TO THE READERS OF THE "SPECTATOR" I FEEL that I
ought to explain why the news of my retirement (not indeed from the Spectator, but from its control and governing proprietorship) did not appear first in these pages. It was arranged between me and my able and most loyal and friendly successor; Mr. Wrench, that the announcement should not be made while I was in America, but be pOst- poned to the middle or end of December, by which time I should have returned to England. The knowledge, however, that an inaccurate and un- authorized statement was about to - be published made it necessary to state the exact position. while I was still at.Sea, and leave over my personal announce- ment till to-day---the earliest moment at which it could appear in the Spectator. • I have four things to say directly to the readers Of the Spectator :— . .
(1) I am not severing my connexion with the paper, and not taking leave of its readers. I shall continue to contribute though I shall be freed from the responsibilities of control. That will pass to Mr. 'Wrench as -.owner of a majority of the ordinary shares in the Spectator Company. My proprietary interest in the paper will still be a large one, but chiefly in the shape of preference stock.
- (2) I am retiring from the control of the paper, no/ for reasons- of. health. 'or throUgh- any disagree- ' Moat With- the 'Spectator- public, but -because -I desire to be free from office work and to be able to devote much more time to travel and to literature rather than to the routine of journalism. The working proprietor of a newspaper cannot have the oppor- tunity of leisure. But a proprietor .who does not work must necessarilysterilize his newspaper.
. (3) The passing over of the control to Mr. Wrench does not, I desire to point out (and especially to the Life Members) in any way partake of a -sale of the paper in the open market. I have had over three years' experience of Mr. Wrench as a colleague and know that there is no risk of his altering . the. character of the paper or of letting it pass into unworthy hands. He means to prevent all risk of this by adopting the Times model. Mr. Wrench and I are - abso- lutely at one in. thinking that the most important thing that can .be done in these days by any British organ of opinion is to maintain the sense of fellow:. service and of good will throughout both branches of the English-speaking race. I, therefore, - hand him the torch Without fear or hesitationthongh not without trial and experience of his powers and aspirations both at the Spectator and in the English- Speaking Union.
(4) Last; but not least, I feel that a word of special explanation is due to the American readers of the Spectator, whom I may with good warrant describe as my personal friends. Without some such ex- planation it May seern'strange that I did not let them know of the impending change while I was their guest. My reason was that I felt myself- pledged to let the Spectator readers know of the changed conditions first from its own columns. What have written will, I am confident, assure them that my reticence was in no sense due to any want of that consideration which is the essential foundation
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