EMPIRE SOCIETY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 8, 10 July 1939, Page 18

EMPIRE SOCIETY

ANNUAL MEETING HELD

(By Afr MaiP, from "The Post's" London Representative.) LONDON, May 25. The closer co-operation now existing between tho Roy^l Empire Society and the Victoria League and the Overseas League was referred to by Sir Frederick Sykes, chairman of the council of the society, at the annual meeting. "There is," he said, "an arrangement whereby these and other institutions combine for the entertainment of distinguished people under arrangements made by us. In the same way Fellows of the society may receive invitations to certain social eventas arranged by the other two institutions. "On occasions we also combine with such bodies as the Royal African Society and the East India Association, the Dominions and colonies section of the Royal Society of Arts, and the' School Empire-tour Committee. It has also recently been arranged that, as a I further measure of co-operation, the' chairman of the council of the society will sit on the 'executive committee of the Victoria League, and vice versa. Apart from this, all the recognised Empire societies are now holding a series of joint „ meetings at the Dominions Office. "I must also mention the Empire Day movement, of which Lord Bledisloe is president, and which is associate* with us. Whenever the opportunity offers we are anxious to help the Empire Day movement in its work of spreading the spirit and knowledge of Empire in schools." Sir Frederick also referred to the j formation of a' new committee to de- j velop the more active side of the j society's education and cultural work, both in London and throughout Britain, to extend the knowledge of the Empire and its aims and ideals. Among the j duties of this committee will be the, initiation of lecture programmes,, both in the society's building in London, in schools and colleges, and also the organisation of the Empire Summer School, which Sir Frederick is anxious to see revived. "I regard this side of the society's work as being of the utmost importance, and I hope the committee will begin its work before long," he said. "I think it is impossible to overstress the value of disseminating knowledge about the Empire and its economic and political problems. Anyone who examines the history and other textbooks used in our schools today will be struck by the disproportionately small space given to the Empire. One of our chief objects is to dispel this ignorance and apathy by every means in our power."