Initiation and initiative : an exploration of the life and ideas of Dimitrije Mitrinović

160 LIFE AND IDEAS OF MITRINOVIC

members to be more tolerant of the annoying habits of others—seeing them not merely as personal idiosyncracies but as whitie, blackie, or monster characteristics.

Apart from such ‘natural’ groups as those based on sex, age and colour, there were more temporary or transient groups formed and reformed. Frequently the focus of the group would be upon some public activity or other. Although the New Britain movement had ceased to exist in 1935 the area of public endeavour had not been completely abandoned. After 1936 a number of the group members were closely involved with the House of Industry League.!® Moreover, whilst the Eleventh Hour had ceased publication in the summer of 1935, a continuous stream of leaflets, pamphlets and news-sheets continued to be issued. Many of these were published in the name of the New Europe Group which continued to organise lectures, luncheons and discussions. Occasionally these activities would reach fever pitch, as at the time of the Munich Crisis. In the two week period following September 20th 1938, the New Europe Group was responsible for fly-posting thousands of copies of sixteen separate posters throughout London. In addition some 20,000 leaflets were printed and distributed and scores of telegrams despatched to political leaders and opinion-makers throughout Europe. The call was for an American alliance with Britain and the establishment of a federation of Europe with Prague as its capital.!? The longest telegram was to Rudolph Hess. He did not reply. The Archbishop of York, Dr. Temple, was sure that “in the long run the Federation of Europe is the only solution of the problem . . .” but Robert Dell telegraphed back his opinion that the proposal was “inopportune and quite impracticable.”

In addition to the groups primarily concerned with external tasks, there were groups formed for a myriad of other purposes—for study; for dealing with visitors, potential patrons and newcomers; there were also on occasions attempts to create a model of the three-fold state within the group as a whole. One particular ‘constitution’ had three groups of people, all men, concerned with economics, culture and politics. They had their own particular names. ‘Potentat,’ which was concerned with economic and financial affairs of the group; ‘Orientat, which was concerned with cultural matters; and ‘Administrat, representing politics, which was made up of those members who were active in outside endeavours such as the New Europe Group and had links with other organisations. Each group sent delegates to the others. It sounds like some enormous role play situation, with the participants playing out the various parts allotted to them, perhaps as a rehearsal for larger scale experiments that might one day have to be mounted. To those taking part, however, it was for real. They were a community of people