BEHIND THE VEIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 August 1920, Page XII

BEHIND THE VEIL.

NORTHCLIFFE—KING-MAKER. RELATIONS~WITH PREMIER. Mr. Isaac F. Marcosson, all Amer'can journalist, gives in "Adventures in Inter.viewing" a number of character sketches ttfat vary considerably in'interest. Thus the chapter entitled "Foch and Clemenceau" contains nothing at all that has not been published about the two French makers of victory, and there is not a word that would suggest that Mr. Marcosson has even spoken to either of them. The writer is on very different ground when he is concerned with Mr. Lloyd George and "Northcliffe the Kingmaker," and from a British point of view there is real interest in his description of the alliance between Lord Northcliffe and Mr. Lloyd George in IDI6. "The Northcliffe Press opened up its guns on the Premier. . . Lloyd George became an insurgent, and was backed up foy Northcliffe. The upshot of the whole matter was that early in December, 1916, Mr. Asquith decided to form a new Government, which meant that Lloyd George would have to, get out. As usual, Lloyd George beat the flag and resigned first. ■ He had manoeuvred the Premier into such a position that he would either have to bear the friction and dissension existing in ithe Cabinet, which would aid the enemy, or retire himself. To Asquith'a credit let it lie said that he sacrificed his post rather than expose the Cabinet skeleton. Lloyd George's great opportunity was now at hand, for the road to the Premiership was open. Northcliffe saw in him the hope of the hour, and advocated his elevation. He was not alone in this desire, nor did he lack a valiant colleague. For two years there had lurked behind the political scenes a remarkable man whose peculiar talents were now to have full play. Indeed, they had been employed for a year in shaping "and maintaining Coalition. That man was Lord Beaverbrook. MAKING A CABINET. "Down at his country seat .. . . was held a series of conferences at which the new Government was practically framed. Every manner of conflicting political interest arid personal ambition had to be reconciled. The one-time Canadian bank clerk proved that he could handle men as readily as he could make millions. He had the call, so ito speak, on Bonar Law, and exercised strong influence with Lloyd George. While Northcliffe threw but a smoke screen in the shape of a newspaper barrage, it was Beaverbrook, in tile role of manipulator of men, who really framed up the new Government, with Lloyd George as Premier. Here in a nutshell is the inside story of one of the most dramatic stories of the war so far as British public life is concerned. For his services Beaverbrook was made a Peer.

"This reorganisation, which speeded up the whole British war machine, emphasised Northcliffe's larger journalistic policy. . . At the same time he kept himself free from any entangling alliances which might hamper him in the future. It was Beaverbrook, immersed in the policies of tiio deal, who tied himself

up • with various obligations. ' Northcliffe emerged from the transaction with an absolutely, free hand. '"Lloyd George noiw faced the difficult task of making a Cabinet. To this piece of State carpentry .Northcliffe contributed a full share. He demanded practical men of business experience. It is 110 secret that he named Sir Albert Stanley as President of the Board of Trade, Lord Rhondda as President of the Local Government Board, Sir Joseph Maclay Shipping Controller, and Lord Devonport (sic) Food Controller Northcliffe, who had great confidence that Devonport would succeed, became irritated at what lie termed the 'failure of the food administration.' This meant that he let loose at the Controller in his papers:"

Mr. Marcosson quotes Lord Devonport as saying to him: "Your friend Northcliffe is a strange person. Ho got me into the Cabinet, and now' he is moving heaven and earth to get me out." The remark was repeated to Lord Northcliffe, who remarked: "Devonport seemed to have lost all his business-sense the moment he got into the Cabinet." The writer goes on to show how Lord Northcliffe had his way, and Lord Rhondda became Food Controller.

THE RIFT IN THE LUTE. The break between "the Twentieth Century Warwick" and Lloyd George began soon after the Armistice. 1 "Whether Northcliffe had an ambition to be a member of the British Peace Mission I am not prepared tq say. One thing is certain. He was dissatisfied with its personnel. He chafed a.t the delay and the failure of Lloyd George to make good in Jiis December, 1918, promises. Whatever the cause, Northcliffe opened up on Lloyd George. His reply was a scathing denunciation of the publisher by the Premier in a speech in the House of Commons 011 April 16, 1919. The two livest ■wires in England got crossed, and the sparks flew." As for 'the issue of ''this battle of giants," Mr. Marcosson makes no prophecy. "Lloyd George's prestige is largely contingent upon political fortune, always an unstable thing. On the other iand, Northcliffe'a papers are not dependent on elections. Northcliffe was largely instrumental in driving Asquith into private life. Can he duplicate the .Verformance with Lloyd George? Asquith was no fighter, while Lloyd George was born with a ship on his shoulder. More than once Nonthcliffe's name has been mentioned in connection with the Prime Ministership. The disagreement with Lloyd George revived the suggestion that he head the Government. No man can be Prime Minister, however, without a party, and Northcliffe has no party., If you knew his real mind in connection with this office, you would probably discover that lie prefers to remain what he has been and is—the unofficial Premier of the British people."