BOOK CORNER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 36, 13 February 1939, Page 10

BOOK CORNER

FOREIGN POLITICS "CZECHOSLOVAKIA WITHIN,” by Bertram de Colonna (Thornton, Butterworth, per Rowell’s), pp. 105. This book is an excellent piece of propaganda from the standpoint of the Fascist States. It is red hot writing which proves that the State of Czechoslovakia does not exist, that the Czechs imposed a tyranny over the other subject races, that the Sudetens were very badly treated, and his allegations here read convincingly, that the foundation for the Czech States is more mythical than historical and that generally speaking Czechoslovakia was a misbegotten thing. As a sample of writing which is moving men on the Continent of Europe, it tncrits very careful study. The partisanship is apparent. The uninformed reader could not but be impressed by the blazing sincerity or hatred—whichever it is—which speeds Colonna’s pen. The reader should remember, however, that Czechoslovakia did persist in preserving its entity, that it has managed its affairs very well indeed since its establishment, and that the vote of the Sudetenland is so thoroughly one-sided that it. must be regarded as the result of intense propa-

ganda and Since the book was written it has been made clear that Henlein was Hiller's henchman, so presumably the former was subsidised by the Reich, also, unfortunately for the author, the Slovaks have determined to remain the partners of the Czechs. That the Czechs are the western outpost of the Slavs is obvious but only those racially obsessed could object to that. That where Teuton and Slav meet there must be some overlapping and where that occurs the implementing of the principle of selfdetermination will always be difficult of accomplishment and the geographical factor cannot be entirely ignored nor can the economic factor. That the Czechs desired to nationalise the Sudetens can be taken for granted but—assuming the author to be as his name would indicate, an Italian—it is hard for Germans and Italians to object to that. That the Czechs may have made some mistakes is only to have been expected, for after a great war peoples do not calm down quickly. Notwithstanding the words of i warning here given, the book is a fascinating study advancing as it. docs a point of view' not often heard in democratic countries. THE ROUND TABLE, December, 1938. The December issue of the Round Table is a “crisis number.’’ The first article, entitled “The Crisis and the Future,” surveys the international situation as it. developed to its climax at. Munich, examines the altered Europe in which we now live and indicates indispensable conditions that must govern the internal organisation of this country and the conduct of its foreign policy if security and stability are to be achieved. The Round Table is convinced, not indeed that the prospects of an Anglo-German rapprochement is a mirage, but that our hopes will betray us if we pursue it before we have convinced, not only th? German people, but. their rulers, of our will and our ability to defend the Commonwealth and the political ideas by which it lives This, surely, is no moment for negotiating from weakness or for concessions, v.ncier whatever pretence of jus.ice, in the colonial or any other sphere that may comport grave risks la the security of the Commonwealth.” While this article is concerned with policy—and more particularly with future policy- the succeeding article under the title “Czechoslovakia: a Survey” provides an informed narrative of the events. German, Czech and Polish diplomacy are analysed, and by means of quotations from letters received by the waiter from widely different sources in Germany a picture of the mind of the German people under the prospect of immediate war is constructed. While one section hoped for war as a means of avenging the humiliation of the Great War, another desired the same outcome of the crisis in order that the existing regime might be destroyed through a victory by the western Powers. But in any case, the writer holds, in the event of an European war, the vast majority of Germans would have followed the Fuhrer and the surviving remnants of dissidents would have been promptly crushed. The third article— “Overseas Reactions to the Crisis”—is composed of contributions from the United States, India, and each of the British Dominioins. Each contributor describes the immediate reaction of public opinion in the country from which he is writing and the probable results in subsequent policy. This symposium of opinion affords valuable evidence for the effects of the Czechoslovak crisis upon the future relations of the English-speaking world. While the crisis was at its height an unofficial Imperial Conference was being held near Sydney, which—like its predecessor at Toronto —was attended by delegates from Great Britain. each of the Dominions and from India. While being acknowledged experts in the various fields of Commonwealth relations, they were in no sense official representatives. The waiter of the article on “The Sydney Conference” sums up the central question at issue as being: “What comes after Dominion status, and what progressive development can be built upon it, now that full formal equality has been achieved?” All plans for co-operation or for closer ' union, it was agreed at the conferi ence, had to take into account - the i contrast between Great Britain as a

World Power and the Dominions as small Powers, dependent (in varying degrees) upon external protection. To meet this fundamental inequality in stature as well as differences between the member-nations in internal composition and local circumstance, proposals were considered for an elastic system under which certain units could agree to “collaborate,” while others would limit themselves to “co-ordination.” A parallel suggestion was the creation of areas of “regional responsibility” for defence. Finally, there was general agreement that the long-term objective of co-operation could not be found within the British Commonwealth itself, which must “look beyond its own limits to an international end, a moral purpose.”

