A SPECTATOR'S NOTEBOOK
THE problem of the Dean of Canterbury becomes in- creasingly acute. A Dean is commonly assumed to have decant duties of some consequence to occupy him. They do • not seem to prevent Dr. Hewlett Johnson from departing to the antipodes on business more con- genial to Moscow than to Canterbury, and planning a return via the United States, for which however a visa has been refused. The Dean fears the effect this action may have on Anglo- American relations. He need have no apprehensions. The only emotion it will awaken is one of regret (confined to this particular case) that a British subject does not need a visa to re-enter Britain. One of the opinions ascribed to Dr. Hewlett Johnson in Sydney was that the empty spaces in Australia might with advantage be populated by Chinese ; he has since, however, described this, in language which may or may not be customary at Canterbury, as a damned lie. What is to be done about this Dean (who is credited with three books on " The Socialist Sixth of the World," " Soviet Strength " and " Soviet Success," and with none on any religious or -ecclesiastical subject) ? Nothing can be done about him. The Chapter of Canterbury has publicly dissociated itself from him. So has the Archbishop of Canterbury. But the Crown put him where he is on the advice of Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, and there he will stay till he decides to do otherwise.
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