What Hitler Has Brought To His Germans

Radio Record, 9 December 1938, Page 30

What Hitler Has Brought To His Germans

Book That Is Hot On Trail Of Events

HERE is a red-hot topieality that ‘can, give quality to words that surpasses their real worth. I do not suppose anyone would claim that Noel Coward’s ‘‘Cavaleade,’? for instance, was a work of lasting importanee, but it so fitted the mood of the moment when first played that it made a tremendous impact on the public mind.

In the same way, Bruce Lockhart’s new volume, "Guns or Butter," once begun, demands to be read through at breathless pace, because it is as hot on the trail of recent international events 3s hounds on the trail of a hare. In 10 years’ time it will be utterly forgotten by all but the historian, but today it is material to all of us. it is an honest and at times brilliant attempt to examine the palsied body of Europe. And the first step to any cure must be a full understanding of the disease. Bruce Lockhart is a Scot with all the Scot’s thoroughness. Once a young man on a rubber estate in Malaya, he later became attached to the Diplomatic Corps, had a brief eareer in banking in Central Europe, then reached up and picked a plum from the fruity tree of English journalism. He became one of Lord Beaverbrook’s men and wrote most of the well-informed feature of the ‘Even-

o ‘ing Standard," "Diary of a Man About Town." He stuck Fleet Street for seven years, and then Europe and a free hand called him. He went back to gather material for his books, just on the verge of the last Huropean erisis. He saw Hitler march in on Vienna and waiched the clouds gather over Czechoslovakia. He visited Berlin. It is his last two chapters on Berlin and the Germany of Hitler that compel the intense interest of every readey. He likes Germany; he was once a student in Berlin. He has an

open Mind on the V1irwues and SHOrtcomings of Hitler, He finds that aparece from the treatment of Jews, Hitler’s domestic policy has given the Germans hope of happiness. His Gifts He has banished unemployment and he has kept the people fed. There is no longer any flaunting viee on the streets of Berlin. German youth has been given back an ambition, stimulating, if dangerous. Hiiler has won the admiration of his peopie.

The German air force, buit up by Goering, is a machine of amazing power and efficiency. Lindbergh saw it and remarked: "if | were an Englishmar. I should feel uneasy." The persecution of the Jews, the darkest blot on Hitler’s record, baffles Lockhart as it does so many English and American people. He does his best to explain it and leaves one with the feeling--perhaps the truth of the whole shabby business-that it can never be fully explained, that it has its evil roots In some old strange atavistic hate. One thing emerges from all Mr. Lockhart’s inquiries. Everywhere he wert, in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the Balkans-even in Germany itself!-he was told: "Britain must be strong." Only a strong Britain could keep the peace, such as it is, of Europe. '#Quns or Butter." R. H. Bruce Lackhart. Putnam & Co., Ltd. Our copy from the publishers.