S1R,—I have read ,carefully the leader in this week's number
and agree entirely with its general claim that those who occupy positions' of responsibility in the sphere of government are properly open to criticism on their decisions and on the events which may fol- low. That is one of the cardinal principles of political freedom.
1 do, however, most strongly deprecate the sug- gestion, so clearly made in the second paragraph of Taper's 'Commentary' of August 7, that the Prime Minister's action over the Devlin Report has been based, not on a full and dispassionate consideration of all the factors but on his own desire to resume the Premiership after the General Election: and further that with very few exceptions the Conservative Mem- bers in both Houses gave their votes with the same object. This suggestion seems to me wholly unworthy of the Spectator that I have khown and read for half a century and more.—Yours faithfully,
R. E. MARTIN The Brand, Woodhouse-Eaves, Loughborough
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