The Press: Lesson for Politicians

In Britain, politicians often treat newsmen in a standoffish manner that U.S. reporters have never tolerated at home. But last week British newsmen rebelled and, in high good humor, gave their politicians an American-style lesson in press relations. The issue: the news leaks on the meetings of the Labor Party and its National Executive Committee. Last month, when the party met in a closed session and barely (by a vote of 113 to 104) passed a resolution supporting the inclusion of Germany in Western defenses (TIME, March 8), the respected weekly London Observer (circ. 475,609) reported the meeting fully. The Observer's...