ATHLETES AND NOT DIPLOMATS NEEDED

The following is the first of two articles released by the CRIMSON to the 20 members of the Eastern Intercollegiate Newspaper Association, and written for the CRIMSON by Captain Percy Redfern Creed, well-known English-journalist and international sportsman. Captain Creed, who came to this country last fall to cover the races between zov and Papyrus for the London Times, is a graduate of Trinity College, Cambridge, and is the leader in an international sports movement supported by several prominent Harvard graduates.

The sleeve of suffering humanity is badly ravelled; and serious and sustained effort is urgently needed to knit it together. Since November 11, 1918, the politicians and diplomats have tried to do the knitting and they have not been successful. I am not blaming them nor are the reasons for their failure relevant. The fact that they have failed in the important and vital thing. It is high time to bring to bear the influence of the spirit of sportsmanship--fair play for all and a sporting chance for the underdog--as a World-Welder. I need not labour the point to caders of the Harvard CRIMSON that sportsmen--having no ulterior motive can meet and establish mutual understanding and respect when politicians and diplomats are bound to fail.

The Olympic games, Harvard and Yale versus Oxford and Cambridge, the international polo matches, golf, lawn tennis, and other games and sports have blazed the trail, but these are exclusive competitions. The time has arrived to organize International competitions in which the working-man and the ordinary citizen who cannot reach the exclusive standard may take part real, thorough-going democratic sport on an adequate scale. It was the spirit of sportsmanship which brought the nations into the war to frustrate the claim of Germany to ride roughshod over the world. The spirit of sportsmanship--fair play for all--alone can salvage the remnants of civilization and this spirit alone expresses the real feeling of all sane people and especially of the great democracies of the English-speaking races.

It is generally admitted that the future of civilization depends on the intelligent co-operation of the English-speaking peoples. Intelligent co-operation connotes some sort of knowledge and understanding of the other fellow's circumstances and point of view. That great American, whose memory every Englishman delights to honour, Walter H. Page, wrote in a letter published in his biography: "The ignorance, each of the other (i. e. the American and English nations) is beyond all belief." Strong, unqualified words coming from a man in the best position to form a sound judgment. Not one man in 1000 of either nation knows anything worth while about the other nation. This fundamental and wide-spread ignorance is the reason why the politicians and diplomatists have failed. How can 200 millions of people sprayed over half the face of the earth separated by thousands of miles co-operate intelligently if they know nothing about each other? The answer is that they cannot. The one real live bond between them is the spirit of sportsmanship and if the future of civilization depends on their intelligent co-operation then it depends on the strengthening of this bond. There can be no doubt about that. If anyone knows a better 'ole let him say where it is so that we can go right to it.

The future is much more the concern of youth than of their elders. Youth, we are told, is in revolt. I sincerely hope so. The youth who in normal times is satisfied with the achievements of his parents and forbears is at the best ballast which adds nothing to the propelling power of his ship. But the youth who is satisfied with the world as he finds it today is a menace and had better be overboard.

Let youth step on the gas and set a-rolling the bus destined to carry the spirit of sportsmanship throughout the world. There is no finer ideal for the spirit of sportsmanship is the essential oil of the Sermon on the Mount. There is plenty of room on the bus for all, working-men, millionaires, ordinary folks, all ages, both sexes, for sport is the most democratic thing--the only truly democratic thing--in the world.

Well, what is Youth going to do about it? I do not wish to spend the space of the Harvard CRIMSON on words about myself but in order to avoid misunderstanding I must say that I am not affiliated officially or unofficially with any organization in America or England, that I am acting on my own initiative and responsibility entirely, and that I do not wish to claim any credit for what I am doing or for the originality of the idea. I have had an experience which has burnt certain views and convictions into me and I felt that I must try to do something about it. That is all.

One word more. America holds the yachting cup, the polo cup, the horseracing cup and I don't know how many athletic and games championships. She is the largest country. She is the biggest nation. It is, therefore, up to her to take the lead. There can be no possible doubt about that.

Again I ask what is American Youth going to do about it