Minutes ; National Service (statement)

              MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE BRITISH NATIONAL COMMITTEE, HELD AT GAS INDUSTRY HOUSE, 1 GROSVENOR PLACE S.W.1., ON TUESDAY, 25th 1938, AT 5 P.M.
PRESENT: Lord Cecil (in the Chair); Dame Adelaide Livingstone; Lady Hall; Miss Champness; Miss Hands: Mr. V. Ogilvie; Professor Bernal; Mr. Arthur Clegg; Miss Gellan; Mr. Minchin; Mr. G. Carritt; Dr. M. Miles; Miss Gardiner; Miss Moxon (representing Mr. Gerald Bailey)
together with the Secretary
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE were received from Mr. Peverett, Miss Ryle, the Dean of Chichester, Miss Turner, Mr. Roberts and Mr. Noel-Baker.
20   MINUTES OF LAST MEETING    The Minutes of the last meeting were approved as circulated, and the Minutes of the Executive Committee of June 23rd, July 14th and 28th, September 18th and 27th and October 11th and 18th were received.
21   CAMPAIGN PROPOSALS.
(a) CZECHOSLOVAKIA:     The Chairman explained that a message of sympathy and encouragement to the Czech people has been drawn up for publication in the press on October 28th, the twentieth anniversary of the foundation of the Czechoslovakian Republic. Leaders of the Church and State had been asked to sign this, and already Lord Snell, Lord Crewe, Sir Archibald Sinclair, Mr. H.G. Wells, Lord Lytton and Lord Cecil has consented to do so.   It was anticipated that other signatories would be forthcoming.     Unfortunately Mr. Eden and Cardinal Hinsley had felt unable to sign.
It had been suggested that the Committee should send a letter of appreciation to Dr. Benes, who was now in this country, and Lord Cecil read a proposed draft. Certain amendments were suggested and it was
RESOLVED:      (1)  "That Lord Cecil, on behalf of the Committee be asked to send the draft letter as amended to Dr. Benes".
The Committee discussed plans for assistance for Czechoslovakian refugees, and it was suggested that an appeal for hospitality might be made, and that Miss Margaret Layton, who was organising hospitality, should be consulted.     It was
RESOLVED:      (2)  "That letters should be sent to the I.P.C. Committees in the Dominions urging them to request their Governments to provide for emigration of Czech refugees to their countries; and that the I.P.C. offices in Geneva, and Paris should be informed that this action had been taken."
b) "That after consultation with Miss Layton the Co-operating Organisations should be requested to ask their members to offer hospitality for refugees".
c) "That Professor Seton Watson and Mr. Wickham Steed should be asked to suggest the best means whereby contact could be maintained with Czechoslovakia, through visits to the country, press articles, correspondence, etc."
The Committee felt that the public should be given information concerning the demands which Poland and Hungary were making upon Czechoslovakia, and it was