UNDER SUSPENSION
FAILING some last-minute change in the general situation or in the attitude of the authorities to this particular issue, The Spectator, in common with all other weekly periodicals, will not appear for the next two weeks, or possibly longer. It is, we believe, the first time in its 118 years of existence that this journal has failed to make its punctual appearance weekly ; even in the stress of the General Strike of 1926 a roneoed sheet was produced to keep the sequence unbroken. It may, from one point of view, be regarded as a measure of the Government's view of the gravity of the situa- tion that it feels it necessary today to ask for sacrifices that were never demanded in the gravest crises of the war-years. It may well be held that the weekly papers as a whole have 'acceded too readily to the present demand. There must, after all, be some proportion in these matters. If it is con- sidered needless to interfere with the daily and weekly news- papers, apart from a temporary reduction to their war-time size, in spite of the immense demands they make on paper and power, it is hard to make a convincing case for the sacri- fice of the weeklies. Once the sacrifice is decided on it is admittedly difficult to discriminate. We claim, nevertheless, that it is a grave matter in the public interest as well as in our own that the small group of serious weeklies, to which a public out of all comparison larger than the circulation of individual copies suggests looks for instruction, explanation and guidance on public affairs, should be out of action at this time. In the next two or three weeks developments of the gravest moment may take place, involving the elementary physical welfare of millions of persons in these islands, the future of British industry for some considerable period, the possible fate of the present Government. This is the last of all moments when the voice of responsible criticism and comment should be silenced. Silenced, as things stand, it is to be so far as weekly journals are concerned, though hope that some compromise course may be agreed on need not be quite abandoned. If things remain as they are at this moment, and no Spectator is available next week, the leading article which would have appeared will be found on the leader-page of The Observer of Feb. 23rd, by courteous invitation of the editor of that journal.
