5 JANUARY 1929, Page 18

The League of Nations

The Character of Sir Eric Drummond

So retiring a man as the Secretary-General to the League of Nations is a difficult subject for the journalist. As a rule, the bigger the man the, easier he is to draw—Sir Eric Drum l. mond is an exception. Signor Mussolini, whether in imposing or genial mood, has a journalistic flair for the kind of material which his brother of the craft is seeking. Sir Eric, on the contrary, leaves one baffled. Yet something should be written,, about the man who, more than any other single individual, is shaping the desires and destinies ornation,s towards peace. He will not say anything startling about himself, or about anyone else, and his name very rarely appears on the chief page of the newspapers ; none the less I believe that among those who take any interest in foreign affairs his importance is at least equal to that of any Prime Minister or President. Will the League do this or that, we ask ourselves ? We do not ask ourselves how Sir Eric will act, for we know that he has suc- ceeded in identifying himself so completely with the League that his attitude on every question, whether we agree with it or not, will be impersonal and international. His influence is often unseen, but it is all-pervasive and practically speaking indispensable at the present moment.