to the National
Birthrate Commission, the secretary of the Malthusian League, with a
frankness which showed that he was thoroughly convinced of the
righteousness of the policy he propounded, gave detailed information
regarding the propaganda now being carried on by his society:

In the early days of the movement strenuous and, at first, successful
attempts were made to interest the poorer classes directly. But the
opposition which quickly arose rendered the continuance of this policy
impracticable, and it was only at the commencement of 1913 that it was
deemed possible to start an open-air campaign in one of the poorest
districts of South London. The response was so gratifying and the
demand for practical advice so persistent, that the League {27}
determined at an early date thereafter to issue gratuitously a leaflet
describing the most hygienic methods of limiting families, subject to a
declaration by applicants that they were over twenty-one years of age,
married or about to be married, that they were convinced of the
justification of family limitation, and that they held themselves
responsible for keeping the leaflet out of the hands of unmarried
people under twenty-one years of age.... The applications received
show unmistakably that the poor and the debilitated are most anxious to
adopt family limitation, and are deeply grateful for the necessary
information....'[1]

The Commission naturally asked for a copy of this leaflet.

'I have some of these practical leaflets here,' answered the witness,
'but I have one thing to say about them. That sort of thing has to be
done with precautions. It has only been recently issued, and only
those can take it who will sign a {28} declaration that they are either
married or about to be married, and that they consider the artificial
limitation of families justifiable. If any of the members here come
within that category--that is prejudging the case--they can have it,
otherwise I am afraid I cannot give it.'

This is the only touch of comedy in the greatest tragedy of our day.
The Commission of grave and reverend seigneurs were not to be trusted
with a leaflet which was circulating gratuitously in East London. It
is manifest that no declaration signed to the contrary will prevent
these leaflets passing from hand to hand, or the information they
convey from man to man and woman to woman. There is no limit to the
evil wrought by even one such leaflet. Down the st