2 FEBRUARY 1918, Page 12

(To THE EDITOR. OF THE " SPECTATOR."]

Sia,,—Polities and the Press are hindering the country from getting on with the war. Confidence in Mr. Lloyd George has been on the wane since his Paris speech. He did his best in Parliament afterwards to remove the impression caused by that speech, but one feels instinctively that all is not well. In view of the warning contained in your article on "A Northcliffe Ministry," perhaps it would not be out of place to mention the name of a man who has neither Party nor Press to serve, the name of Lord Derby. Shortly before the Asquith crisis I ven- tured to write to you suggesting his name as Prime Minister, and I cannot but think had he held the reins the question of Conscription in Ireland, Bread v. Beer, and other important matters would have bean settled ere this.—I am, Sir, &c.,