I suggested a few weeks ago that Lord Altrincham, the
Editor of the National and English Review, would no doubt be dealing in that journal with the statements in the new volume of The History of The Times regarding his alleged part in projects to make Mr. Lloyd George editor of the paper after the death of Northcliffe in 1922. He has now done so effec- tively, denying categorically that he had ever contemplated such a development and giving reasons why he would have strongly disapproved of it. There is no room left for doubt on that point. There remains the detailed and documented plan framed by David Davies for a Lloyd George editorship of The Times, and the unequivocal statement in the History that " the Prime Minister had, by a date that has not bees. ascer- tained, reached a complete understanding on the point of editorial authority with Rothermere, who had agreed to appoint Lloyd George as Editor of The Times, with control of policy." When Rothermere failed to acquire The Times that, of course, was the end of that. The interesting question is whether, as the History suggests, Lloyd George really did close with the Northcliffe proposals. That may never be definitely known. It would be surprising to learn that he had committed himself completely. He was much too astute for that.
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