ALEXANDER SMITH COCHRAN.
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sia,—The Spectator last week recorded the death of Mr. Alexander Smith Cochran, of New York, who was a very warm friend of Great Britain and the British Empire. In Cochran's case it was certainly true that his left hand never knew what his right hand did, and many persons and causes experienced his unostentatious generosity, unknown to the outside world. He took a special delight in coming to the rescue when financial help was required.
May I relate his connexion with the Spectator '? In 1922, three years before I acquired the control of the paper, after several lean years, the finances of the paper were in an unsatis- factory state. Mr. St. Loe Strachey asked me if I knew of anyone who would care to purchase a considerable share in the Spectator. At the time I did not know anyone so inclined, but I told Mr. Strachey that I would remember what he said. A few days later I happened to meet at my club Cochran, who was a friend of many years' standing, and I said "I suppose you don't know anyone who would care to buy a share in the Spectator ? " To which the reply came promptly "Yes, I will myself, I have always admired the Spectator and the things it stands for." Within a month the transaction was completed, and Mr. Strachey used the money for develop- ing the paper.
Cochran remained a shareholder until two years ago, and was delighted when a more prosperous era opened for the paper. He was a warm supporter of the League of Nations, and no one was more pleased than he was when the Spectator began to devote a page a week to " League " news.
Cochran never wanted to be thanked ; his benefactions to British war charities reached a large total, but were mostly given anonymously. He had a horror of generosity flaunted from the house-tops.
He had long suffered from ill-health, which he bore very courageously. His paroxysms of coughing in recent years were trying to watch, and they must have been terrible for him. I don't think he was sorry to lay down the burden of life, for he had great wealth, and he felt its responsibilities.
For many years I used to dine with him in London, in New York, or elsewhere, once or twice a year, and the con- versation usually touched at some time in the evening on the relations of the British and American Commonwealths and how to improve them—a subject very near his heart.
It is with the keen sense of the loss of a very kind friend that I write these lines.—I am, Sir, &c., E. W.
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