There are still, no doubt, worthy people who feel that
they are making a personal-contribution to the work of international peace by a visit to Geneva when the League of Nations Assembly is in session. Not personal satisfaction, however, but knowledge and understanding, is the first essential, and that is why all workers for peace should spare half an hour or so to read Geneva 1928—the annual account of the Assembly published by the League of Nations Union (9d.). The author, Mr. H. Wilson Harris, needs no introduction to Spectator readers. We will only say that we would not have thought it possible to convey the atmosphere of Geneva last September by the written word. (The reviewer was there himself and claims, therefore, to speak with some authority.) Mr. Wilson Harris has worked this miracle, however, while recording a mass of interesting detail on every side of the League's activities. There are personal sketches, impressions of the most cogent speeches, both in committee and in plenary sessions—with appropriate quotations, a clear exposition of the technicalities of Council elections, with a regret—which we share—that Latin-American voting strength should have foiled the attempt by the Powers to give Nationalist China a practical demonstration of their good will, and a chapter on the League and law which makes a valuable addition to the usual survey.
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