LONDON LETTER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 244, 15 October 1935, Page 13

LONDON LETTER.

PARTY TROUBLES. EMPIRE DEFENCE. RIVAL TO HOLLYWOOD. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, September 20. The problems raised by the League of Nations deliberations 011 the ItaloAbyssinian dispute are causing serious concern to those Socialists who were hoping for substantial gains at the next election. For they have disclosed a fundamental disunity in the party's foreign policy. The "ollieial" policy is one of wholehearted support of the League of Nations, with the use of sanctions against an aggressor. But the leader of the party, Mr. George Lansbtiry, refuses to countenance sanctions. A convinced pacifist, he opposes all use of armed force. He has a small but influential following in the rank and file, and feels so strongly 011 the question that he lias offered to resign his leadership. So far his colleagues have rejected the offer. Yet another group in the party, that • e.d by Sir Stafford Cripps, is opposed to sanctions for another reason. Sir Stafford dislikes the League, which he regards as a bulwark of Imperialism. He seeks a world-wide Socialist revolution, with the pooling of all colonial resources. Opposing Gospels. There is a similar split on defence policy. Most members of the party recognise the need, in present world conditions, of adequate defence forces. But Mr. Lansbury and his pacifist group would abolish all defences —unilaterally if abolition cannot be achieved universally. In view of such divergent policies— and there are several variations* 011 the attitudes summarised above —it is not surprising that Socialist organisers are feeling concerned. 'It seems pretty certain that foreign affairs and the problems of defence will play a prominent part in the election. With its leaders preaching opposing gospels the Socialist party will be seriously handicapped in its endeavour to win the support of voters. Demand For Bigger Forces. Conservatives, too, are taking a great interest in National and Imperial defence and the subject is likely to be prominent at the party conference next month. Several resolutions urging the Government to make good the accumulated deficiencies in the defence services are on the agenda. It is expected that demand for stronger forcos will be unanimous. Now that the India Bill is on the Statute Book, no serious controversies are likely. Indeed, tlie mood of all Conservatives now is towards the forgetting of past differences and the closing of the ranks in preparation for the coming campaign. Signs of Recovery. Further indication that the worst of tho depression is over is provided by the increase in Atlantic passenger traffic. The shipping companies report that this has been their best year since 1929. The improvement has been worked in both directions. More United Kingdom passengers have gone to Canada and the United States and more Canadians and Americans have come to Europe. Just now the movement is all from cast to west. I am told that it is almost impossible to secure a cabin on a.ll American bound boat except by booking some weeks ahead. And already passengers are booking passages in advance for next year. British Films Booming. London is rapidly becoming a serious rival to Hollywood as a film centre. Every week one hears of new studios opened, of new "super films" planned, of more big American stars crossing the Atlantic. Already the metropolis is ringed with studios—Elstree, Welwyn, Denham, Shepherds Bush, Twickenham to mention but a few. And more and more big producers and directors are turning their attention to Britain. Much of»the credit for putting London 011 the film map is due to Alexander Korda, tho Hungarian founder and head of London Film Productions. It was his "Henry VIII." which started the present boom in British pictures. "St. Joan" on the Screen. Now, I sec, Mr. Korda is prophesying that in two or three years London will bo as important as Hollywood in the film world. There are ample facts to support his claim. Jesse L. Lasky, who recently formed a new producing organisation with Mary Pickford, has just arrived in London with plans for three pictures. David Selznick (producer of "David- Copperfield") and Sidney Kent, head of Twentieth Century-Fox Films, are also proposing to make pictures here. The latter, indeed, is .planning to spend £1,000,000 a year. His pictures will sepuro world presentation through 000 cinemas controlled by his organisation claimed to be the biggest film market ever offered to a producer. The first will bo Bernard Shaw's "St. Joan," with Elisabeth Bergner in the title role. New Barrie Play. ■Mention of Miss Bergner—one of the most captivating actresses London has seen for years—reminds me of the excitement aroused in theatrical circles by the news that slic will be appearing here about Christmas time in a new play specially written for lier by Sir James Barrie. Tliis will be Barrie's first full-length play since "Mary Rose," produced in 1920. Nothing is known about it—for Barrio has sworn all who have seen the script to secrecy —except two.facts: Mi. C B. Cochran, who is producing it, is looking for a boy actor aged between 12 and 14, and Miss Bergner is ecstatic about it. „ . "Barrie didn't write that play, she said in a hushed,, reverent voice, after reading it, "God wrote it. The College Policemen. London has acquired a new sport— "spotting the college policemen." The first batch of 31 "undergraduates' of Lord Trenchard's new police college at Hendon have this week started their practical training. 'They have been attached to various metropolitan police stations and will spend four months on ordinary constabulary duty before going on to detective and administrative work. At the end of. a year's practical training the young men, who will have obtained inside knowledge' of every aspect of police work, will embark 011 their active police careers as sub-station inspectors. If the scheme proves as successful as Lord Trenchard hopes, they will have opportunity of promotion to the highest posts —even to that of Chief Commissioner. .