Beaver Letters Bring Results ! Following a letter in the last issue of Beaver, the Staff Student Committee is to consider the idea of instituting an Adviser to foreign students at the School. The letter suggested that, as students from abroad were often unaware of the subtleties of the British university system, and of the ways in which it differed from their own systems. It suggested that a member of the staff should be made responsible for advising foreign students, and this suggestion has been approved by the Student Side of the Staff-Student Committee, who have asked for a meeting of the full Committee to discuss the matter. NEWSPAPER OF THE STUDENTS' UNION NOVEMBER 10th, 1960 THREEPENCE iriiH Llar 1 ^ m)imo AND iC SCIE LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS & POLITICAL SCIENCE - UNIVERSITY OF LONDON Wedgewood Benn on British Politics 'We are on the eve of great political changes in Britain' claimed Mr. Antony Wedge-wood-Benn at a Labour Polit-cal meeting on Thursday, November 3rd. Over 350 students, members of all parties, packed Room 2 to hear his talk. The World of the Daily Sketch Stating that he did not intend to be drawn into a discussion of the state of the Labour Party, Mr. Wedge-wood-Benn plunged into a satirical attack on what he called the 'world of the Daily Sketch'. 'Could the Tories really claim', he asked, 'that we have never had it so good, and will go cn having it so good?' The problems of disarmament, housing and overpopulation were becoming graver. If Tory foreign policy was not radically changed, he argued, Algeria would become the Korea of the Mediterranean. To keep peace at the Waterholes Instead of sending our lads out to Aden to keep the peace among the natives, their intellectual abilities should be directed towards a 'detente' between Russia and the United States. Only then could we truly hope for peace. Power in Democracy Every student, he said, ought to belong to a well organised political party. The Liberals, he felt were not yet ready to solve the problems 'Thrown up by modern society'. Turning to the problem of power within a democracy, Mr. Benn recalled the way in which two men had been able to kill off the News Chronicle. He contrasted the ease with which this was done with the safeguards against arbitrary action by a pub-lically owned monopoly. British Railways had to hold a public inquiry before they could close a branch line which did nothing but carry 'four commuters in their Bowler hats to and from the City'. SMALL MEN WANTED An appeal for small men has been made by the Boat Club, who need them for coxing their boats. The Club has a splendid record, and the committee is appealing for support from suitable coxs, so that the Club will not be handicapped this session. BUDGET CRISIS W. E. SCHOOL The Weekend School, to be held on the weekend of 25th-27th November, will centre round the topic of 'Education.' Two M.P.'s, a conservative and a Socialist, will speak in a debate, with Mr. Chapman representing the Liberals. A symposium on the subject 'What is wrong with British Education?' will be led by Dr. Tropp from the School and by Dr. Vasey from the Institute of Eductation and Dr. Halsey of the Department of Education at Birmingham University. Booking for places is now open, and tickets are available from the Union Office or from Jack Martin, who can be contacted through the pigeon holes. Union Throws Out New Budget bj Beaver Stajf At a packed meeting of Union last Friday the Budget prepared for the coming financial year was rejected by a decisive majority. The motion to reject the Budget was proposed by Brian Roper, lanky president of the Film Society, who was granted urgency for the purpose, after a number of objections and points of order. Mr. Roper spoke for almost an hour. He itemised the demands of various societies for more money — sums which amounted to almost £200. Arguing that 'we are a tion in NUS and other ex-poor Union', he said that the ternal affairs. 'bread and butter' of subsidies to societies ought to be given priority in the Budget over the 'frills' of participa- A Woman for Sale By Beaver Reporter Liberal Society announces that they are holding a raffle —for a woman. Barry Turner, Chairman of the Society, told Beaver reporters that the first prize will be lovely 20-year-old Pamela Suddaby, and two tickets for the Commemoration Ball on December 2 with dinner before-hand. Pamela, at the moment unattached— and judging from her photo this situation will be remedied before long—is a second year pharmacy student from Hull, E. Yorkshire, and is, I assure you, very charming company. Don't be dismayed if you've already been hooked for the Commemoration Ball; should the winner elect, two Commemoration Ball tickets or two theatre tickets will be substituted, but without dinner and without Pam. Tickets are on sale now, and the price is one shilling, available from Margaret Pritchard or from the Liberal Society bookstall on Tuesdays. He admitted that the total of the Budget could not be increased, and noted that Income for the year included a transfer of £200 from the General Reserve. He went on to suggest ways in which the amounts budgeted lor other union activities could be cut. His main targets for attack were Hospitality, Administrative Expenses, and Reserves. In the debate that followed every speaker from the floor defended the motion. Brian Morgan Edwards, formerly a member of the Council, agreed that the Budget was unsatisfactory, but pointed out that the detailed allocation of money within the Budget is the responsibility of the Senior Treasurer. A great burst of applause greeted the suggestion, from Ken Jordan, that the Union fee be raised from the present level of £1 Is. He pointed out that this was one of the lowest fees in the country. Treasurer's Reply Akil Marfatia, defending his budget, pointed out that Union societies obtained many benefits under other sections of the Budget, and that the general shape of the allocations was decided by Union decisions. It would not be honest of a Senior Treasurer, he said, to present a Budget at the beginning of the year which would win popularity then, but have to be augmented by supplementary budgets later. The motion, however, was carried by 133 votes to 16, with 9 abstentions, and the House immediately adjourned. Union President Eddie Lock estimated on Friday night that it would take at least two weeks to prepare a new budget and present it. Akil Marfatia, Senior Treasurer, who 'presented the Budget to Union. NUS OBSERVERS ELECTED At a special meeting of the Union last Wednesday Sally Aubin and Ranjit Khosta were elected as LSE delegates to the National Union of Students. An election had been held at the Union meeting held the previous Friday, but this was declared void after a number of