13 DECEMBER 1957, Page 8

r AM GLAD to hear that the centenary of Conrad's

birth, about which I wrote a week or two ago, is not passing uncommemorated by the British authorities. An exhibition of books and photo- graphs has been sent out to Poland, which will be shown in Warsaw and Krakow, and the British Council is also sponsoring the visit of two British Conradists who will deliver lectures. All this shows that the intentions of the British Council are admirable, but that, by comparison with many similar foreign organisations, they dispose of far too little money. It is on occasions like this that our national distrust of literature and the arts makes us appear a trifle shabby.