The lesson of the Czechoslovak ( crisis from the point of view of the , United States is set out by an American contributor in an article entitled “Drive for American Unity.” Ap- J preciation of the increased weakness , of the democracies since the Munich ‘ settlement, in relation to the Berlin-Rome-Tokio axis has led the President to concentrate upon unity in ‘ America—conciliation at home be- . tween the New Deal and big business and renewed efforts under United States’ leadership to present a united front on the part of all the American nations against. Nazi or Fascist ; penetration. The significance of the i mid-term elections is also considered. ( Two further articles complete the ; survey of the crisis and its various repercussions. One—“ The Economic . Regime of the Third Reich”—provides . a lucid exposition of the economic structure of present-day Germany. ; After explaining the tremendous i political power, both —internally and i in foreign relations, that the system I engenders, the writer concludes: “If i it has banished doubt and despair among the sorely tried population of l Germany, it has produced little happiness or comfort. The atmosphere j seems always to be tense and strained. ] It is overcharged with purpose.” . The last of these articles explains the somewhat mysterious part played ’ by the Soviet Union during the recent ■ crisis by tracing the rise of Stalin and , his privileged bureaucracy to ; supreme power with the resultant : paralysis of the Red Army. Finally a full “Documentary Anthology of the Crisis” is provided, which includes not only official documents such as the Chamberlain-Hit-ler correspondence at Godesberg and the terms of the Munich settlement (with illustrative maps), but. also extracts from Parliamentary speeches, Hitler’s broadcasts from Nuremberg and Berlin, etc. It constitutes a record for reference purposes of permanent value. There are also the usual articles from Great Britain, India and the Dominions in which domestic developments are discussed. Inevitably Ihe dominant theme in each case is “Defence.” FICTION "SIX GOLDEN ANGELS,” b\ Max Brand (Hodder and Stoughton), pp. 284. A party whereat six golden women are present. The benefactor of them all is murdered. Who did it ? The nephew who is the heir of the murdered man takes up the trail which leads to the underworld of New York. The stories of this kind usually comprise of a series of situations in which the mdst unlikely character eventually proves to be the villain. In this story the author has given a fine assortment of villains and sufficient circumstantial evidence to hang a good many of them. The story is exciting although the plot is perhaps too complex. “THE WIND CHANGES,” by Olivia Manning (Johnathan Cape, Ltd.) pp. 320.—Having read as much of this book as he can manage the present reviewer wonders why it was written and still more why it was ever published. A flat, uninteresting girl, who should have busied herself with earning a decent living spends most of her time running about after two men who don’t seem to be parI ticularly interested in her, save at odd moments because of her promiscuity. There is a background of Irish R.ebellio.n and plotting, but nobody cares about the whole sorry shooting match because nothing has been achieved by all this occupation of plotting murders and wasting of time which could have been put to better use. In short, I “The Wind Changes” is a dud. “PULL THE HOUSE DOWN,” by Mabel M. Tyrrell (Hodder and Stoughton) pp. 288.—This author is now well-known for the sympathy which she evokes for her characters. The House has a spirit of its own, the first generation that came to own it i had some dark spots in its mind. Old Will remembered when walked in the road as A. E. W. Mason once put it and the purchase of the House was his triumph, but it was an oppressive one. The second generation added to the oppressive nature of the House and the third generation desired to brighten up the Home by the adoption of two children. These children enjoy the life of the young moderns ot London who hope to live Ai’.hout work and prefer scheming to real toil. It is not a desirable crowd with which they run and one may wonder why they do so. At the end of the book some unexpected skeletons tumble out of unusual cupboards and the House is pUlled down to good purpose. This author does not exhaust her talents and she could crowd her canvas less and grip her audience more by •so doing, but those who have read her previous novels will see in this book a definite progression of her pen and of her imagination.