26 JUNE 1947, Page 5

A Basic English Foundation has been created, according to the

Minister of Education, "to propagate the teaching and study of Basic English as an international and educational medium and there- by to increase the knowledge of English among mankind." A grant- in-aid of some £18,600 is to be given by the Government to the Foundation. The sum of £23,000 has already been paid by the Government to the inventors (if that is the right word) of Basic English for his copyrights. I have nothing to say against Basic English as such, but this official endowment of it is a strange business Further light on the subject seems called for.