irregularities were discovered. Criticisms made of the voting at the first meeting were, firstly, that it was possible for non-members of the union to have voted, and secondly, that there was no check to prevent people from voting more than once. A further difficulty was that the responsibility for the, election was shared between three people. One was Tony Meaden, who as General Secretary was appointed Returning Officer. But when he resigned as General Secretary, which he did a fortnight ago, he ceased also to be Returning Officer. Acting General Secretary Roger Heeler then became Returning Officer, but he was not present when the dispute over the election arose, and the matter had to be decided by the President, Eddie Lock. John Vingoe, a member of the Union Entertainment Committee, pointed out that the Constitution, in Section VI. Clause 6, requires that the Returning Officer 'Shall have sole control of, and sole responsibility for, the conduct of the elections'. At Wednesday's meeting, the election was held in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and by secret ballot. 2 BEAVER 10th November, 1960 The whole of this page has been devoted to reader's letters, following the intense interest aroused by our last issue. SSeaver No. 3 STAFF LIST Editor: Don Esslemont Ch. Sub ; Mass Niida News : Mado Demozay Arts : Alastair MacAuley Features : Paul Buteux Sports : Richard Stevenson Pictures : Peter Salathiel Manager : Mike Keenoy Secretary : Anne Stone THE BUDGET The decision in Union last Friday to reject the Budget approved by Council will have come as a shock to many members. It has not happened, as far as we are aware, for many years. Our own feeling is that the Budget, as it was presented, was a reasonable attempt to provide an answer to the insoluble problem of satisfying everybody, when there simply is not enough money available to do this. But there is no doubt that the feeling in the Union is overwhelmingly in favour of a larger share of our resources going directly to the Societies. It must be maddening for the hard-pressed Treasurer or Secretary, at his wit's end for a few more pounds, to see many hundreds of pounds being spent on apparently bureaucratic activities. But is it jihst those activities which benefit all members of Union. Money granted to Societies, in most cases, benefits only the minority who participate directly in the activities of the Society. BEAVER 'Beaver' has been in the news. Last week the 'Evening Standard' student supplement carried a report that two members of our staff had resigned, following an editorial disagreement. One was Andrew de Boltho, who announced at the beginning of the term that he wished to give up his job on 'Beaver'. The other was Simon Klinger, a fresher who had offered to organise a publicity campaign for the paper. He resigned because a story he had written for was not printed. It was not suitable. These are the facts. Library Fines A Suggestion the strict spiritual allegiance due from them to the Almighty and go on waiting for the Messiah—a lamentable view, I admit, but it has to be conceded. And others, and I guess the majority, will continue to harbour their vague notions about their belonging to a Jewish community not to be clearly defined in terms of race, nation, religion or culture—yet still a very much acute notion nonetheless. Not everything which cannot be streamlined into a slick definition does not necessarily exist. It was once said about an Anglican prelate of old, who said he would tolerate the non-conformists if they would only conform a bit more to the rules of the Established Church. The hard fact of tolerance (and tolerance is a difficult creed indeed) is that you simply have to accept people as they are in our plural society, and not try to level them down to your own definitions. It is of no use crying havoc when they don't agree to be fitted into your straitjacket. Yours faithfully, Shlomo Avineri. li Thirdly, the editorial is a superb example of "doublethink". You write "men . . . seem incapable of accepting responsibility for their failures"; yet this is precisely what you are doing in airily proposing facile armchair solutions to a difficult and complex problem. In short, a practical solution is required, rather than a spuriously attractive piece of theorising. It is high time that this was realised, and the problem tackled seriously. I remain, Yours, Ian Elstein, Chairman. Rugby Dear Sir, In reply to Mr. Reardon's gross misrepresentation of the facts concerning the Rugby Club's attitude to a boycott of the Springbok's tour, we would like to ask him if he stipulates that the vast royalties received from the sale of his record being played in South Africa are automatically transferred to the Treason Trial Fund ? Also we wonder if he would sever contacts with a record company which employed any white South Africans? The answer given by the 'Rugby Club' was in NO sense an official statement; unlike 'Beaver' the Rugby Club does not attempt to foist any 'opinions' on its adherents. Therefore, we deny with the utmost vehemence the implication that the Rugby Club is a hotbed of rabid segrega-tionalists. On the contrary, many are conducting their own personal boycott. Yours, more in sorrow than in anger, Alan W. Thomas. Dear Sir, I am in favour in principle, of any measures taken by the library to ensure the prompt return of books. Even so, I consider the present measures far too drastic. Surely 7/6d. is too high a price to pay for one week's forgetfulness. What would happen if someone refused to pay ? Probably he would be denied the use of the library facilities. If, however, everyone refuses to pay these excessive charges, perhaps this unreasonable scheme will be stopped. I certainly hope so. Yours, Werner Kapp. Dear Sir, Hasn't your note on Assimilation in your last issue gone a bit too far? You say: ". . . if they (the Jews) are willing to become a religious minority on the lines of a non-conformist sect, there would be no more bad feeling towards them than there is towards Methodists or Con-gregationalists". Now this seems remarkable indeed. First of all the Jews are not one more Christian non-conformist sect any more than they are—or conceivably could be—Buddhist or a Tao-ist sect. They probably would never agree to become anything like a sect at all—since with all due regard to the sectarians of all shades and colours, the Jewish history is far richer, and their heritage and contribution to Western civilisation far more profound than that of a mere sect. But this is beside the main point. What you really suggest in so many words is, that if, and only if, the Jews would cease to be whatever they at present are, then, and only then, will there be no more "bad feeling" against them. "Bad feeling" is a really mild word indeed, but