Welsh Journals

Editorial Comment WE START 'Wales' without a subsidy. No private patron or funds from a transatlantic foundation are behind us. This is we know as Editor and pub- lisher, and we hope as you, dear reader, would wish it. But we do appear with every confi- dence that we are helping to fill a big gap in Welsh life by giving astringent expression to the lively, original and authoritative viewpoints of those who really care about the country's future. And, even before publication we have been obliged to make arrangements for a reprint just in case demand lives up to indications! As a monthly magazine aiming to cover imaginative literature, criticism of the arts and affairs, this fact of stand- ing on our own feet will give us an in- dependence so rare in the discussions of our land where, apparently, it's no- holds-barred when political enemies are to be lambasted-if not bludgeoned- in bold, blistering, un-Celtic prose! So we shall rely on being such a truly national magazine that sales alone- one-hundredth of our three-and-a-half million compatriots in the world is not, perhaps, setting our sights too high- will sustain 'Wales' and rapidly enable us to increase its size and, we hope, its impact. To guide us in the future, we shall be glad to hear of your reactions to this first number, together with any suggestions for additional features. A word about contributors. I first met James Morris of the Manchester Guardian, surrounded by such die-hard Establishment figures as directors, Kems- ley editors and ex-editors, at a dinner given by that then more popular enig- ma, Mr Henry Brooke, M P, to Welsh Editors at the Angel Hotel, Cardiff. I met him again in the course of a year at El Vino in Fleet Street when he was just back from one of his world- wide jaunts for his paper, having pub- lished a couple of books in the mean- time. His conversation was as provoca- tive as ever, especially on the 'tedious' topic of Welsh and Welshmen. The upshot of this meeting is the appearance here of 'Welshness in Wales' — a re- markable survey by an experienced observer of racial vices and virtues. Of all the people who have urged me to start 'Wales', to none do I owe a greater debt of gratitude than Rhys Davies. Particularly do I thank Rhys for his encouragement over the past two years; encouragement which took prac- tical form a few months ago when he gave 'Wales' what he feels is his best story 'The Wedding at the Lion'. He could very easily have sold this else- where for considerably more money