PEACE AND PROPAGANDA
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—We are often told that war is a best-seller and that the propagation of peace has little news-value. In the past many complaints have been made of the small space devoted to the work of the League by the popular Press. The recent Disarma- ment meeting in the London Albert Hall provides an excellent opportunity to test this criticism. I give below the number of column inches devoted to this meeting in the following day's issues of the seven London morning newspapers : The Times . . .. Report 55} Leader 27/ ., Total 831 Daily Herald Report 581
Leader 18 Total 761
News-Chronicle Report 671 Leader 4 Total 71/ Daily Telegraph .. Report 311
Leader 16 Total 471
Morning Post .. Report 26i Daily Mail .. Report 10 Daily Express . . Report 5} It is interesting to note that the two newspapers which, more than any others, have been known for their stunts and irrespon- sible presentation of news are the ones that have printed negli- gible reports of the meeting. If the amount of space given to any particular subject is the criterion of its importance we can assume that in the eyes of one of them the considered views of the leaders of the three political parties and of one of Britain's greatest soldiers is no more important than the outwitting of some unemployed by Welsh gypsies ; is only half as important as the blackmailing of a London dancing girl ; and is only one- eighth as important as the goings on at Reno, the " heartache town ruled by women," if we may use this newspaper's own phraseology. Nearly twice as much space is devoted to a Somerset town which, we are told in block type, possesses " no electric light, gas, omnibus service or railway station."—I am,
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