19 JULY 1940

Page 1

NEWS OF THE WEEK

The Spectator

T HERE will be profound uneasiness at the result of the nego- tiations between the British and Japanese Foreign Ministers in regard to the arms traffic on the Burma Road. This...

Japan's New Government The fall of the Government in Japan

The Spectator

shows that the danger to the Western Powers is far from imaginary. The dissatis- faction with the late Government was no doubt due in part to financial and economic...

Mr. Roosevelt Chosen

The Spectator

The form of words in which President Roosevelt conveyed to the Democratic Convention at Chicago on Tuesday his own views on the question of his renomination was obviously...

Page 2

The Dictatorship in France

The Spectator

The change of political structure which has been effected in France by resolution of the National Assembly was described in a German broadcast as a " formal and superficial...

More Taxes Coming

The Spectator

The Chancellor of the Exchequer is to introduce a Supp mentary Budget next Tuesday and impose additional taxati Since national expenditure has now gone up by L2,000,000 day...

Justice for Aliens

The Spectator

The volume of criticism of the Government's policy regar ing aliens is growing, and growing - rightly. Every day di correspondence columns of the daily Press contain records...

The Democratic Platform

The Spectator

Mr. Roosevelt's adoption makes the Convention " platform," and in particular its declarations on foreign policy, less im- portant than they might have been, for the President...

Trial of Civilians in War - Zones The House of Commons did

The Spectator

not neglect to remind Sir John Anderson last Tuesday that even in war-time it intends to be fully consulted before the procedure of the trial of civilians for offences is...

Page 3

As a postscript I ought to add that there is

The Spectator

a strong feeling on all sides over the treatment of refugees and aliens. Some action will be necessary immediately.

In the absence of Mr. Tom Williams, the only Labour

The Spectator

front- bencher with any knowledge of agriculture, Lord Wolmer wound up for the improvised Opposition, only to find Mr. Williams himself replying for the Government, which he did...

Sir John Anderson introduced an innocent little Bill on Tuesday

The Spectator

called Emergency Powers (Defence) (No. 2). Appar- ently the object of the Bill is to avoid the necessity of establishing military courts. But, as he unfolded his plans bit by...

he Overseas Migration

The Spectator

However convincing the Government's reasons, voiced by It. Attlee on Tuesday, for the suspension of the scheme for e migration of children to the Dominions and the United tates...

The Scottish debate was introduced by Mr. Ernest Brown, who

The Spectator

is neither a Scotsman nor a farmer. Why must we con- tinue to put politics before national interests? Scottish rural Members enlivened the discussion, but, as in England, no...

hreatened Music

The Spectator

The London Philharmonic Orchestra, deprived at the out- eak of war of the financial support of its wealthy patrons, ved itself from dissolution by reconstituting itself on a...

erves About Morale

The Spectator

There are rather disturbing signs that the authorities who ke it their business to stimulate or sustain public morale er from more agitation of mind themselves than the pulace...

The Week in Parliament

The Spectator

Our Parliamentary correspondent writes: —On Thursday Mr. Hudson, the new Minister of Agriculture, earned the approbation of Mr. Lloyd George for his first Parliamentary defence...

The Spectator

Page 4

THE MORAL FACTOR IN TOTAL WAR

The Spectator

T HE Prime Minister's broadcast last Sunday will have been recognised by all who know this country and most of those who fear it as the authentic voice of the British nation. He...

Page 5

A SPECTATOR'S NOTEBOOK

The Spectator

HE policy, approved by the Foreign Office and strongly disapproved by the Ministry of Economic Warfare, of easing e blockade for Italy in the days when she was still a " non-...

The reason there has not been more outcry against the

The Spectator

rationing of tea is partly that the nation is in a mood to accept cheerfully any restrictions it is told are necessary, and partly that the people who are hardest hit are least...

At a time when Blenheim bombers and Hurricane and Spit-

The Spectator

fire fighters figure in Air Ministry communiqués every day of the week, we owe as a matter of decency (an aviator friend suggests to me) some acknowledgement to two personages...