if I correctly understand the implication, you reduce tolerance to meaning tolerating the other fellow not as he really is, but as someone holds he should be. Tolerance is really the exact opposite of this: what you pass under the label of tolerance is rather far nearer to conversion: Stop being what you are—and then everything will be all right. As an Israeli myself, I do not necessarily feel complete identification with, say, everything Jews in Britain are or stand for. But still, Jewish identity cannot be reduced to the religious issue. It is one of the tragic facts of Jewish life, that Judaism escapes any definition in clear-cut terms. The Nazi definition in terms of race is self-evident nonsense no less than the Stalinist one (now so surprisingly adopted by Beaver, though not knowingly, I suppose) in terms of mere religion. I think I am not mistaken in asserting that most Jews in the West do not regard themselves as religious in the traditional sense, nor do they live according to the Tables of the Law—yet they do consider themselves as Jews. What you are suggesting simply means that you are going to tell those people, that since they are no more Jews in the religious sense, then you vote them out of Judaism. This is, of course, absurd. Hitler once said: "Wer Jude ist, bestimme ich" (It is I who decides who is a Jew). The precise reverse is the truth: it is up to the individual himself in his inner court of conscience, to decide whether he considers himself Jewish or not and what exactly he means by this. Some may define their Jewishness as consisting in merely religious affiliation; others may decide to emigrate to Israel —they would be, I am afraid, a small minority; still others may decide that their Judaism is to be interpreted in From the Chairman of the Jewish Society Dear Sir, I should like to reply to the editorial in your issue of 27 October, on "Assimilation". It is misleading to state that Mr. Koestler's argument "has a sound logical foundation". First, the argument proceeds from unsound premises. Jevsdsh culture, contrary to Mr. Koestler's argument, has flourished vnthin the limits placed upon it by society in which Jews have lived. Again, it is by no means certain that the future of Judaism is assured in Israel. Further, it is absurd to suggest that, "if (Jews) are willing to become a religious minority on the lines of a non-conformist sect, there will be (negligible) bad feeling towards them". Secondly, even if the premises are granted, the argument must still be rejected. In fact, Koestler has been mis" represented in your column; he proposes that Jews who are unwilling to settle in Israel should assimilate, not vice versa. There are 12 million Jews in the world today; only a fraction of these could possibly be absorbed by Israel. At least 10 million are thus, in effect, directed to give up their religion. Ray Reardon replies: Touche, Mr. Thomas. I shall indeed stipulate that any royalties received from the sale of any of my work in South Africa be transferred to the Treason Trial Fund, although I feel sure that the amount involved will certainly not be "vast", even by student grant standards. Regarding misrepresentation of the Rugby Club, unfortunately a more sympathetic part of my report was edited before going to press, which made the tone rather more damning than was intended. However, I do feel that so long as one solitary member of LSE supports the Springbok's tour the matter should be mentioned and commented on in the college's newspaper. The ECONOMISTS' BOOKSHOP Clement's Inn Passage —lor all the Books you need. A wonderful range of Paperbacks—and more and better ones to come. 10th November, 1960 BEAVER TWO SPEAKERS ON MIDDLE EAST AT LS.E. R. H. S. GROSSMAN Richard Grossman, M.P., spoke to an audience of almost 300 on Thursday last week, when he attended a meeting arranged jointly by the Jewish Society and the International Forum. In his thirty-five minute speech, he described Israel as 'the most national state I know'. There had been, he admitted, a bad atmosphere during the War of Independence, he felt that the State of Israel, as we know it today, owed its existence to this atmosphere. Without the war, and the accompanying atmosphere, a settlement on the lines of that intended by Ernest Bevin might have been reached, and there might have been a majority of Arabs in the State. A Military State Israel today, said Mr. Grossman, was to some extent a miltary state, although there was no trace of Prussian type militarism. If it had not been for the war, he thought, Israel might have been almost another Lebanon. One favourable result of the present state of tension, he said, was that Israel had been driven to technological advance by the need to maintain military preparedness. Israel's industrial revolution was much more advanced than it would otherwise have been. He was not hopeful about the probability of friendship between the Arabs and Israel. The Arab world was still too fuedal, but he thought there 1 Mr. Richard Grossman talking at LSE. was little likelihood of an Arab invasion of Israel for at least the next ten years. He ruled out an Israeli invasion of the Arab countries as a solution, since this would incur too great a hostility from world opinion, and since, even if it were successful, Israel could not accept the prospect of including the conquered Arabs as citizens. New Boat Named The Sailing Glub's new boat has been named Nikita Khruschev and Peaceful Coexistence. This was decided at a special meeting on the 1st November. Suggestions for names revealed a catholic range of tastes on the part of Sailing club members. They ranged from Bait Mine and Mao Tse Tung and Socialism in One Country to Klappholtz and Nixon. My Bank?. MIDLAND It's no coincidence that many students choose the Midland: young people with forward-looking ideas like to deal with a forward-looking and go-ahead bank. Once you open an account with us you'll wonder how you ever managed without it. The cheques you receive are so much more easily dealt with. The bills you pay can be paid by cheque. And you may even find at the end of Term that you have actually saved something! Why not call at your local branch and see us about it ? Our staff there will be happy to explain how the Midland Bank can help you. Midland Bank- THE CO-AHEAD BANK FOR GO-AHEAD PEOPLE 2,250 BRANCHES IN ENGLAND AND IFALES JOHN KIMCHE By our Political Correspondent On Friday, October 25th, in a speech entitled 'Nasser as a Force for Peace', Mr. John Kimche, editor of the Jewish Observer; looked at Nasser the man and at what he called 'Nasseria'. Nasser's change from a guardian angel for Egypt into a grasping dictator was entirely due to the pressing economic problem now facing him in Egypt. Today the population of Egypt is 30 million, an