A Spectator's Notebook
I HAVE RARELY listened to a more depressing broadcast than the interview of Sir John Harding in the BBC's 'At Home and Abroad' on Tuesday evening. Not only was the interview scripted : the questions, too, were arranged for Sir John's con- venience rather than for the enlightenment of the public. I do not blame Sir John for standing up for his own policy; but at least the BBC might have insisted that rather more pertinent questions be put to him. Sir John should not be allowed to go back to Cyprus imagining that his recent measures, such as the gagging of the Cyprus press, would have been acceptable even to the Government here, were it not for its preoccupation with more serious problems. I have received a letter from Mr. Charles Foley, editor of the Times of Cyprus, on the dangers of the new law. Mr. Foley was charged last week under the old emergency regulations relating to 'alarm and despondency,' for publishing a dispatch which had been cabled by a reporter to the News Chronicle. He points out that under the new law such a prosecution will not be necessary—the newspaper could simply be shut down at once. As his case is sub judice, comment must be postponed; I understand Sir Frank Soskice has been asked to appear for the defence.
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