a book on Land Heform in tlio days when the Prime Minister was preparing to embark on his raging, tearing Land Campaign. Sir William, having no false pride, is able to take his mission of booming the Prime Minister seriously. Each year he srek.s to inipiovc his methods of legpulling the Press. This is rendered necessary by the fact that the business of advertising the Prime Minister be- ' comes ever more difficult owing to tho number of victims who> periodically fall cut. Sir William's modus operandi is simplicity itself, which partly accounts for bis success. Ho receives aiTPress callers, irrespective of tho sympathies of their newspapers, and endeavours to uajole them in the interests, of his chief. These newspaper callers divide tliemselvc" into three categories: 1. UepiT'.icntatives of the Sycophantic and Willingly Gullible Pre.-s, 2. liepresentatives of the Friendly Press. 3. Representatives of the Critical Press. Willi the first lot Sir William has no need to ex?rei;e much subtlety. He merely gives out the eliiff be wishes them to print and they meekly take- it down, thankful for the offering. Now and then, to add a little zr-st to their labours, he bestows a plum in tho shape of the news of mi impending appointment of some coupon magnate to tho post of Under-Seci-etary to this or that Department. With th;» second lot ho needs to be more adroit. They must be treated at least intelligently and ingratiatingly. Consequently, the "dope" that he hands out to them is much more eurefiilly prepared anil hos not the full Downing Street bouquet. In regard to the third lot he adopts the role of candid friend and is prepared to admit that thf-ie may be something in the strictures nassed upon his master. At the same time he apnenlingly points out the tremendous difficulties' with which the Prime Minister is meeting, and endeavours to draw for his auditors the picture of a good and guileless man strugiling bravely with adversity. Such is the insidious influence of this well-trained propagandist's conversation that members of the third category have constantly to be on the ; r guard lest they fall an easy prey. Even the toiighestslcinned journalist, has be:-u known to have his lesr nulled by Sutherland. As head of the Prime Minister's advertising agency, it is Sir William's bust-' ness* (o'secure result?, and the packets of Press cuttinjrs containing laudatory references to tho Prime Minister, and the latest smiling snapshots nf him, bear restimo'iy to the efficiency with which he disdi'nrites his duties. Sir William U heln?d in hi= task by liis profound admiration for his ina=ter. h> really believes much of what he gives out. Whenever the Prime Minister is in .PffinnHie" with the ?re=i it is for his lieutenant tliat he immediately send; to Mp him out. Tli'K during tlio Prare ConlV'Jice. when the Prime Minister found his dilly-dallving morli-ds wrp beins snverelv criticised, S : r William was url">ntly wired for In com" to Paris. On arrival'the young Scot proimit!y turned «n to the Press representatives at Ihe Hotel Mniestic with the instruction- to. vaccinal" I'hera with the ns'iM lymnli. Tf lie failed, it was not for the W!""t of tryin". Tl". lVme Mitiist"!- loltcrly Ins grown po d?!V'(leiit unon l-.is shrcwi , lveiiteniuit tl>iit "vithniit. li'iiii be i= uniil-le to tu>-n, nnd the two hiw" bec-'tno inseparable; so iiiM»h so that it i-= difficult nowiuliivs In t->'! in Ibf vn' ,: ous niaiin«uvrp« for mibli"ity v,-liich is I! , ." Di-clniirnant mi"d. The h-iiid in.-'V h". Hie In ml n? David, but th" voir.p is (h.! vnice of William. P-itherlniul is also lie:id «f tlm P'vnt ru:i'Oiir fn-torv, from which the fir»t Vnts of Miiii-itii-rs depa'-ling pm-nnte. As his master changes his mind sewn] times a dny, a runipur \v]i:pli n'ay be truf in th" nuiniing is untrue by the evening. Wli'T-'fm'e' f'-eciuently InpDP>!c llml-'Siv Will'""' i> ilm. first to give <">t a rumour ami th" f"'-=t to deny it. The reprfyeiitn)i'-"s "f (':■• Sy.;(in)iui't'O P,. P =< «w «-i tlP"ilo thai tlt?y lli'inl: t'io lian.l. that f»eds lli°m wilh i'f" i""(-h nvv'--ih- for li!ni(li"'r on' ii ('"uli-ulictioii as for gi'-in? out the original vrMiort. Tn nnpearancp the c-'-ent Ici'-ni'llor jtivns tVn sivjnpstipn of mnnh phys : fal ptn>iifHi. u, : o n'nl irpiternlly thick-set'. Tike the Lot-' 0-"-'' l- he i-; "ever to lio fam«\ without a Ivt enmr. ■\ Iwpliplnv. 'le«tiitPd pvp'tts'.nl'y for Mhi'shrinl i'f">V " reward for his rpvvin"s 'n the Prime V:nM-«r hp mi>v he rwrjrdeil us mip of >he plii!i'!)lp nartis in the nresent I t ou=p of fpinmens, h> which he was plotted a= i>'Pinl:er for I , '" *p»t-t"i-oil ron'lit'inncy of Argyle at the last gp'>"ral election. ffi, a .»" i* It—it- a mystery, hut he is rennted to be ■11. ,\l a fivv romniitation. Sit W ! 'nan> i' •worth a year to liis T'is lvotln is. "Tf you nnlv <r ; v" out cnougli 'donp' sbme of it mu«t ••■ti'-k."