SMAD. An Organ of Student Opinion. 1935. Volume 6. Number 18.
V.U.C. V. O.U
V.U.C. V. O.U.
A perfectly groomed Miss Shortall arose to tell us that the League has failed to foster internationalism. It has no bond of unity, its underlying principle is imperialism, Europe against the world. Miss Shortall was clearly nervous, but in her reply, especially, she brought home some telling thrusts.
Mr. Meade was confident, chatty, shook his hand at us too much and used his strong voice to advantage. He scorned the words of the bard, "O weak man that words of woman can sway," and defended the principle of the League. Its value is in what it offers; security and protection. It only remains for the nations to take advantage of their opportunity.
Mr. Brown also told some stories and must have nearly spoken himself into a place. He contended that the affirmative only thought of the 'possibilities of the League," instead of what is actually done. It has been estimated that a mosquito can fly for fourteen days without stopping but, says Punch, "the trouble is they don't." The League is a European clique-an unsuccessful attempt to foist a constitution on the nations to maintain the Versailles status quo.
Mr. Stewart has a splendid speaking voice and, like his team mate, pushed his points home with the right hand. He claimed that the League did foster internationalism both in its peace endeavours and in its campaign against social evils. Its work in the latter field alone justified its existence. Our withdrawal would mean the death of the League and a return to alliances and isolation. The first is odious to the Dominions, while the second is impossible to-day.
Both leading speakers made effective replies after which the curtain was drawn on the first act, while the A.U.C. and C.U.C. teams were being collected. The earlier debate, was, strange to relate, almost free from interjection of any kind, but A.U.C. and C.U.C. aroused the audience from its lethargy.