THE NATIONAL PEACE BALLOT [To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—The Peace Ballot has been a great success. Millions have answered the questions, and to enable themselves to do so have given serious thought to the subject. Indeed, the interest excited among the masses of the people has been most remarkable.
Local organization has been provided in each constituency by many thousands of devoted volunteers and by local funds: But there remains the expenses of the central office, mainly for the cost of printing many millions of ballot papers and ex-
planatory documents. Our liabilities should not exceed £12,000, and I hope to keep them down to £11,000, which is a small figure both in relation to the immensity of the work and the value of the results. Towards this sum we have already received about £5,600 in sums of money from 2s. 6d. up to £500 and more.
It is, however, a matter of some anxiety to secure the
balance within the next few weeks. We are precluded from appealing to the localities which have already taken on a heavy local liability. Nothing could be less spectacular than an appeal for central expense§ to meet printing bills and clerical expenditure, yet nothing is more necessary. May I express the hope that your readers will help to provide the balance ? Putting aside criticism of details, will any candid person deny that the Peace Ballot is by far the most effective means for waking public opinion which has yet been devised ? I believe that this Fund has a strong claim on the generosity of all those who believe that the success of the League of Nations or any other organized system of peace must rest on the support of instructed public opinion.
Donations should be sent to Viscount Cecil, 15 Grosvenor
Crescent, S.W.1.—Yours faithfully, CECIL.
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