Guardian of the truth
Sir: Three cheers for Paul Johnson (And another thing, 15 November). I was a reporter in the London office of the (then) Manchester Guardian during the immediate post-war years, under the editorship of A.P. Wadsworth. I and my colleagues (who included writers of the calibre of Gerry Fay, Francis Boyd, Philip Hope-Wallace and Neville Cardus) had dinned into us C.P. Scott's famous maxim, 'Opinions are free, but facts are sacred.'
In those days the MG was the most highly respected newspaper in the country, if not the world. Its journalists were treated like VIPs at press conferences and functions. No longer.
I am shocked and saddened by the dete- rioration of its standards over the years, and the way it has plumbed the depths of tabloid banality. A few years ago it even mounted a vendetta against me (a woman of no importance) over a trivial row I had with my sister-in-law Susan Crosland.
Paul Johnson's article cheered me up no end, and I hope he will keep up the good work.
(Incidentally, I am Tony Crosland's sis- ter, and the former wife of A.J.P. Taylor, who had himself been trained by Wadsworth in the art of good journalistic writing.) Eve Crosland Danehurst Cottage, Parkhill Road, London NW3
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