increase of 6-7 million since he came to power, with a continuing yearly increase of half a million. Unfortunately there is nothing in the country to accomodate the growth. He has made some reforms in industry and agriculture, but not enough to absorb all the workers. This is a basic trouble all over the middle east today, said Mr. Kimche. Nasser had no intention of trying to overthrow Israel, but he wanted to show the Arab world that Egypt was taking the lead in the middle east. Since Suez, this appears to be fair assesment of the situation. However, he continued, Israel maintains that there can be no peace until Nasser makes an unconditional surrender to them. Egypt, he pointed out, naturally takes the opposite view. Mr. Kimche summed up with the words 'Basically the position cannot remain like this much longer. There must be a move away from wasting the middle east's reserves'. He finished by claiming that Nasser was no longer a force for war, but was now essentially a force for peace. Beaver Staff A new News Editor has been appointed for Beaver She is Madeleine Morlaix-Demozay, a first year Sociology student, who replaces Alan Segal. Mike Keenoy has become Business Manager in place of Mike Niblock, who has also left Clare Market Review, and Mass Niida, a research student from Japan, has taken over from Andrew de Boltho as chief Sub Editor. SIMMONDS University Booksellers Our shop is not the biggest in London, but it is amongst the best. And it's a place where you will obtain individual attention. We stock most of the books on your syllabus, and we are five minutes from L.S.E. 16 Fleet Street, liondon, E.C.4 (Opposite Chancery Lane) MISS LSE The annual 'Miss LSE' contest will be held on Wednesday, 16th November at 4.15 in the Old Theatre. As usual, it is being run in aid of the World University Service. The judges will include Digby Wolf, Honorary President of the Union, Katie Boyle and Frankie Day. Prizes have been donated by a number of bodies and included a free Gharm Gourse at the London Gharm School which will last for about six weeks. Our reporter's suggestion that the Gourse ought to be awarded to some contestant other than the winner has, we understand, been ignored by the organisers. Other prizes include a 'Linzi' dress, beauty preparations, gift vouchers, and a year's subscription to Vogue. More entrants will be wel- Inter national Festival The annual International Festival in aid of the World University Service will be held next week. Apart from the Beauty Gontest, reported elsewhere, a full programme has been arranged. On Monday, a Flag day will be held, and the Drama Society will be busking at lunchtime. Later in the week there will be a jazz concert, a tug of war, an International Exhibition, and many other attractions. The highlight of the week will be an International Concert held on Friday evening in the Old Theatre. come. YOUNG COMMUNISTS CLAIM SUCCESS 'We are on the winning side' was the confident keynote of the national Secretary's report to the 23rd Gongress of the Young Gom-munist Leagrue last week-end. Among the 200 delegates, with an average age of 19, were Glasgow apprentices, young builders from London's South Bank, St. Pancras tenant 'picketers' and many Aldermaston Marchers. PARTY Beaver, the Union mascot, will be celebrating his birthday on November 12th. A party is being held in the Refectory at 7.30, and all the other Gollege mascots have been invited. An official statement from the Union has made it clear that 'rowdy elements' will not be welcome, and the services have been obtained of the Temperence Seven, a well known group of sober musicians. Admission will be by ticket, costing 3s. 9id., obtainable from the Union Office. There will be plenty of drink and food, and we understand that a number of 'red hot barmaids' have been hired for the occasion. Were they really the g:ood old days? Even now (although it's not so fashionable as it was) we hear people talk about " the good old days Remembering good times and forgetting bad is part of the human mechanism of defence. Certainly our picture of the Victorian era tends to be a rosy one of serene prosperity, very far removed from the hurly-burly of modern life. But just how good zt>ere those " old days " ? A closer look at Victorian society reveals an average life span of not much more than 40, compared with close on 70 today. And the family of nine or ten children, living in what we today would consider utter squalor, contrasts poorly with our compact modern family in their neat semi-detached. In any comparison between those days and these, there is one difference which stands out clearly. It is the widespread knowledge and practice of family planning . . . spacing the arrival of children as and when they are desired. Yet a great deal still needs to be done to make the understanding and acceptance of family planning universal. There is a small booklet called "Planned Families are happy families " which is designed to encourage clear and objective thinking on a controversial topic. We should be happy to send you a free copy if you will write to H. F. Booklets Ltd., Dept. 510b, 12 Oval Road, London, N.W.i. BEAVER 10th November, 1960 UNION MEETINGS A View by Michael Safier One might be tempted, when making an assessment of the subject of this article, to do one of two things. These are either to embark on a long mimicry of union meetings, presenting the hilarity, witticisms, classic situations and remarkable cohort of personalities which characterise such a session; or to deliver a high-minded sermon deprecating the 'egotistical eggheads' and the 'stupefying grandiose and needless' complications which make meetings 'infantile and irrelevant'. What concerns the present writer however, is not that his own tendencies lead him to one or other of these views, but that he is hearing, increasingly, elements of both being propounded, with some justification, by others—from those who 'come in to Union' for 'a good laugh' to those who, in Union, advocate that certain individuals should be 'shut up' for the benefit of all concerned. More than this, it is apparent that Union meetings are not finding a large audience in general; in fact, the trend is the other way, and increasingly, meetings are being cut short as inquorate in the middle of often important business. In view of the purpose of Union meetings, as far as I have been able to make these out, these are somewhat disturbing facts. Union is convened for a number of purposes; to give Council a platform from which to explain the past and proposed actions for the approval or otherwise of the Union, to give ordinary members a chance to understand the issues before Union and to express their own views in so far as they are able, and all in all to provide a democratic forum for the