ts full consideration. Amongst the letters are intimate human
documents which pathetically disclose, as does professional experience,
how frequently happiness is marred by ignorance of either the principles
or the methods which should condition the true conception of sexual
relationships.

I elected to deal with these relationships in their healthy rather than
their morbid aspects, because the study of health is a sure way to
lessen disease. Mere denunciations of evil serve but small purpose. The
aim of statesmanship is rather to seek out causes and ponder over
remedies, and prominent among remedies is surely the study of the
significance and purport of sex love in a well-ordered and Christian
community and provision for its healthy outlet. To this the first part
of my speech was devoted. The view there upheld has brought forth a
large measure of agreement and no reasoned disagreement.

The second part of my speech dealing with birth control (or what in
strict accuracy should be called conception control) has aroused more
controversy, but I venture to think that some, at least, of the
criticism directed against my argument will disappear with a perusal of
this full text of my speech. Therein will be found condemnation of
infertile marriages and a strong plea that children are essential to the
health and happiness of man and woman, are necessary to each other and
of vital importance to the nation.

The difference between my critics and myself is not as to the vital
necessity of the family following marriage, but rather this--they would
like to see the large families prevalent fifty years ago restored (and
where means and circumstances are favourable, such large families may be
the source of much happiness); whereas under present-day conditions I
should regard them as seldom attainable and desirable, and would favour
smaller families of children born at predetermined intervals.

A married couple who have produced four children in twenty years cannot
be said to have ignored the precept "be fruitful and multiply and
replenish the earth" because they have so selected the times for the
conceptions of their children as to enable them to give those children a
better upbringing rather than have selfishly left the sequence of their
offspring to blind chance.

The argument that the nation should foster large families in order more
quickly to people the untenanted portions of the Empire, and so add to
the strength and wealth o