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

POLITICAL INITIATIVES 103

catastrophe grew. So grave was the situation that it called for guerrilla type tactics to jerk people out of their lethargy and resignation. The strategy was to hit them with a continuous stream of new ventures and propaganda ploys—anything that would shake the British especially out of their complacency.?

This sense of urgency and the need for action in the face of impending crisis was reflected as early as 1931 with the launching of the Eleventh Hour Flying Clubs. “Join with us immediately, it is the eleventh hour” it was urged. The call was for European federation as a step towards world federation, financial reform, and the reconstruction of the state. Those who responded to the call were invited to contact Mrs. Helen Soden and Mrs. Ethel Mairet, the wife of Philip Mairet.* People were encouraged to form Eleventh Hour Clubs in any house, town or village “before it is too late.” The emphasis was upon the ability of those of “sound human intelligence” to cooperate together to generate sufficient impetus for the re-ordering of social, economic and political life: “We live together: we must now THINK and prepare to ACT together.” Clubs, once formed, were advised to ally themselyes with others to form a federation: “Together all clubs should constitute a new personal alliance for the regeneration and preservation of our social life.”>

By 1932 the Eleventh Hour Clubs initiative had become the Eleventh Hour Group with offices at 60 Gower Street. In one of their leaflets issued in August 1932, signed by Lilian Slade, the need for financial reform was emphasised:

Science, machinery, workers, can bring to our doors wealth from the ends of the earth to enhance health and comfort and enjoyment. Only one thing is lacking that is the proper distribution of all this wealth. The meaning of money is abused and power has been taken by the few to enslave the many... The XI Hour Group proclaims the possibility of altering this state of affairs... The XI Hour Movement is acting directly towards economic change, by speaking publicly the facts of the present false system and stating the rational way of distributing wealth throughout the community by National control of the issue of credit. This requires a revolution in thought and revolution of will.

In the autumn of 1932 a series of ten lectures at 5S Gower Street were organised under the auspices of the Eleventh Hour Group on the need for monetary reform and social credit.

Another group also blossomed into existence in 1931 which seemed to enjoy an even shorter life than the Eleventh Hour Flying Clubs, to judge from available records. This was The Women’s Guild for Human Order