mutual interchange of information, points of view and, on occasion, other things too. This is surely what the convolutions and complications of the Constitution and Standing Orders are for—to allow informed freedom of expression and argument. This also seems to be the wish of most union members. It implies, however, given the always vital time element, a minimum of verbosity and obstreperousness. The relevant criticism of these meetings, I would have thought, was not that there is too much 'constitution-waving' or how much hilari-ousness, since in the first case legal unity can often be very important and illuminating, and in the second, an atmosphere of high good humour A ctioA in; jet noise: would s ' sufficient; not onl^ to ena large jet , aircraft' to' meet t equirements of co eayy^/..... get Question i: Question 2: Question 3: Question 4: Question 5: Question 6: Question 7: This Paper to be taken by all Students (Candidates should attempt all questions) "For sheer good reading, take The Scotsman." Discuss. ¦ "Variety is the spice of life." Apply this to The Scotsman. Reconcile The Scotsman's full coverage of Scottish affairs with its wide international outlook. Demonstrate the value, to you, of the ' Careers and Appointments' feature in The Scotsman every Saturday. Intelligent readers rely daily on The Scotsman for authoritative interpretation of current events, and for lively reviews. Why? Indicate what you know of the award won by The Scotsman for being the best designed newspaper in 1959. Ask your newsagent about the special student rate when you order your copy of \(\aa aaaa,a is often essential to a process which might otherwise become a restricted procession of items drowned in the dreary depths of boredom and lethargy. Far more incriminating is the tendency of Union to obstruct its ordinary members from getting a clear view of the things which they are being consulted and cad-joled about, because of the attempts of many to drown out speakers, and the encour- agement of time-cousuming bouts of oral athleticism by others. When this leads to the assumption of such attitudes as I outlined i.vi the first paragraph, with the practical results mentioned in the second, I think it is time, while strongly opposing any constraint upon Union, to plead for perhaps a little more consideration and restraint by individual members for the benefit of all. AS A STUDENT YOU CAN BUY IT FOR 2d *The Chipped White Cups' by a Correspondent An organisation known as Unit-2, has recently published (by courtesy of the Observer) a pamphlet by Michael Young entitled The Chipped White Cups of Dover. This is an attempt to set out a reforming platform which in Young's opinion any genuinely reforming party should adopt. The pamphlet was originally written for the Fabian Society, but it was rejected for undisclosed reasons. The underlying theme of Young's argument is that the Labour Party, now no longer the undisputed party of reform, is out of time with social and economic change. As a result there is a strong possibility that it could be replaced, not by the Liberals, but by a new progressive party, mounted as Young's hobby-horse, the consumer as opposed to the producer interest. Much of this is specious and much of his analysis superficial, but some of his proposals are of particular relevance to students in an institution such as ours and merit serious discussion. Two of these seem most pertinent —Education and Race Relations. Education is the topic for this term's Weekend School, and this would be the ideal forum to discuss the proposal that some of the new universities scheduled should be overseas universities. In these, overseas students would be in the majority and would follow syllabi designed specifically for their needs. Research would be channelled into the problems of Africa and Asia, from where, one assumes, the bulk of the students at these universities would come. This, if nothing else, would surely provide a more practical form of aid and approach to the problems of underdeveloped countries, than that provided in terms of one per cent, of the various un-coordinated 'missionary' activities now prevailing. This is far more original and exciting than Young's other plea which is for greater effort in secondary education. Young's pamphlet is frankly Utopian and subject to all the weaknesses of a Utopian argument. Nevertheless, many of his ideas are plausible, and one is grateful to the Observer for providing the facilities which made its publication possible. Liberals by an L.S,E. Liberal Until recently the Liberal Society has been quite small with its activity confined to the faithful. Like the party in the country, it has a care more of looking to its defences, than taking the offensive. Within the past year the whole position has changed, the defensive attitude has gone and, with it, the last remnants of the Tory aim liberal (small '1') approach to political problems. The LSE Liberal Society last year decided to ensure that more must be done to see that it really got back into the political arena. Events in the country proved helpful and culminated in considerable successes in the general election and more recently at the excellent Eastbourne Assembly to which many LSE Liberals went. As in the country, more activity was seen at University level where in the ULU Parliamentary debates a Liberal Government took office and carried its defence policy by a handsome margin. This is the first time ever that a Government has now a ULU Parliamentary debate. This result showed clearly the way in which many students are beginning to think and what can be done, and the results so far this year have confirmed this, for over 100 completely new members were signed up in ULU within three days and over 60 at the LSE Liberal stall. There is no doubt in my mind that the Liberals are now a force to be reckoned with; despite the need for more active support. The Party is backed by no great 'vested interest' but stands or falls on its ability to attract individuals. The lack of a permanent 'interest' is to the Liberals a disadvantage, but to be free from such 'interests' may yet be to their advantage in the not too distant future. Perhaps the greatest difficulty facing the Society in LSE is the lack of clear political demarcation. The Leftward trend of the College has blurred political distinctions to such an extent that many whose political home is in the Liberal Party are to be found within the serviced ranks of the Conservative Society. The Liberal Party offers an alternative progressive policy on such topics as defence, the United Nations, Industry, Agriculture and the Common Market. These policies represent neither the dogmatism of the Left, nor the Opportunism of the Right. They are based on a philosophy which, although radical, is