The N. S. L. Explains

(Ed. Note.--The Crimson does not necessarily endorse opinions expressed in printed communications. No attention will be paid to anonymous letters and only under special conditions, at the request of the writer, will names be with-held).

To the Editor of the CRIMSON:

There has been a wide-spread misconception of the aims and purposes of the National Student League. An example can be found in last Saturday's CRIMSON, in which the president of the Harvard Liberal Club is quoted as conjuring up the dreadful possibility that, in the event of the non-adoption of a new constitution, the club might fall into the clutches of the N.S.L. The CRIMSON has also in the past suggested that the N.S.L. plots to wrest control of the Liberal Club from its guileless members or to commit them to policies contrary to their liberal principles. It might, therefore, be well to clarify our position, both in this matter and in general. We believe that the Liberal Club contributes valuable discussions of current social problems, and that it affords a possibility of useful action based on the knowledge acquired in the course of these discussions. It would therefore, be unreasonable to demand that those individuals (a minority of our chapter) who are members of both the N.S.L. and the Liberal Club, should refrain from presenting their views to the latter.

Moreover, there is nothing in the program of the League that is incompatible with liberal principles. The N.S.L. fights: (1) against retrenchment in education; for the right to a free education; (2) against racial discrimination; (3) for freedom of thought and action for students and faculty; (4) for abolition of R.O.T.C., and transference of war funds to educational purposes; (5) for unemployment insurance; and for support by students of workers and farmers in their struggles. We see no reason why we should not seek, by democratic means, to win support of other organizations for specific activities in line with this program.

N.S.L. members may and do held a variety of opinions on political and other issues not covered by the N.S.L. program. And they may, of course, express these opinions freely, without thereby committing the N.S.L. as an organization. A. K. Philbrick '35,

Secretary, Harvard Chapter of National Student League.