The passage of the Administration's Neutrality Bill, by the US, Senate, is one of the most signineant events which have taken place in a neutral country since the commencement of the and the majority by which it was done Inthe light of all that has happened, a Femarkably large one. The fulfilment of ihe hopes which have thus been created, that within Jo comparatively short while the Ailies will be lable to purchase considerable supplies from the [United States, must, however, awalt action by the House of Representatives, and it is possible that the measure will be as hotly and as Jengthily contested as it was in. the Senate Jeotore a final. vote is taken. At the moment there does' not appear to be much room for Jdoubt that the Bill will eventually be passed, Dbut surprises are, not unknown in American polities, and it would be as well to refrain from feounting chickens until they have been Jdoubtedly hatched. "What is gratifying 1s that [Germany appears to have assisted in the passage Jot the Bill through the Senate. German stories About the sinking of the Athenia were received inthe United States with complete disbelief, [The seizure of the City of Flint at a time when this "measure was before the Senate was psychologically wrong, and it is apparent that the Tonger the delay. in returning that vessel to ite proper ownership the greater will_in= Jdignation in the United States. be. That German reaction to the passage of the Bill through the Senate should be hostile went without saying. Berlin sees in the ultimate enactment of the measure the opening of U.S. resources to the Allies #0 long as they are able to pay for them, Fortunately the sums already lodged in JAmerica are substantial, and with the various factories proceeding with the fuliliment of their contracts, a considerable volume of war supplies should be available for shipment to Burope im= mediately the Bill becomes law. Untavourably fas Germany may regard this development, repeal of the arms embargo! was the only way Ju which the real neutrality of the United es could be emphasized. Ae the law sill stands the Allies are robbed of an advantage Which should be theirs owing to. their com= mand of the seas. It is consequently operating Jin Germany's favour and the sooner this 1s remedied the earlier will be the complete neutrality of the United States The British Council The Duke of Windsor, who was then Prince lot Wales, speaking at a meeting held at St. Sames's Palace in July, 1085, in connection with juke work of the newly-formed British Council for Relations with Oiher Countries, of which he was Patron, gave an outline of the objects which the Council had set out to achieve, "Of all the Great Powers," he observed, "Great Britain. was the last in the field in setting up a proper organization to spread a knowledge Jand appreciation of its language, literature, art, science, and education—that was to say, to lei [the world know. what it owed to British achievements in these spheres." Modern travelling facilities had done much to bring the peoples lof the world in closer contact with each other, but there' was still profound ignorance In many places of the British nation, its culture, customs land institutions. Yet all over the world more Jand more persons were keen to learn the Engish Tanguage and become acquainted with the jweatth of literature and earning that a know Hedge of English would make available to them. JOne of the many ways in which the British Couhell could" exert a beneficial influence abroad was, therefore, to encourage and assist foreign students of English. During the past four years the British Council. has steadily developed: its cultural relationships with other countries. Its. lecturers have spoken to audi~ Jences in many parts of the world on a large Jaumber of topies. It has encouraged and helped foreign students to come to study at British Universities, "It has made gifts of books Ubraries abroad. Parties of editors from a Jnumber of countries have visited the United [Kingdom as guests of the Council, Through the work of the Music Committee of the Council, many musicians abroad have learned for the IMrst time of the love of music of British people land the wealth of musical talent to be found jin Great Britain,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.