founded on the basic need to consider the individual and his relationship with society, not only nationally but internationally as well. 10th November, 1960 BEAVER 5 FILM REVIEWS LONDON THEATREGOING hy Alastair McAuley nature. And all attempts at popular education should take these two points into account. Their purpose should be to transform indiscriminate curiosity into a body of knowledge that can be applied to the solution of everyday problems. In the past, the natural world was part of our common heritage, but even this must be taught to the inhabitants of an urban society. Too often, however, these attempts at popular culture degenerate into films that try to reassure people that the artificial values that they hold are real and films that try to dispel the sense of unease provoked by motive forces that people cannot understand or refuse to recognise. It is not possible to describe the instinctive reactions of a bear or squirrel in terms of our modern women's magazine culture. You cannot equate the mating urge with romance or the struggle for existence with a nine-to-five occupation. We must start looking at nature as 'an eternal fierce destruction where the greater on the less feeds evermore'. It will soon be too late; we shall have lost the capacity to understand. Alastair McAuley Old Vic Although there are some thirty or forty theatres in London, only four have permanent companies. This article is devoted to the policies of the four London companies. The Old Vic has at present a near monopoly over the classics. In the past five years, all Shakespeare's plays have been produced there, and they have also produced a number of foreign classics in translation. English Stage Company The English Stage Company at the Royal Court in Sloane Square, was formed five years ago to provide an outlet for new young dramatists and to try to introduce a new vitality into the English Theatre. There is also an English Stage Society which is intended to form the nucleus of a permanent audience. Students can become Associate Members at reduced rates and among the benefits are special Sunday night productions without decor, priority booking and a chance to attend dress-rehearsals at reduced prices. Theatre Workshop Although the Theatre Workshop is based at the Theatre Royal, Stratford, East, most of their produc- LAW BOOKS NEARLT 2,000 LATEST EDITIONS SECOND HAND SPECIAL ANNOUNCBMENT After 123 years at our present address, we have now extended our premises, which include a Showroom of nearly 2,000 latest edition Text-lXK)ks; also a large collection of trials, Criminology and Legal Biographies Inspection invited — correspondence welcomed WILDY & SONS LTD. Law Booksellers and Licensed Valuers since 1830 LJnccrin's Inn Archway, liondon, W.C.2 Telephone: Holborn 5160 Telegrams : Wildy's, Holborn London tions seem to transfer to Shaftesbury Avenue. The audiences at Stratford seem a little more dedicated than those at the Royal Court, \^hich is after all near the West End, and can expect a leavening of socialites. The Company's policy is similar to that of the English Stage Co. but there is a little more emphasis on the social content of the plays. The great difference lies in the approach to production. At the Workshop, Joan Littlewood is a convinced Brechtian and works according to his theories. A club with privileges similar to those at the Court has been formed. Mermaid Finally there is the Mermaid at Puddle Dock. The theatre has only been in exist-tence about a year so it is difficult to write with any confidence about its achievements. There is no proscenium arch at the theatre, and to date, it is the use that they have made of their stage that has been their most important contribution to the revival of English drama. Arts Theatre Club The Arts Theatre Club specialise in experimental drama. Both Waiting for Godot and The Caretaker started off there. But even associate membership is expensive and it is impossible to buy tickets unless you are a member. From early next year, there will be a branch of the Stratford Memorial Theatre at the Aldwych. This will be competition for the Old Vic, but it is still too soon to be able to write with any assurance about their future policy. SMALL ADVERTISEMENT GENUINE introductions, friendship or marriage, all ages. V.C.C., 34 Honeywell, London, S.W.Il. WAYNE'S LAST STAND To the cursory spectator, The Alamo looks like just another 'Hollywood Colossus'. It cost at least £17m. to make, a cast of thousands, Todd-AO. . . . This is how a young American described its impact. "Here is a film endeavouring to portray the moods and motives of a pathetically small group of determined pioneers who were struggling to delay the immense advancing forces of the tryrannical Mexican dictator (sic), General Santa-Anna, while their leaders rallied an army. The stand could only end in complete annihilation, but their devotion to duty has remained an inspiration through the years". . This is instructive, as John Wayne, the producer, has himself said that although he has invested heavily in the picture, money was not his main object. It took him fourteen years to make and his feelings were that "The Alamo was and is a picture that should have been made ... I'd say that we wanted to recreate a moment in history which will show this living generation of Americans what their country really stands for, and to put in front of their eyes the bloody truth of what some of their forbears went through to win what they had to have or die —liberty and freedom". This is interesting. I had always thought that the insurrection that was the cause of General Santa-Anna's punitive expedition was the result of a Mexican proclamation forbidding slavery in Texas. But John Wayne was a friend of Senator McCarthy's. He went on to say that "I The The ideal girl of the fifties, we are told by ecstatic Hollywood PROs, is the one who plays herself. This enigmatic phrase has been interpreted as meaning that even the girl next door can be sexy. This latest addition to the list of starlet character-types is said to provide material for the "circumscribed dream fantasies of American suburban living". To the casual spectator, however, this revolution seems to be only skin-deep. The one unchanging characteristic of all Holljrwood starlets is that they are none of them erotically stimulating. They might just as well be inflatable rubber dummies. There is more to sexiness than an attractive body. Naughtiness, or the willingness to ignore accepted moral conventions must be implied as well. But the star system is such that no one would dare to flout the hallowed canons of 'the American way of life' for fear of impairing his future earning capacity. Girls who conform are the most unpromising material for sexual fantasies. Hollywood films seem