When the names of the Royal Commission on the Press
were read out by Mr. Attlee on Wednesday the general impression left was one of bewilderment, the question " Who are they? " about several members of the Commission mingling with the question "Why are they? " about others. It is to be observed that only one of the members, Sir George Waters, formerly Editor of the Scotsman, has any recent daily paper experience, for it is now some seventeen years since Mr. R. C. K. Ensor moved from leader-writing on the Daily Chronicle to other spheres. But the National Union of Journalists demanded a Royal Commission, and the Government usually does what a trade union asks. To all appearance the Com- mission will either recommend Government action regarding the Press, which would be disastrous, or content itself with exhortation, which, if ineffective, will at least be innocuous.
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