Mr. Matsuoka, the new Japanese Foreign Minister, played a prominent

The Spectator

part in the Manchuria discussions at Geneva in 1932, when he distinguished himself in one speech by likening Japan to Christ, 6rucified by the European Powers. The Chinese...

While on the subject of headlines, let me quote this,

The Spectator

from another daily paper the same day, both as a good example of the Americanisation of the British Press and as a stimulus to unravellers of the enigmatic: FINE FOR KING...

Opinions will differ as to the general value of Otto

The Spectator

Strasser's new book, Hitler and I, and it has always to be remembered that in a conversation between two people one participant's subsequent version of what was said might not...

Whether President Roosevelt accepts nomination for a third term or

The Spectator

not he will have achieved a record, as far as I can remember, by even receiving it. On the face of it that seems not to be true, for the other Roosevelt—Theodore—was nominated...

GORING'S BLUSTER AT BRITAIN says a headline in The Times,

The Spectator

over an article based on long quotations from the National Zeitung, " the mouthpiece of Goring." I can't help thinking that this " mouthpiece " busi- ness is being overdone....

Page 6

THE WAR SURVEYED : THE RIDDLE OF AFRICA

The Spectator

By STRATEGICUS N O one can pretend to like the evacuation of Moyale, follow- ing upon the capture of Kassala, Gallibat and Kurmuk, and it would be useless to contend that the...

Page 7

THE TIME PROBLEM

The Spectator

By J. B. PRIESTLEY othing has done more to familiarise the general public with hat is commonly known as " the time problem" than Mr. estley's plays " Time and the Conways" and...

Page 8

THE FUTURE OF FRANCE

The Spectator

By A FRENCH CORRESPONDENT W ITH a stroke of the pen " Philippe Pertain, Marshal of France," has erased a century and a half of history and destroyed the republican and...

THE HOME GUARD

The Spectator

By LORD GORELL T ORD CROFT, replying to a debate in the House of Lords 1 . on July it th on the constitution and progress of the Local Defence Volunteer Corps, or the Home...

Page 9

AMERICA'S HELP

The Spectator

By ERWIN D. CANHAM By Air Mail W ITH the nomination of Wendell L. Willkie as Republican Presidential candidate, and the prospective nomination by the Democrats of either Mr....

Page 10

PERSPECTIVE IN WAR

The Spectator

By KENNETH LINDSAY, M.P. T HE campaign recently inaugurated against the inclusion of books in the projected Purchase Tax turns out to be part of a much larger issue. There is a...

Page 11

A NEW WAY WITH WAR WOUNDS

The Spectator

By OUR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT A GAINST the evils of war must be set the experience and lessons that it has provided for surgeons. It was during the wars of the sixteenth century...

FALLING FLOWERS

The Spectator

FROM the high pavilions the guests have all gone ; In the small gardens dishevelled blossoms drop to the ground Scattered unevenly they lie across the crooked paths, Far in the...

Page 12

The End of the Tunnel

The Spectator

LIBERTE, EGALITE, FRATERNITE By CHARLES MORGAN W HEN a speculator acquires the home of a great faddy and turns it into a block of flats, he does not, unfor- tunately, change...

Page 13

COUNTRY LIFE

The Spectator

Medicinal Herbs HERBS, to most of us, mean mint and parsley ; chervil and tarra- gon, perhaps, to the more ambitious. Of medicinal herbs our generation knows little or nothing....

Their Collection

The Spectator

All herbs and roots are required dried. The term herb means the whole plant growing above ground ; it does not include the root. The colour of such plants, cut off at ground...

THE CINEMA

The Spectator

4 , Let George Do It." At the Empire.---.. His Girl Friday." At the Regal. GEORGE FORMBY might well be described as the English Fernandel. Both in mood and in size of mouth the...

Their Prices The current prices of these roots and herbs

The Spectator

must, to the lay mind, be quite staggering. Elder flowers are now quoted at 65s. per cwt., foxglove leaves 95s., marigold flowers 120S. Among the nightmares of all gardeners I...

In the Garden July is an excellent month for the

The Spectator

sowing and planting of certain winter crops, the value of which is now so enormously increased. A new garden, a vacant piece of ground, a plot cleared of earlier crops—all these...

