The sun., 1917-03-22
The British Chancellor
Tells How He Raised
So, 100000.
GIVES CREDIT TO NATION
Patriotism Of Entire Country
Was Appealed To on Or
ganized Plan.
Special Gable Despatch 10 tn. sus.

ton, appealed to each individuals pa
triotism and obtained $4,000, 100000 for
carrying out the war was told to the cor
respondent Of THE SrN to-day by A.
Bonar Law, Chancellor of the EXcheQuer.
This is one Of the first interviews granted
by u member of the new Cabinet
"The character OF the British people
Is very little understood by other ma
tions." said Bonar Law. Il rather doubt
that the average British statesman
thoroughly comprehends it. The truth
Is that our people are descended from
such widely varied stock that their char
acter is as complex as their blood.
at is always extremely difficult to
prophesy what is going to happen in
this country. With some peoples II is
possible to forecast with fair accuracy
how they will act in given circumst ances.
Here the wisest man is he who reserves
Judgment. He may act boldly II IL Is
in the public interest, but he is foolish
ii he is not prepared for all sorts of un-
expected results
Success of Latest Loan.
II suppose" the correspondent inter-
vened. you scarcely ventured to antic!-
pate the overwhelming success Of your
recent war loan. 1t was certainly sur
prise to neutrals, and l presume TO the
enemy. Did you expect its success"
Certainly l thought the loan would
be n success. for had absolute faith
in the people" the Chancellor answered.
My experts we're dubious. though.
h, plYo Or, J,,l,
not to say pcssimistic when ! told them
had decided on n little over per cent.
Some Of the greatest living financial ex-
perts came to see me and told me plainly
that / was riding for a fall, so l had
some reason for not being overconfi-
dent"
How then do you account for the re-
suit being SO far beyond the hnancIers
calculations?"
Sentiment and Finance.
II think II was because they had not
reckoned on the effect on the money
market of a wave OF popular sentiment.
/ gave the country plenty Of time.
believe in giving the British plenty or
time. Given time they will do most
things fairly well. Our public opinion is
slow to move, but once moving II will
accomplish ends that might be ranked
as miracles"
"As Germany may yet realize" the
correspondent interpellated.
Yes" continued the Chancellor. AL
though the Germans are accounted slow,
they really are more mercurial and ef-
fervescent than we. doubt whether we
have understood theic character any bet
+ than they have understood ours.
| Their big miscalculation was due to their
not understanding British character.
That mistake has cost the world dear -
II would be glad II you would let the
| Americans know the mehods you adopted
TO move the British people as you did"
! said the correspor lent. Americans
would appreciate greatly hearing your
explanation Of your success"
| 81 think / can put 1t in few words
said the Chancellor. Il organized indi-
vidual effort. might almost say that
the war was the biggest effort to Or
ganize individualism that ever has been
| carried out In this country.
! Local Authorities Helpful.
1.-THE machinery was very simple. AS
! you know. we have very complete sys-
| TEN of local government in this country.
| ] called the local authorities to help me.
| They have done an enormous amount
Of public work during the war without
fuss or self-advertisement. / knew II
! ] called upon the local authorities !
should have agents In every portion OF
! the country, even in the remotest viii
lagos.
"Then | had the war savings COM
mittees, atout thousand Of them, num-
bering fifty members each, which had
been established In all parts OF the
country to encourage the small investor
to lend his money to the State. The
members of these committees were rep
resentatives Of every group In the coul-
| try. clergy of all denominations, school
! teachers, social workers, trade union
! officers, leaders of all sorts of social and
Industrial groups. l called on these to
help me. I asked representative OF
the local authorities and the war saw.
! ihgs committees to meet me at a private
! conference at Westminster on the first
day of the loans issue. I then asked
them TO go back to their localities and
raise the war loan
Calls In Press to Aid.
Having got the machinery, tried tc
give 1t suitable atmosphere In which
to work ] took advice from those who
knew best how to attract the public !
called in the aid Of the press In n pub.
licity campaign most carefully worked
out and very far reaching. The news.
papers responded splendidly. Within
a week or two the whole country wa:
talking about the loan, for the comblna,
ton of local machinery and universal
sentiment carried the country with 1t.
"Nobody could take up his paper with
out reading about II. nobody could gs
outdoors in any town or village without
having the war loan thrust to his atten
ton. The local committees were aided
by thousands of bureaus established ant
stated by voluntary workers ready t.
explain the financial terms to the mos
Ignorant House to house canvassin1
was carried out on an extensive scale
In many counties not a farmhouse or &
hamlet was not visited.
Response COuntrywide.
1--WE must have had between $4,000 an,
100, 900 active agents working day ant
night calling upon individual citizens [,
do what they could to help their countr,
by lending money. The response wa
universal. People came from the mos
remote parts Of the country. bringinI
stores Of gold. A great deal Of gold anS
Continued on Third Page.
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