NOVEL CAMPAIGN

Evening Star, Issue 23350, 21 August 1939, Page 16

NOVEL CAMPAIGN

MOVE TO BANISH FEARS Newspapers, radio stations, great commercial houses, and large stores in Brussels are co-operating in a “ Be Optimistic ” campaign, urging the public, through posters, editorials, and special displays, to banish the spectre of international fear from their own homes. In the main streets of Brussels many ' shop windows disulav smiling photo- | graphs, captioned ‘Bo Optimistic.’ I The hig stores have started a new kind j of sale, not a spring sale or a white sale or a summer sale, but an “ Op- ■ tiniistic Sale.” Editorials in the Press

tell the public that there is no real reason for anyone to hoard money, that buying is an act of optimism or faith in peace; that to restrict purchases is to cause unemployment and to decrease tax receipts and so oblige the Government to impose new taxes. Since the Munich crisis the Belgian people have been inclined to let anxiety accompany them everywhere. This fact has had a depressing effect on economic and financial affairs, since the public has put off buying anything but absolute day-to-day necessities. ■ The Government and heads of business houses have made a number of appeals to the people to " remain '•aim,” but without much success. Now the powers of publicity, representing the commercial world, are combining in what might be termed a “ buy more hope ” campaign, and first reports bold out bones to harassed traders that the campaign is going to be a success and that trade will soon be on the mend.