APA—The New International Society
THE readers of the Spectator will need no reminder that this journal is second to none in its enthusiasm for the cause of international co-operation and in its active support of all those organizations that are seeking to remove the misunderstanding which still hampers the peoples of the world in their dealings with one another. We have for a considerable time devoted space week by week to the progress of the League of Nations at Geneva, holding, as we do, that its growing influence year by year is one of the most hopeful world phenomena at the present time.
We are, therefore, particularly glad to have the opportunity of telling our readers of a new organization which has been established to draw together in the bond of comradeship the peoples of the world and to remove prejudice and misunderstanding between nations. The new organization is called All Peoples' Association, or APA for short (the shortened title is pronounced with the accent on the first syllable to rhyme with the word " Java"). The new society recognizes no distinction of race, class, creed, colour, or political party, and membership is open to all peoples. It will co-operate with every organization which aims at promoting world friendship and international co-operation.
The new movement has no political objective in the narrow sense. It is not connected with the League of Nations, nor does it seek alliances between national States. It has no connexion with Governments and has no hidden purpose. Its promoters take pains to point out that membership does not conflict with a citizen's duties and allegiance to his own country, for it is recognized that each man must be a good citizen of the land of his birth before he can become a useful member of a world organization. APA does not seek to spread the culture of any sub-section of the human race, British, French, German, or American ; it is for neither those Latins nor those Anglo-Saxons who may desire to impose their will upon the rest of the world, nor does it advocate the use of any one language.
All Peoples' Association seeks to make the peoples of the world better known to one another by - personal contact, by printed word, by wireless, by correspondence, by the interchange of university professors, students and journalists; and by making the foreigner feel at home wherever he may be. Granted adequate financial support, which there is every reason to believe will be forth- coming, the committee of APA has drawn up an ambitious programme. It is proposed to publish a magazine in English, French, German and , Spanish. International affairs will be , discussed in the pages of the proposed magazine in straightforward language, as simply as possible, so that the, man-in-the-street can take an interest in them. The promoters are of the opinion that one of the difficulties of stimulating interest in international affairs in all countries in the past has been due to the fact that a whole new language of technical terms has arisen at Geneva, The Hague and elsewhere. The result is that the ordinary mortal has been bewildered by the frequent reiteration by experts of such terms as optants, protocol, sanctions, and so forth.
The new society hopes in the course of time to establish branches in every country in the world under the direction of local national committees of an entirely non-party and non-sectarian nature. The national 'societies in each country will, of course, be entirely independent, but will work on parallel lines to those of the British and other organizations. APA's magazine will be under the control of an international editorial board and eventually a contributing editor will be appointed in each country. The British branch of APA, subject to adequate financial support, will establish in London permanent quarters in the nature of an international club and international information bureau where the visitor from abroad will be made to feel at home.
The creed of the new society is : " Believing that ignorance of the aims and aspirations of other nations is at the base of much international misunderstanding we pledge ourselves—provided that by so doing we are not asked to do anything conflicting with our duties as loyal citizens of the country of our birth or adoption—to promote by every means in our power a good understanding between the peoples of the world," and the motto is : " World Service."
. Membership has been fixed intentionally at the low fee at 10s. per annum, and all nationalities are eligible. The editor of the Spectator has consented to act as honorary secretary of the new movement, and all readers of the Spectator who are interested in the scheme and ready to help it either by joining or by enrolling their friends or by financial assistance are asked to communicate with him at the following address, . All Peoples' Association, 99 Gower Street. London. .W.C. 1.
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