Page 14

, g CAN THE POPE SPEAK ?"

The Spectator

Sit,—" Can the Pope Speak? " by Christopher Hollis, is a yen interesting and valuable article. But how can a writer of such keen intelligence believe and maintain (as he appears...

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Spectator

[In view of the paper shortage it is essential that letters on these pages should be brief. We are anxious not to reduce the number of letters, but unless they are shorter they...

Sra,—Surely Dr. Selbie is wrong in making these two words

The Spectator

alterna- tives, whereas in- truth Dogma is really the expression in words of Doctrine, as ratified by the decision of a Council, which has subse- quently received the acceptance...

SIR,—With reference to Dr. Selbie's letter : the dictionary meaning

The Spectator

of " dogma " (apart from its use as an abusive epithet) is: " Opinion ; the body of opinion formulated and authoritatively stated ; a doctrinal system." The relevance or...

THE ALIENS PROBLEM

The Spectator

Sne,—The following facts about a refugee for whom I am guarantor and who was an inmate of my house until his internment three weeks ago, deserve publication as an instancy of...

Page 15

FOX AND THE BASTILLE SIR,—Your quotation of Charles James Fox's

The Spectator

words "How much the greatest event that ever happened, and how much the best," as apply- ing to the fall of the Bastille, has the constantly repeated authority of text-boob to...

FRANCE AND ART

The Spectator

Sta,—In his fascinating article on " The Enduring Italy " last week, Mr. Charles Morgan writes : " Paris is a delight because no one there considers it a waste of time to...

" BESIEGED 1 "

The Spectator

silt,—This is no time for nice distinctions or pedantic definitions. Dr. Bailey must know full well what the words " siege " and " besieged" convey to the ordinary person, and...

" ENGLISH QUISLINGS"

The Spectator

S ta,—There is a law of libel. It is unfortunately a bad law, a notoriously bad one, and I am not sufficiently wealthy to risk pub- lishing the names of eminent English...

A VOICE FROM THE RANKS

The Spectator

Sat,—Private Atkins is singularly fortunate. I served for four years in the O.T.C. and took a first-class University degree ; but for the last four months I have been engaged on...

RADIO WAR NEWS

The Spectator

Sm,—If Mr. Wansey Bayly's suggestion of twice-daily war news bulletins be adopted it is to be feared that many busy persons will have few chances of hearing any news at all....

MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S MAJORiTY

The Spectator

Sm,—You state in your " News of the Week " that Mr. Chamberlain, who controls a large majority of the House of Commons, is indis- pensable. How many 3f this large majority...

SUPPORT FOR CHINA

The Spectator

Stit,—The weak attitude of appeasement which we seem to be taking in regard to Japan's impudent demand to close the Sino-Burma road ti supplies is profoundly disturbing. Now...

THE PERIL OF IRELAND Sm,—The real danger facing Eire is

The Spectator

that she may drift into a position involving a border clash between her National Army and the British forces in Northern Ireland. From what we know of the Nazi philo- sophy of...

" IF HITLER CAME "

The Spectator

Slit,—If anyone can believe that it would be only a change in name "if Hitler came," your article should enlighten him. Nevertheless, it omits to mention what to some of us is...

Page 16

Germany and the 1914 Crisis

The Spectator

The War Crisis in Berlin, July-August 1914. - By Sir Horace Rumbold. (Constable. as.) ' SIR HORACE RUMBOLD'S name is familiar to every student of the July, 1914, despatches ;...

American Public Opinion

The Spectator

American White Paper : The Story of American Diplomacy and the Second World War. By Joseph Alsop and Robert Kintner. (Michael Joseph. 25. 6d.) Too much attention should not be...

Books of the Day

The Spectator

Man's Place in the Universe " UNTIL human life is longer, and the duties of the present , press less heavily, I do not think that wise men will occupy themselves with Jovian,...

Page 17

The New Nature Writing

The Spectator

Island Years. By F. Fraser Darling. (Bell. 12s.) Birds of the Grey Wind. By Edward A. Armstrong. (Oxford University Press. 12s. 6d.) THE recent revolution in natural history is...

