EUROPEAN PROBLEMS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 148, 18 March 1939, Page 2 (Supplement)

EUROPEAN PROBLEMS

Differing National Points Of View “Foreigners Aren’t Knaves,” by Christopher Hollis (London: Longmans). In some respects this small book might be regarded as unsatisfactory. It, in a way. purports to be a review of' the present international situation, and there is a groping into the future possibilities. First, there is the natural question whether the Munich crisis lias wrought a peace or a postponed war. The book is in form an exchange of letters by two apparently normal men who take the average, or a little more than the average, interest in things beyond their home confines. One raises the position of Hitler and the reasons for his attitude. There is the usual realization of the weaknesses of the peace terms after the Great War. But there is the admission, which is often overlooked, that times then did not make for long views. One accuses the other of pacifism. Of course we are all pacifists, but few are ready to go to the length of stopping all defence measures as an example to the others. We rightly suspect the high-minded-ness of international friendliness of our potential aggressors. The real virtue of this book is that it presents the points of view of the problems that face the different European countries at the moment, and there is some clarification of the position. There is, however, an obscurity as to the immediate probabilities where one might have reasonably expected some enlightenment. The whole situation is shown to be as complex as it possibly could be. The chances of a return of the colonies, particularly the African colonies, is discussed and the result seems to be that they would afford no solution of the German needs. Before the war there were not many Germans in the German African colonies, and there is not that natural wealth necessary for the German home requirements. The author thinks that the Japanese movements in China have had the effect of creating a fear in India, making its inhabitants realize the necessity of their remaining part of the British Empire. The book concludes with the reflection that the future peace .of world de[>ends on the world turning again to Christian practices, a neighbourliness towards foreigners and a Christian tolerance. That must be right, but the. achievement of that end seems to be a long journey through this world of suspicious, selfish humans. The book is well worth reading for the purpose of putting one au fait with the general situation.