THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE

White Ribbon, Volume 20, Issue 236, 18 February 1915, Page 3

THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE

For National Patriotic Organizations. lion. President, the Prime Minister; Vice-Presidents, The Right Hon. The Karl of Roseberry, K.G. ; Ihe Right Hon. Arthur Jame> Balfour, M.P. Chairman, Mr. 11. C. Cust. ViceChairman, Mr. G. W. P rot hero. lion. Treasurers, Ihe Right Hon. Viscount Ridley; Mr. Waldorf Astor, M.P. Hon. Secretaries, Mr. K. Russell Bullion; Mr. (100. K. Shoe. Secretary, Mr. A. J. Dawson. Telegrams, Cencomtee, London; Telephone, Regent, 5100. Canadian Pacific Building, 62, Char ing Cross, London, W.C. Communications should be addressed to the Secretary. The following passage reproduced from the leading article in “The Times” of Saturday, November Jist, iQU: “We direc t spec ial attention to the important appeal we publish to day from the Central Committee for National Patriotic Organizations. The Committee undertakes the task of explaining the reasons for tne war to our own people, and of laying before neutral countries a clear statement of the British case. The appeal i-> backed by the Prime Minister, Lord Rosebery, Mr Balfour, and others, and its objects are so urgent and imperative that we trust a generous response will be made.”

The following letter appeared in all the* most important newspapers of the l luted Kingdom on Saturday, Novcni her Ji-.t, Ic> 14. TO THK KDITOK,

Sir, At this time of grave national crisis, we trust that you will permit us to invite the co-operation of all your readers in the important work which has been initiated by the Central Committee for National Patriotic Organizations.

By the side of our Allies, the British Nation and the British Kmpire are at war with a most formidable enemy. Our cause is doubly a righteous and just one because’ we fight not alone in defence of our existenc e and freedom, but for the right of small nations to enjoy the same freedom ; and for civilization and democrat v, as we understand them. The enemy threatens to destroy these am. to substitute for them the rule and methods of a ruthless militarism,

In the la>t result, British public opinion max well prove to lie the deciding fa< tor in 1 h great struggle, (.iven steadfast and unwavering fortitude on the part of the whole British people, we believe the victory will be ours. But, c ome u hat may, there must

be no weakening, no wavering, no patched up truce that would expose our < hildren to a revival of the German menace, probably in circumstances far more terrible for the Km pire than those* which face u> today.

In view of its vital and fundamental importance, it is plain that thi-. great driving-power of public opinion must not be left to shift and vary as temperament and the* changing fortunes of war may dictate. Many useful educational agencies (most of which arcnow co-operating with the Ventral Committee) are at work in different ways upon the task of informing and fortifying this greatest of all national assets -public opinion. But whilst th>> educational work has been carried on strenuously in certain parts of the* country, there arc other distric ts where little or nothing his been done. The extension of the* work to every district of the* Cnited Kingdom is important and urgent, and the’ Central Committee was therefore brought into being by means of voluntary effort to assist, unify, and supplement the work of all organizations labouring for this end. Equally important i> the’ task of laying before neutral countries a c lear statement of the* British case; for the moral weight of neutral opinion will exert an ever-inc leasing influence on the’ issuer of the conflict. Germany, with that thoroughness which characterizes all her undertaking, is making strenuous efforts to influence the opinion of the' world in her favour. It is imperative that immediate steps should be taken to present the full evidence on which our case rests in order to enable neutral countries to arrive at an impartial judgmei t. With this end in view, the* Central Committee has proposed a far reaching s< heme for the* translation and dis tribution of suitable literature in these countries. We therefore appeal to men and women of good will to associate themselves with the Central Committee, and to make possible the fullest development of its work by contributing according to their means. In addition to this financial assistance, which is essential for the prosecution of jtj

work, the’ Central Committee will be grateful to those who c an help by ac t ing a> local hon. secretaries 111 different parts of the country, or by supplying the names and addresses of others who would be willing to work in this c apacity. Donations should be made payable to the Central Committee. All communications should be addressed to the- Secretary, The Central Committee, Canadian Pa< du Building, <»2, C hai mg Cross, London, W .(. from whom full information may be obtained. 11. 11. A SOUTH, Hon. President. ROSEBERY, A. J. BALE OCR, Vic e-Pre>idents. H. C. CUST, Chairman. G. \Y. PROTHKRO, Vice-Chairman. RIDLEY, WALDORF ASTOR, Hon. Treasurers.