Information Please

Everybody agreed that Americans should know more about the British, and vice versa. But what was being done about it?

This week burly, balding Harold Beresford Butler, 58, arrived in the U.S. to be Director General of the British Information Services. He is an Eton and Balliol graduate, one of the founders of the League of Nations' International Labor Office, which, in the natural course of events, has been more notable for hope than glory. Few doubted that Mr. Butler prominent in the drafting of international labor codes, would make an eager and intelligent information officer. But London's World Press News noted that Mr. Butler's editor in chief would probably be one Aubrey Niel Morgan. Cracked the World Press News:

"Morgan's record as a newspaper man is as follows: Educated in Charter House Jesus College, Cambridge, graduated in 1927. In business in Cardiff for six years; went to California to engage in business again Was chairman of the Welsh-American Fund for three years, giving radio talks and public meetings. Visited Britain in the spring of 1939, but later took an honorary post at the British Library of Information in New York. Joined the British Press Service in May, 1941 in an honorary capacity and founded the press survey of both organizations. These press services clip and cable opinions of the American press. Morgan is married to a sister of ex-Colonel Lindbergh's wife. Newspaper experience?"

If the British information service in the U.S. was in doubtful shape, the U S information service in Britain was nonexistent. The arrival of the U.S. Navy's task force in British coastal waters last week was covered by two Buckingham Palace reporters very far off their beat Individual U.S. newsmen in England were constantly being begged by the British Government for background information on the U.S. which they did not have the time or facilities to provide.

Why the lack of adequate information services, manned by crackerjack newsmen should stand between the full understanding of the American and British people was something which newsmen on both sides of the narrowing Atlantic could hardly understand.

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