Quite an imposing looking mountain has been raised out of the very little molehill of a statement which Lord Stanhope, First Lord of the Admiralty, appears to have made at a banquet on board H.M.S. Royal Oak on Tuesday night. He appears to have said something to the effect that very important anti-aircraft measures had been taken that night. He said, it is reported, that the antiaircraft guns of the Navy had been manned and the fact that the places of certain officers at the banquet were vacant supported that statement. The report created a sensation, and the Admiralty enhanced it by asking that in the national interest it should not be published. "The Times," and the "Daily Telegraph" fell in with that view, the "News Chronicle" announced that the Prime Minister greatly regretted the text of ji, members in some matters notably in the Lord Stanhope's speech, the "Daily Express" played the story up with "banner" headlines of the usual dramatic quality in its early editions, but in the 3 a.m. edition eliminated the remarks of the First Lord, but hinted a short story to the effect that a question might be asked in the House of Commons. The "Daily Mail" did the same with the story as the "Daily Express," while the "Daily Herald" without giving the text of the speech, reported that it had created a profound sensation. A more inept handling of the matter by the officials cannot possibly be conceived, for whatever sensation the speech might have created, and it need not have been particularly great in view of all) the circumstances, it was without a doubt considerably increased by official endeavours io persuade the Press not to print the facts. There could, of course, be no suppression, and all that the Admiralty could do was to ask the Press not to give the affair too much publicity, That very fact gave it all the sensational qualities with which it is now vested. The fact that the Admiralty made such a request was in itself news, and if Lord Stanhope had perpetrated somewhat of a gaffe, the seriousness of the whole matter was emphasized, and, perhaps, over-emphasiized by the vain attempts which were made to keep the story from the public.
What was the special significance of Lord Stanhope's speech? It need not necessarily mean that on that particular night the British Navy was expecting an air-raid and were prepared for it, The surrounding facts deny that; it may be taken for granted that if that is what was meant the very banquet at which the First Lord was speaking would not have been held. The only reasonable view which can be taken of the statement is that the Navy was prepared for all and any emergencies as it very rightly should be in such days of tension. Would it be any more of a blazing indiscretion te state that the British fleet is ready to go into action at any moment and on the shortest notice? If any statement were made to the contrary it would definitely not be believed by those who might expect to have to meet Lord Stanhope's statement may be loised as being in the circumstances son what superfluous, but it is difficult to understand why it should be regarded so seriously. If it were meant to create the impression that the Navy is at any time ready to defend itself, that is a statement which the British taxpayer will regard with the utmost satisfaction. If the Navy were not in such a position those in charge of it would not be worthy of the positions they are holding. Again it may be suggested that such a speech is calculated to offend certain Powers, as Isles. The herd, which is completely pure-bred, indicating a belief that a war may some now consists of 44 head only. day start without any formal declaration but with something in the nature of a surprise bombing. Is it so heinous an offence io contemplate that possibility in view of all that has been happening during these last two or three years? It cannot on the other hand be contended that Lord Stanhope made any devastating revelations likely to harm cither the interests of the Navy or the nation as a whole, for placed in its proper perspective it merely reveals a naval disposition that night which would normally be expected in such circumstances.
Mr. Chamberlain by his request to Press that Lord Stanhope's speech should not be published or alternatively that it should not be ascribed any particular importance made almost as big a mistake as his First Lord. He added very considerably to the sensation, for the British Press is suspicious of these attempts at control even by suggestion, while attempts at suppression invariably create more sensation than if the whole thing had been disregarded, and action against Lord Stanhope deferred in the ordinary way. The recent case in which the wife of a London stipendiary magistrate was prosecuted for a motoring offence, and her name suppressed in Court is just such an example of the evil effects of official attempts at suppression. The case received publicity for many days following, whereas if the matter had been treated in the ordinary course, the fact that she had been prosecuted would possibly have occupied the space normally taken up by a three line paragraph This present incident, however, may serve ihe purpose of impressing upon foreign statesmen, critical at times of the behaviour of certain sections of the British Press, and that it may be conceded is sometimes more than a little justified—the attitude of the Press towards a Government which cannot control it without especial legislation designed for the purpose. Certain newspapers completely disregarded the wishes of the Admiralty and Mr. Chamberlain. They were probably justified by the fact that the story was out and could not then be withdrawn from circulation. The Prime Minister' statement in the House of Commons, in reply to a question, to the effect that Lord Stanhope's remarks were not happily chosen can be accepted as a very proper summing up of the situation. The First Lord has been indiscreet, but it is an indiscretion about the size of the servant girl's baby;—"Only a little one, mum.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.