CULTURAL RELATIONS WITH PRESENT.DAY RUSSIA. FORMATION OF THE S.C.R.
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sm,—May we call your attention to the formation of a Society for Cultural Relations between the Peoples of the British Commonwealth and the U.S.S.R. ? During the greater part of last century a strong intellectual bond existed between the two countries, but the War and the Russian Revolution interrupted the intercourse which formerly existed, and since 1914 Russia has been practically cut off from the rest of the world. Great gaps have thus been left in its know- ledge of recent developments in science, art, literature, education and social life, and it is the hope of the society, acting in co-operation with other bodies, to renew cultural relations by arranging for the exchange of books and periodicals and the translation of articles, by organizing lectures and exhibitions, and through personal intercourse when eminent men and women visit either country. Various distinguished scientists and others have already agreed to co-operate with the society when opportunities for specific work in their own subjects arise.
In science Russia has much to contribute through the research work of Pavlov, Joffe, Bagh and other scientists, and Professor Lazarev, Director of the Moscow Physical Institute, and Professor Vladimirov, Director of the Institute of Experimental Medicine, are amongst the Russians supporting the society. Or again, there are those in this country who would appreciate the possibility of knowing more about the remarkable scientific expedition to the Kara Sea, and about the. discoveries made as regards the ancient civilization of Central Asia by the expeditions under Kosloff.
At the same time,- the -sufferings of war and famine and
the gigantic social upheaval of the Revolution have naturally produced effects in Russia which are showing themselves in poetry, music, painting, applied science and education, developments which cannot fail to be of interest to British fellow-workers in each sphere. Artists and writers would welcome information about the remarkable art collections to which expert care is being devoted according to the state- ments 'recently published by Sir Martin Conway, while interest has already been aroused in the " symbolist," " imagist," " futurist " and " proletarian " poets, and in the new theatres which have started since the Revolution.
Amongst those who have supported the formation of the
society • are Professor Lascelles Abercrombie, Lord Henry Bentinek, Rutland Boughton, Fred. Bramley, Dr. Dunstan, Havelock Ellis, E. M. Forster, Miss A. Ruth Fry, David Garnett, J. L. Garvin, Dr. G. P. Gooch, J. B. S. Haldane, J. A. Hobson, Professor J. T. Hobhouse, Julian S. Huxley, Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy, J. M. Keynes, Dr. Albert Mansbridge, A. G. Marshall, H. W. Massingham, Professor J. H. Muirhead, Professor T. Percy Nunn, J. L. Paton, Nigel Playfair, Bertrand Russell, G. Bernard Shaw, R. H. Tawney, Miss Sybil Thorndike, Mrs. Sidney Webb, H. G. Wells; Mrs. Virginia Woolf, Valery Brussov, Michael S. Farbmann, C. Iuon, Professor Kriloff, N. Minsky, Professor Soloviev, Alexey Tolstoy. The work of the society will be strictly cultural, and it is hoped to attract as members those who are interested in the past culture which has made the greatness of each nation, as well as those who desire knowledge of present-day developments of the life of thought and imagina- tion. In so doing we look forward to contributing to the international intercourse without which civilization cannot reach its highest expression.—We are, Sir, &c.,
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