Since its inception in January of this year the activities of the League have covered a wide range, which embraces organisation for the administering of territory under its trusteeship, and for the consideration of international questions relating to transit, finance, labour and health. America's repudiation (only temporary, it may be hoped) of the pledges of her own President, the original and chief advocate of the League of Nations, has meanwhile thrown upon Great Britain the main burden of responsibility in the Councils of the League, a fact that constitutes an overwhelming claim upon the patriotism of British citizens. The duty of bringing this claim home to the public has been taken up by the League of Nations Union, under the Presidency of Lord GREY OF FALLODON. It has already established a headquarters and a staff of experts; organised hundreds of meetings throughout the country, and inaugurated nearly two hundred branches. It publishes two periodicals and many pamphlets and is preparing educational text-books; it is taking part in an international conference with similar voluntary societies in other countries. Clearly such work cannot be carried on without generous support. The sum for which the League of Nations Union appeals--a million pounds--may sound large, but it represents only the cost of four hours of the War, and is not much to ask as an insurance against another and yet more terrible war. Mr. Punch very earnestly begs his readers to send contributions in aid of this great and necessary work to the Hon. Treasurer of the Fund (Sir BRIEN COKAYNE, late Governor of the Bank of England), addressed to THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS UNION, 22, Buckingham Gate, S.W. * * * * * [Illustration: THE HOPE OF THE WORLD. PEACE. "THIS IS MY TEMPLE AND YOU ARE ITS PRIESTESS. GUARD WELL THE SACRED FLAME." (The objects and needs of the League of Nations Union are set out on the opposite page.)] * * * * * ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT. _Monday, March 29th._--During a brief sitting the Lords got through a good deal of business. The Silver Coinage Bill awakened Lord CHAPLIN'S reminiscences of his bimetallic days, when he was accused by Sir WILLIAM HARCOURT of trying to stir up mutiny in India. Undeterred by this warning, however, the Peers gave a Second Reading to the measure and also to the Coal Mines Emergency Bill, which is less up-to-date than it sounds, and deals not with the present emergency but with the last emergency but one. They also passed the Importation of Plumage Bill, at the instance of Lord ABERDEEN, who pleaded that beautiful birds, "the result of myriads of years of evolution," should not be exterminated to make a British matron's picture-hat. [Illustration: _Mr. MACPHERSON._ "WITH ALL THESE CHERUBS GOING FOR MY KITE FULL BLAST IT LOOKS AS IF I MIGHT KEEP THE THING FLYING." LORD ROBERT CECIL. CAPTAIN REDMOND. MESSRS. CLYNES AND ASQUITH.]