In the wake of

.

The Wolfenden Report

..WHAT THE MEMBERS OF THE WOLFENDEN COMMITTEE HAVE SAID BETWEEN THE COVERS OF THE BLUE BOOK CAN NEVER AGAIN BE QUITE AS SHOCKING AS BEFORE THEY SAID IT. THEIR PROPOSALS HAVE TAKEN THE FIRST STEP ON THE LONG ROAD THAT LEADS FROM THE OUTRAGEOUS TO THE COMMONPLACE "

BARBARA WOOTTON, TWENTIETH CENTURY MAGAZINE JANUARY 1958

ALTHOUGH THE WOLFENDEN REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS (THE WOLFENDEN COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED THAT HOMOSEXUAL ACTS BETWEEN CONSENTING ADULTS CARRIED OUT IN PRIVATE BE NO LONGER CONSIDERED A CRIME IN ENGLAND.) WERE NOT, AFTER ALL, ACCEPTED BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, THE REPORT EVOKED A CURRENT OF FRANK DISCUSSION IN THE BRITISH PRESS THAT WILL NOT BE ALTOGETHER WASTED, IN OUR OPINION, AND WHICH MAY BE INTERESTING TO THE READERS OF THE LADDER.

MOLLIE PANTER-DOWNES REPORTED IN THE "NEW YORKER MAGAZINE" OF DECEMBER 13, 1958, THAT MOST OF THE ENGLISH PRESS WAS IN FAVOR OF ACCEPTING THE REPORT'S RECOMMENDATIONS. HOWEVER, IT IS NOT CLAIMED THAT THE THREE ARTICLES DISCUSSED BELOW ARE NECESSARILY TYPICAL OF ALL ASPECTS OF BRITISH OPINION.

NEW STATESMAN "RESENTS FAVORABLE VIEW

PROFESSOR A. J. AYER TOOK THE POSITION, IN THE "NEW STATESMAN"! FOR NOVEMBER 22, 1958, THAT THE CASE FOR THE WOLFENDEN REPORT WAS "OVERWHELMING". HE ARGUED THAT SOCIAL REFORM NEED NOT AND SHOULD NOT WAIT UNTIL PUBLIC OPINION IS "READY". WHAT, HE ASKED, WOULD HAVE BEEN THE ENGLISH WORKER'S PLIGHT IF THE FACTORY ACTS OF 1870 HAD WAITED UPON PUBLIC OPINION. (OTHERS IN ENGLAND DID NOT AGREE, FOR THE GOVERNMENT'S REJECTION WAS BASED PRECISELY ON THE GROUND THAT PUBLIC OPINION WAS NOT READY.)