VALUE FROM DAVENTRY

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 59, 9 August 1940, Page 7

VALUE FROM DAVENTRY

PS ig hes 3 stokers are at present feeding the BBC’s propaganda machines at Daventry. During one week at the end of last month listeners to the National Broadcasting Service heard an especially fine collection of celebrities: SOMERSET MAUGHAM, who has been writing books and plays for nearly fifty years. HAROLD NICOLSON, who was in the Diplomatic Service from 1909 until 1929, when he concentrated on journalism and prepared the way for a political career which began with his election as a National Labour candidate in West Leicester in 1935. DOROTHY THOMPSON, who from one point of view, is the wife of Sinclair Lewis. From another, Sinclair Lewis is her husband. She is columnist for a chain of U.S.A. newspapers; advances bold, individualistic points of view, and has rooted strongly ‘for the Allies for a long time. She favours American participation. J. B. PRIESTLEY, who must take great delight in helping to detend the England of "The Good Companions." He is a sort of literary John Bull. WICKHAM STEED, who was editor of the London "Times," but survived this experience to write a book showing what was wrong with ‘ journalism in England. He is an authority on Middle and East European affairs. GEORGE SLOCOMBE, a journalist who has had considerable influence on international and British diplomacy. Cabinet ministers commended his despatches to the "Daily Herald’ trom the Hague Conference, and he brought about the negotiations which led to the GandhiIrwin Pact of Delhi in India in 1930.