[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR, —Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, in
his artiele on this subject, says : "There is one part of Mr. Murray Allison's proposal that seems non-essential, but is really essential. The influence must be international. It is not enough that our own people should know and should trust ; other nations must do so, too, and the assurance that they are doing so must be part of our confidence in the League of Nations."
That" the influence must be international would probably not be disputed by any supporter of the League ; but I Should like to point out that the influence is as yet by no means international, even amongst our own people. Having travelled extensively on South and East Africa, I was met in many parts by an extremely keen desire to know more about the League of Nations ; in other rather remote parts with almost complete ignorance of its aims and achievements, coupled with a willingness for information ; and in nearly every in- stance with great lack of facilities for gaining knowledge.
In any new country there must obviously be a lack of speakers, of a rapid and plentiful supply of literature, and of a news service which, by its acquaintance with local problems and League activities, can link up many of the Geneva ideals with their application to countries such as those I have men- tioned—and thus stimulate a preliminary interest in this great international experiment towards co-operation and social justice.
These facts point to the immediate need for what might be described as "a popular advertisement service" concerning the work of the League of Nations, appropriately selected and circulated to the leading newspapers of Africa, and probably other parts of the Empire.
"We didn't know there really is a Slavery Convention, and that the League as well as the missionaries or governments care about native welfare, and questions of health in tropical countries, and all those other things you have been telling us about within and outside Europe."
These are remarks which are constantly made to a speaker in Africa, and probably in most of our other Colonies. Their meaning is perfectly clear—there is something lacking in the League news service as it stands ; some more intimate method of contact—and it seems chiefly to await the thought and active co-operation of a small committee of persons who are interested in the subject of the League of Nations and the Empire, quite apart from the still bigger subject of com- plete international publicity.—I am, Sir, &c.,
N. E. ROBERTS.
Champions, Limpsfield, Surrey.
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