SIR,—The strictures on Miss Rathbcne appearing in your correspondence columns
have aroused ming:ed dismay, indignation and amusement in my household. Ten years or so ago, when Hitler and the Germans were not so universally unpopular as they are now, Miss Rathbone was the guest speaker at the annual meeting of the local branch of the League of Nations' Union. Her speech was greeted with a storm of criticism from the Pacifists and from the folk who supported the Government at that time. Since the entry of Russia into the League of Nations our membership had declined; after Miss Rathbone's speech we lost more subscribers.
I remember that Miss Rathbone attacked Hitler and all his works, and pleaded for help for the refugees. She deplored the fact that Japan had been allowed to control Manchukuo, and she critic sed the action of popular newspapers in this country which had applauded Japan's flouting of the League. Finally, she commended to her audience the stand taken by Winston Churchill in the House of Commons at that time.
So I wonder at your correspondents who accuse Miss Rathbone of " never giving a thought to the victim," of being " unduly credulous," of being " deeply concerned about the agressor and indifferent to the suffering of the victims of that aggression." How many of your readers know that it took 3 good deal of moral courage to dare to criticise the " Appeasers" ten years ago? —Your truly,
CICELY M. HOWELLS.
21 Brookfield Avenue, Crosby, Liverpool, 23.
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