1 JULY 1938, Page 23

[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR] SIR,—It was with great

interest that I read your article, " The Defence of Britain," in your issue of June 24th. I have not yet read Sir Edward Grigg's Britain Looks at Germany, but having worked on National Registration and recruiting during the last War and known the excellent and efficient scheme organised by Sir Auckland Geddes, I have felt for some time that it was most essential to get a National Register formed without delay as the first step towards National Service for the civil population. To wait until the need is compulsory would mean absolute chaos. Such a register, I imagine, could be compiled in each district to a great extent by voluntary workers.