4 NOVEMBER 1911, Page 29

[To TEN EDITOR or THE "SPECTATOR. "] SIR,—May I express my

thanks and gratitude to you for your courtesy and fairness in inserting my letter, though so much against the policy and opinions of the Spectator P I am only very sorry that you consider it unfair and incorrect. With the exceptions of the People and the Commentator there is most probably no other big Unionist paper which would have published such criticism of Mr. Balfour. I was sitting close to the reporters at the last National Service dinner and noticed that their pencils were almost idle, and as far as I could see no report of any account appeared in any of the Liberal or Unionist morning papers of any of the excellent speeches then made. It is difficult not to draw the conclusion that both the Liberal and Unionist Press had been muzzled on a matter of great national importance. If the Press as well as the House of Commons is muzzled, our people can have very little chance of forming a judgment on the many serious questions at present before the country. Apologizing for the trouble I have given you.—I am, Sir, &a., Hirkella, Eastbourne. ROWLAND HUNT.