dedicated to proving that even admired the work he did. Whether he went overboard or not he was of value to my country. A number of liberals think he started a witch hunt. I think he was witch hunted". Perhaps John Wayne was not trying to make a historical film, but an allegory showing America making a last-ditch stand against the Communist hordes. He said of his film, "The men in it are the sort of men who have made my country—who have established freedom all over the world". The courage shown by the garrison at the Alamo deserves the highest praise. But whatever else it may have been, the Alamo can hardly be called "a blow for freedom". Lynne Sullivan. BACK TO NATURE One of the more regrettable developments of the modern documentary film is the attempt to ascribe to the animal world the emotions and habits of our present culture. In a predominantly urban society, a knowledge of the workings of nature is of great cultural and, possibly, of technical value, for we might be called upon at any time to reconstruct our civilisation from the ruins of a nuclear war. Any ¦ attempt to explain the world in terms that everyone can understand is, therefore, wholly praiseworthy. Films succeed to the extent that they are able to relate their subjects to the experience of their audiences. Directors should not demand reactions that the audience is incapable of giving. But people today can still appreciate the basic forces of Girl those who cater for the erotic titivation of the staid and respectable are, at heart, clean-living ail-American girls, or else they soon come to a sorry end. And as for the ordinary girl, heaven forbid! The reasons for this strangely idealised picture of the world cannot be stated with any degree of certainty. Hollywood scriptwriters may be over-awed by the constitutional right of every American citizen to be completely free in the pursuit of his or her own happiness and dare not impute the slightest un-conventionality to any 'legal' profession. They might not want to queer their Middle-western sources of supply, where, we are told, the best-looking girls come from and where, they say, the inhabitants are intensely moral. Or perhaps they are not looking at America through rose-coloured spectacles at all. Perhaps American girls do not sleep with their boss to get on or just for the hell of it. It may only be in the decadent Old World that people are prepared to bestow the pleasures of love so lightly. Alastair McAuley NEW RECORD British Jazz Kent Harian and his Orchestra on 'Echoes of Joy' (Oriole MG 20013) play music designed to 'bring back the pleasure of dancing'. Kent Harian uses old favourites like 'I got a band' and 'Cheek to cheek', to bring back echoes of the Swing Era. With a liberal splashing of flutes and muted trumpets the opening strains of 'April in Paris' can't help but remind you of Sauter - Finegan while the Duke Ellington influence comes through strongly on 'Take the A Train'. While retaining a basic swing spirit, the group incorporates some of the up tempo music found in more recent progressive bands to produce a happy, danceable, if not a distinctly styled set of tunes. Johnny Keating and All Stars on 'British Jazz' (Oriole MG 20013) play rigidly arranged compositions found in most of today's big jazz bands. There is little time and less freedom for improvised solos and the arrangements of Johnny Keating and Bill LeSage put over their style of jazz—usually quick-tempo-ed, bouncy, and with a lot of counterpoint. The total personnel number 22 with only two tracts employing more than six or seven musicians. 'Gibraltar Rocks' and 'Piccadilly Jumps', the two truly big band tracks, take full advantage of some original arranging and the versatility found in a larger group. JAZZ AT CHELSEA NOVEMBER 12th — MIKE DANIELS NOVEMBER 19th — SIMS WHEELER VINTAGE JAZZ BAND 6 BEAVER 10th November, 1960 Sports Page Edited by UlCllARD STEVK^SOIV MANNHEIM VISIT REPORTS FOOTBALL LSE 5 Mannheim 4 The Germans were a fit side and between them they played some very pretty football. For much of the game they controlled the midfield play but they were seldom capable of pressing this advantage. Attacking moves frequently foundered on the reliable LSE half 'back line or were squandered by careless play in the goalmouth. In contrast, the more experienced LSE team were forceful in attack and quick to press home their general all-round superiority. Morton and Goodman v/ere the main springs of the forward line, scoring two goals each, while Hoyle, playing in goal, though somewhat careless at first, made some magnificent saves in the second half. The second half was rather scrappy as both teams tired. Though LSE looked the better team throughout there were some anxious moments when Mannheim drew level at 4-4. A fifth goal, however, settled the matter, and so LSE won a well deserved victory. * * -»¦ TABLE TENNIS LSE 0 Mannheim 15 The score tells most of this sad story of the massacre of the LSE team. There was an air of superiority even in the smart turn-out of the German team, which contrasted ill with the ragged appearance of the home team. The play was equally ragged. The missed shots, the ill performed strokes, the elephantine footwork were no match for the slick, highly educated play of the Germans. We were unused to the modern, high speed game which results from the use of the new sandwich bats and quite incapable of dealing with the tremendous spin which the Germans used to such good advantage. * * • RUGBY LSE 13 Mannheim 0. The two teams played totally incompatible styles with the result that the game consisted of very scrappy, though open, football. Mannheim had a good defence; they also backed up very well, but loose play resulted in too many lost chances. LSE, tackling hard and covering well had a marked superiority despite the loss of their scrum-half, who was concussed in the early stages of the game. Tries were scored by Arthur and Mallett and converted by Scanlan, who also kicked a penalty goal to give LSE their thirteen points and a convincing win. Introducing: Fencing: Errol Flynn, the Three Musketeers, aristocratic duels in the Bois de Boulogne, all these are part of the image of fencing. The sport it is true has an ancient heritage. Gradually through the ages as the sword was improved, new fighting techniques were evolved. Duelling with sword and shield gave way to fighting with a sword in each hand; one being used to attack, the other to defend. Though this mode of fighting still persists in the Far East, in Europe the defensive sword became less important until eventually it became no more than a dagger. Parallel to this development was the growth in the relative importance of the main sword and when this became lighter and easier to manipulate the dagger was completely discarded. This meant