A SPECTATOR'S NOTEBOOK
POPULAR sentiment regarding the Festival of Britain is very difficult to gauge. The general impression is of something that is being imposed on the nation rather than desired by it. It is going to cost a lot of money that might well be used for other things. It is going to make London's almost dangerously congested traffic more congested still ; • the Com- missioner of Police has not sought to disguise his anxiety about that. It will, it is true, give London a new concert hall, which is all to the good ; but it would not have been impossible to have a concert hall without a Festival. It is not too easy to make people festive by order, or by official fiat. Mine may be a unique experience, but it is a simple fact that the only two people I have heard of who really want the Festival of Britain are Mr. Herbert Morrison and Mr. Gerald Barry. There may be others, but I should be surprised if they amounted to five•per cent of the population. However, since we are in for it now there, is nothing but to make the best of it. And if Londoners are not interested, no doubt a good many visitors will be.
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