EUROPEAN ACTIVITY FOR PROHIBITION.

White Ribbon, Volume 32, Issue 379, 18 February 1927, Page 1

EUROPEAN ACTIVITY FOR PROHIBITION.

(By Mark H. C. Hayler, Secretary World Prohibition Federation.) The Dry issue in Europe is a real thing. I have returned from a journey through eight countries in North Eastern Europe, in every one of which there is a direct battle proceeding against the Liquor Forces. As Mr Emil L. G. Hohenthal (European Commissioner, W.P.F.) rightly says, “The vigour with which the liquor interests are meeting every move of the Prohibitionists is proof positive of the fear that animates them.

1 left London for Ostend, via Dover, to attend the International Conference of the World Prohibition Federation (and the meetings of the Anti-Alcohol Congress) in Tartu, Estonia. In Belgium the work is not without much significance. The consumption of spirits is naif what it was before the War, w hereas in the old'n days a Belgian Minister once stat»*d that in spirits alone his people drank the value of all the canals, roads, railways, harbours, and fortresses which the State had constructed during its whole existence. There is a most useful propaganda being carried on to-day by the Catholic Total Abstinence Societies and a number of other bodice. To speak of Geruteny is to at once the monster petition which was supported by hundreds of thonsands of signatures demanding Local Prohibition. This w’as the biggest Petition ever presented to the Reichstag on any social question of any kind whatever. It speaks well

for the fine organising abilities ol the workers there. 1 learned through Dr. Reinhard Strecker that the International Record—the German edition of w’hich he supervises - is much valued and extensively culled from. One has to pass through a part of Poland to get into Lithuania which lies beyond Prussia. The Poles would seem to be developing their work slowly, due, doubtl ss to the still unsettled state of the country caused by internal and external enemies. The work of the Good Templars there has been much hampered of late, but generally speaking, there is a spirit of optimism among the various abstaining groups. The Stafe continues to think that Drink Revenue is a practical policy, but judging by similar experiments in other parts of the world, one does not see how Poland can escape the misery which follow's a state monopoly in vice.

In Lithuania there is a growing movement towards Local Prohibition. Already, I learn of 30 communes where the sale of alcoholic beverages has been suppressed, either as a result of a poll or by some other means. Them* is much to encouragement one in the prospects. Talking with Advocate Frindcnberg. 1 gathered that Latvia is concerning itself seriously with the alcohol question. This country, like the other Baltic States, has only in recent years regained its independence w'hich necessarily means much work of adjustment and re-organisa-tion. Nevertheless, though this w'ork js absorbing, the Temperance Question is being pushed by the more

ardent propagandists. The recently passed Local Option Law would seem not to be working very well, owing to its very limited scope, but the admission of the principle is recognised as a gain. One cannot arrive in Estonia without feeling that here there is leadership and organisation greatly developed. The fact that it was on the investigation of the Estonian Government, that the Anti-Alcohol Congress was called together in the University City of Tarty (Dorpal), is proof of the “live" workers in the country who are dcsirious of letting their people know’ the latest there is to be known on the Prohibition Question.

While at Dorpat, I attended also the First International Christian Abstinence Conference, presided over by Prof. John Fde (Craz), a most able and active worker on behalf of Total Abstinence In the Catholic Church, and one whose leadership of this movement will be available. Dr. Pde made a strong plea for this newly-formed body, so that the Total Abstainers in the w'orld churches of all denominations Protestant as well as Catholic, might be gathered together to fight the Drink because “the honour of God is at stake.” From Dorpat I travelled via Reval (Tallinn) to Finland as a fraternal delegate to the World Y.M.C.A. Congress, held in the beautiful City of Helsingfors. Here Mme. Weissenberg. W.C.T.U. (w'ho was herself a delegate to the Dorpat Conference) gave me much assistance. I was able to meet many people and make many connections. There is much to say about Prohibition in Finland. People

who think or are to think that Prohibition has been any kind of a failure in Finland, should consult the facts and figures of Kustaa Loikkanen, Editor of the “Kieltolakilehti” (Prohibition Gazette) who, as one of the Secretaries of the Finnish Prohibition League, has made a tine inquiry into the question. 1 met two delegates in Helsingfors who told me they had stayed at a Hotel which had been opened only a few days before their arrival in the City, after having been closed for a year, due to the violation of the Prohibition Law by the proprietor! That seems practical enforcement. Undoubtedly, the cooperative influence of neighbouring countries will help Finland against the liquor smuggler. One can readily see that Finland, being the land of a thousand lakes and as many islands, has a difficult task to tiack down all the smugglers.

The journey from Finland down the Gulf of Finland and Baltic Sea in beautiful weather brought me to Denmark, where I had the opportunity of meeting Mr Adolph Hansen th«* energetic Secretary of the Danish Temperance Society, the oldest in the country. A glance round Mr Han sen’s office, shows that a very petive propaganda is being pursued. S<nce the movement for Local Option began, one third of the public houses have been closed; that is, 1751 out of a total of 5,425. The number of dry communes has increased from 85 to 2IS, and public interest seems to be aroused on the Alcohol question. The general impression of a journey through North Eastern Europe is that there is a living movement making towards Prohibition, both local and national. IVrhaps the fact that the liquor forces were never more alert is some good proof that our propaganda is making headway. The London Office of the World Prohibition Federation continues to keep in close touch with the workers throughout the continent, and one has found it most profitable to personally talk with the European leaders who, especially in some countries, shoulder heavy burdens of responsibility yet pushing joyfully on towards the mark of their high calling. So world wide has our cause become, that nations are feeling the need for international co-operation

which I venture to think is one of the big pieces of work which lies ahead of us. The Liquor forces know no frontiers. They cell their liquors anywhere and to anybody. It is up to the Prohibitionist to be bigvisioned in ilia missionary enterprises. The Prohibition trail has become a path, and soon the path will become a highway along wi.ich Humanity may pass through a Drink-freed world. World Office, 99 Buckingham Palace Hoad, Dec., 1926. London, S.W.I.