that for the first time ever, victory in a duel depended upon pure skill, rather than physical strength. In short, the art of swordsmanship was born. Duelling flourished in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries but as public opinion massed against the brutality and senseless waste of manpower involved it died at the hands of the nineteenth century reformers. Nowadays duelling is only found in some of the older German Universities and even then in a much modified form. They fight what is called a "closed" duel. The fighters are heavily padded ; just their cheeks are left bare. They use short sabres and the aim is to scar the opponents cheek. The scars are regarded as a mark of honour amongst people of a certain mentality. Modern fencing descends from the old duelling tradition. Three weapons are used nowadays; these are the foil, the epee and the sabre. The epee is related to the older rapier, while the sabre is derived from the cavalry weapon. The main difference between the two is in the way in which they can score hits. The epee can only score with the point; the sabre can do so with both the point and the cutting edge. The foil was originally intended as an introductory weapon for the epee, but today it is a weapon in its own right. The aim of fencing is to score a hit on the opponent without incurring one oneself. These hits can be scored either by attack or else by deflecting the opponent's attack and thrusting the weapon at his body. Since hits are often scored in quick succession a complicated and esoteric set of rules are used to determine precedence. However, the use of electrical timing equipment eliminates the element of human fallibility which this involves. Speed in blade movement is essential in fencing. The fencer must therefore have fast reflexes. However, to dictate and dominate a fight, a m EDITORIAL From Thursday's dinner to Saturday's athletics the Mannheim visit was a great success. As is fitting, the honours w^ere shared; LSE losing at Table Tennis and Athletics and winning at Football and Rugby. However, as the Director pointed out in his welcoming speech, though it would be wrong to overstress them, there are wider aspects of the visit. Undoubtedly Britain will bo bound in closer union with Europe in the next few years and just at a time when the more wary politicians are stressing the differences between us, it is pleasing to note that we are already united by our studies and our sport. more important asset is timing, which is the ability to adopt one's own speed to that of the opponent in order to make openings. Then superior speed, backed by physical fitness and intense mental concentration, is used to score a hit. International competition is fierce, yet in the past few years Britain has produced some fine fencers including two world champions, an Olympic gold medallist and several silver medallists. Though the standard in Britain is improving, the main barrier to progress is still the lack of training facilities. An intensive two months training period is necessary before any major event and countries such as Britain, which maintain such an unrealistic attitude to the economics of sport find it difficult to maintain the very high standards which are necessary. This accounts, at least in part, for the increasing dominance of Hungary, Russia and Poland in international events. Fencing is a thriving sport at LSE. The club has a high membership and goes out of its way to' encourage beginners who receive expert tuition in the rudiments of the sport. There is also a team which plays fixtures against other colleges with a considerable amount of success. CROSS COUNTRY The University Trial took the form of a match against the Polytechnic Harriers. Seven LSE runners took part with Godfrey Hall gaining the best Dosition (25th) and Uni-versit'' select'on. MEN'S TENNIS The tennis club started the season by a convincing victory over Q.M.C. Rain prevented the match from being completed, but with LSE winning three rubbers outright and halving the other three and leading in games by 60-36, the match was already decided. Deuji, playing this time with Falkus, showed himself to be a reliable attacking player who should do well this year. Norburn and Allen, though lacking practice, were more than adequate for the opposition. WOMEN'S HOCKEY The Women's Hockey Club made an excellent start to the season by winning its first match against the Central Middlesex Hospital—6-0. The team, one player short, consisted of six second year students and four freshers all of whom combined very well. Indeed, it was from well-judg-ed teamwork, rather than individual etfort, that most of the goals resulted. Scorers were Janet Alker (2), Barbara Frost (3) and Joanna Getling (1). Did you notice the excuse given in this week's fencing article for the slow rate of progress at this sport in Britain ? It was lack of training facilities and incidentally lack of capital, for, how can the part-time British sportsman compete with the full-time athletes of other countries ? How sick and tired we get of these protests and when will something be done about it? Sooner or later the Government must realise that sport is one of the most powerful forms of propaganda upon which it can capitalise. Does no one realise that, among ordinary people, Britain's prestige rose far more after her 4-2 win at football over Spain than after Mr. Mac-millan's sally in the United Nations ? Britain's path is clear; money must be poured into sport. This money should be used in two ways. First, to raise the general level of sport in the country by providing more facilities. Second, to train our top performers for a blitz on the world's premier events. Then there will be a wide net to catch promising youngsters and a powerful machine to turn them into worldbeaters. Above all, stupid British pride, which prevents her viewing sport as anything but a jolly sporting pastime must not stop a determined effort to catch up with the other great sporting nations of the world. The Rugby Club has been strongly, and wrongly criticized for selling tickets for the International against the Springbok touring side. They were quite right to do so. The officials of a club have not got the right to make a moral decision for all their club members. In any case, a person with 'strong anti-apartheid feelings should not feel bound to boycott the South Africans. To do this would be nothing less than an insult to the white South African sportsmen who deserve our respect for their fine sporting tradition. £on 86 KINGSWAY, W. BLAZERS - C.2 HOLborn 2240 BADGES Official Suppliers to the Students' Union Published by the Students' Union, London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London. Printed by Albert Clark & Co. Ltd. (T.U.), 'Waterloo Rd., N.'W.2.