Liberals at Cambridge It is a curious reflection of the
position of Liberalism in this country that its most successful institution is the Liberal Summer. School, which is held in Oxford or Cambridge every year. To observe Socialism or Conservatism at work one must go to Blackpool, Brighton or Bournemouth, and watch the Trades Union Congress or the annual party conferences taking decisions on immediate questions of the day ; the best opportunity for studying Liberalism in its present form is to be found by retiring to an academic fastness and listening to addresses and debates on general questions of politics. It is perhaps the result of Liberalism's ineffectiveness as a political force that the discussions reach so high a standard ; for they are marked by a freedom and detachment which might not be possible if Liberals were immediately concerned with forming or overthrowing Governments. Indeed, Liberals can be detached enough to listen even to their opponents and give opportunities to Dr. Akshagen to sing the praises of National Socialism, to Mr. Dobb to press the claims of Communism, and to Mr. Harold Nicolson to propound his own particular version of philanthropic Conservatism. Such tolerance would be surprising in any other party ; it is the essence of Liberalism, and forms for the moment Liberalism's most valuable contribution to political life and thought.
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