[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Mr. St. Loe Strachey's
extremely interesting article in last week's Spectator, suggesting a fitting memorial to the late Dr. W. H. Page, American Ambassador at the Court of St. James's, is very timely. On December 7th the Central
Committee of the English-Speaking Union (British Branch) unanimously decided to make an appeal to its friends and supporters to provide sufficient funds to erect a tablet testify. ing to the great services rendered by Dr. Page to the British Commonwealth and to humanity during the War, and to his never-failing sympathy with the cause of promoting friendship
between the English-speaking peoples—a cause which the Spectator has so splendidly and so consistently worked for.
Mr. Sydney Brooks, who was a close personal friend of Dr. Page's, has also felt for some time that London should
have some lasting memorial to his memory, and in the January issue of the Landmark, the monthly magazine of the English- Speaking Union, he makes an eloquent plea for immediate
action :—
" It is four years since Walter Page, his health shattered by his labours for the two countries that he regarded as the main pillars of civilization, returned home to die. Only now, since his letters began to be published, is it dawning on our people how much we owe him, and how tine a man, and how firm a friend, lived in our midst. It seems to me a reproach to the nation and its sense of gratitude that there should be no public memorial of any kind of his Ambassadorship, nothing to mark the fact that Walter Page, in a memorable crisis, served his country and ours, and civilization itself, with passionate good will and resounding efficacy. Fate made him a determining actor in one of the greatest events of history. He played his part with a noble competence, and to the everlasting benefit of Great Britain and America, and of all they have and should have in common. It is not seemly that services and a spirit so splendid as his should remain uneomrnemorated on the scene of his labours and his triumph."
Everyone will assuredly agree with you that there is only one place for a memorial tablet to this great worker for the cause of English-speaking co-operation, and that is in West-
minster Abbey, and it is to be hoped that the Dean and Chapter will be of a like opinion. The Committee also feels that a tablet on the house in Grosvenor Square occupied by Dr. Page during the War would be another suitable way of perpetuating his memory in London. The form of the memorial, its location and the allocation of any surplus funds fo some purpose furthering the cause of British-American friendship are all matters which will be dependent on the amount forthcoming. • The Committee of the English-Speaking Union intends to
publish each month in the Landmark a list of the contributions received, and if the Spectator would lend its powerful help to the appeal and print a weekly list of donations received, we should be very grateful. Whether the memorial is erected in Westminster Abbey or elsewhere the Committee of the English-Speaking Union proposes to inaugurate the appeal
forthwith. All contributions should be sent to the English- Speaking Union Page Memorial Fund, Trafalgar Buildings, 1 Charing Cross, London, W.C. 2, and cheques should be crossed Messrs. Coutts and Company.
- The Committee of the English-Speaking Union will welcome the help of any other organizations desiring to assist in making the memorial to Dr. Page a worthy one and expressive of the feelings with which he was regarded in this country. Audited accounts will, of course, be furnished in due course to all subscribers.—I am, Sir, &e.,
ALFRED E. Jonas, Executive Secretary.
[We are delighted to hear of the action taken by the English-Speaking Union, and will gladly acknowledge in the Spectator any subscriptions for this purpose, whether sent to us or to the English-Speaking Union.—En. Spectator.]
Previous page
