LORD BEAVERBROOK'S QUERIES [To the Editoi of THE SPECTATOR.] Sin,—When
Lord Beaverbrook. requested me to tell him me views on Isolationism or the League I sat down furl lin-411 and explained exactly why, in my opinion , Isolationism:woo d result t in the destruction of the British Empire. So I uncicrstand did six,-sevenths of the clergymen, a majority of the journalists, six-tenths of the solicitors and half the doctors who answered the letter. Presumably they have all received, as, did today,. a letter thanking them for their trouble and reiterating the noble Lord's opposition to the. League of. Nations " in the interests of the. British Empire."
From the figures as given by Janus in his entirely delightful " Notebook," the medical profession' would appear to be guilty of Isolationism to a much greater extent than any of the other professions. As one member of this discredited pro- fession who voted for the League I would venture a word of
defence. •
My professional brethren are accustomed to a large daily budget of circulars advertising drugs, patent foods, beverages, and'a host of other things, •and few do more than glance at the noble before consigning them to the waste-paper basket, sonic in fact, discard all " halfpennies " unopened. Naturally my first impulse on seeing the words Daily Express at. the top of the letter was to discard it as an advertisement. Only by chance I read a sentence or two and perceived my error.'
The other professions mentioned above doubtless receive circulars in large or small amount, but they have much more inducement to spend more time on their consideration. It is a safe assumption that a lower proportion of doctors responded to Lord Beaverbrook's request than did in any of the other professions.
Isolationism may, I take it, be considered an unorthodox doctrine if the smallness of Lord Beaverbrook's following in Parliament is any guide. Minorities are notoriously vociferous out of proportion to their size, and an Isolationist doctor, who probably reads the Daily Express, would be much more inclined to read the letter and having read it to answer it than a doctor who supports the League. I suspect that the propor- tion of Isolationist replies to the number of requests sent out would show little variation among the various professions mentioned. Only Lord Beavcrbrook can tell.—Yours
faithfully, DOUGLAS GORDON, M.B., Ch.B.
Hon. Treisurer, Richmond Branch, L.N.U. 26 Friars Stile Road, Richmond, Surrey.
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