Ursa Major

The Spectator

Johnson Without-Boswell. Edited by Hugh Kingsmill. (Methuen 8s. 6d.) Johnson Without-Boswell. Edited by Hugh Kingsmill. (Methuen 8s. 6d.) THE process of cutting up Doctor,...

Page 18

Hitler in the Chilterns

The Spectator

The Flying Visit. By Peter Fleming. (Cape. 5s.) THE flying visitor of Mr. Fleming's fantasy is Herr Hitler.' The Fiihrer is on a prestige flight over England when, a time-bomb...

The Children Migrate

The Spectator

" BORROWED CHILDREN "—" a popular account of some evacua- tion problems and their remedies "—is, to quote the foreword, " not merely good reading, as interesting' as a novel, an...

Page 20

Crumbs of Comfort

The Spectator

MR. PRIESTLEY, in the course of his magnificent broadcasts . , has described how on two occasions his mind was removed from the present nightmare and briefly refreshed, once by...

Animals and Magic

The Spectator

Pr vats Road. By Forrest Reid. (Faber. toe.. 64:1.1 IN Apostate Mr. Reid told the story of his childhood and youth. In the present volume he takes up the tale where he left it...

Page 22

The Story of the Shannon Where the River Shannon Flows.

The Spectator

By Richard Haywa . (Harrap. I2S. 6d.) FOR a thousand people who have crossed the Shannon at Athlen , or ICillaloe you would scarcely find one who has followed ..‘ stream for...

New Novels

The Spectator

These, Our Strangers. By Adrian Alington. (Chatto and Windus. 8s.) Lady With Jade. By Margaret Mackay. (Harrap. 9s. 6d.) ONE longs almost pathologically at present to open a...

Page 25

Financial Supflement

The Spectator

Paying for the War—An Income Tax Overhaul Needed By " CUSTOS " EVER since this war started we have been warned that it was going to prove inordinately expensive. Now, within...

IMPORTANT NOTICE Readers are again reminded of the necessity of

The Spectator

ordering " The Spectator " regularly, since newsagents can no longer be supplied on sale-or-return terms.

Page 27

War-Time Insurance

The Spectator

THERE is still quite a lot of misunderstanding, or lack of know- ledge, among ordinary folk regarding the effect of war condi- tions on their ability to protect themselves by...

Bank Dividends Maintained

The Spectator

Rise in Deposits and Bills CITY hopes that the banks would see fit to maintain their interim dividends have been fulfilled. All the " Big Six " are paying their half-yearly...

Page 30

TELEPHONE RENTALS, LIMITED

The Spectator

CONTRIBUTION TO THE NATIONAL EFFORT Tits annual general meeting of Telephone Rentals, Ltd., was held on July 15th at West Dulwich. Mr. Fred T. Jackson (chairman and managing...

FINANCE AND INVESTMENT

The Spectator

By CUSTOS WRAT with another Budget next week and sundry dark predic- tions of Hitler's invasion date, markets have done remarkably well to hold practically the whole of their...

COMPANY MEETINGS

The Spectator

BRITISH GLUES AND CHEMICALS CONTINUED PROGRESS THE twentieth ordinary general meeting of British Glues and Chemi- cals, Limited, was held on July 17th at the Connaught Rooms,...

Page 31

COMPANY MEETING

The Spectator

OTTOMAN BANK DIVIDEND 3s. 6d. PER SHARE THE annual general meeting of the Ottoman Bank, adjourned from June 25 last, was held on July 17 at Winchester House, Old Broad Street,...

SOLUTION TO CROSSWORD No. 71

The Spectator

Lo IGO ie A T E 3 , r4 o t O p r . A le T 4 6 , IRIE mot L. MA x-t I N Lie IC il - .R I E S 3 A L 0 . SOLUTION The winner of Crossword No. 71 is Rose Smurthwaite, 23. Champion...

"THE SPECTATOR" CROSSWORD No. 72

The Spectator

[A prize of a Book Token for one guinea will be given to the sender of the first correct solution of this week's crossword p• ,,, r, to be opened. Envelopes should b. marked...