16 APRIL 1948, Page 17

CHRISTIANS AND WESTERN UNION

SIR,—A campaign to rally Christians to positive action in support of the Union of Western Europe in order that it may be directed along Christian lines, and to encourage them, individually and through their organisa- tions, to give spiritual energy and courage to the peoples of the world to face their present difficulties, is being inaugurated by means of a public meeting to be held in the Albert Hall on Sunday, April 25th, at 7.30 p.m. Lord Halifax will be in the chair, and among the other speakers will be Sir Stafford Cripps, the Chancellor of the Exchequer ; Miss Florence Hancock, chairman of the T.U.C. ; Mr. Richard O'Sullivan, K.C., and lay representatives, both Catholic and Protestant, from the countries of Western Europe. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Cardinal Arch- bishop of Westminster and the Moderator of the Free Church Council will be among those in support on the platform. The demonstration is not meant to be " just another meeting " of Church people leading to no positive action. It is inspired and sponsored very largely by lay people, young and old, some of whom are prominent in the religious and secular life of the country, and it is intended to be only a further step in building up throughout the land powerful nuclei of Christians responsible and