20 SEPTEMBER 1940

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NEWS OF THE WEEK

The Spectator

I. HE conclusion to be drawn from the Prime Minister's succinct and sober statement in the House of Commons on Tuesday is that the present phase of the war has not yet reached...

The Invasion of Egypt

The Spectator

The Italian invasion of Egypt from Sollum along the Mediterranean coastal route is doubtless planned to synchronise with the projected invasion of Britain. The advancing army at...

The War in the Air

The Spectator

The week that has passed has been one of air warfare such as the world has never before experienced. It has been marked on the ierman side by ruthless indiscriminate bombing of...

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Germany and Spain

The Spectator

The visit of Senor Sutler, the Spanish Minister of the Interior and General Franco's brother-in-law, to Berlin is an event that may have political consequences of some...

Conscription for the United States

The Spectator

The passage of the Conscription Bill in the Senate by 47 votes to 25 and in the House by 232 votes to 124, marks the triumph of a policy which the President has long been...

Russia Protests to Germany

The Spectator

The protest addressed by the Soviet Union to Germa ny against the holding of a Danubian conference in which it was not represented appears to have been a strong one. It is...

Rumania's New Government

The Spectator

In Rumania General Antonescu has constructed a Cabinet in which he himself holds the positions of Leader of the State, Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence, whilst M. Horia...

Bomb-proof Shelters

The Spectator

The A.R.P. Co-ordinating Committee has once again been pressing on Sir John Anderson the policy of building deep steel and concrete bomb-proof shelters which long ago were advo-...

The Presidential Contest

The Spectator

The American Presidential campaign has now formally opened, and the Republican candidate, Mr. Wendell Wilikie, finds himself in some difficulty at the outset. As an honest man...

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All this and much more will need to be done

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if the structure of government and social services is to equal the magnificent spirit of the Londoners and the country. A new challenge faces the institutions and social...

It is, however, no secret that some discussion took place

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on the condition of London and that the discussion served a most useful purpose in conveying to Ministers helpful and constructive criticism. Total war demands heroic and far-...

The country and Parliament are completely united, but even in

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these sombre and yet glorious days it is imperative that the Executive be fully informed of the views of Members, so that Members can exercise an informed influence in the con-...

If the people wish to be reassured that every kind

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of reason- able grievance will be considered, that measures adequate to every new phase of the war will be undertaken, there still remains the High Court of Parliament....

Passenger-Services on the Thames

The Spectator

London's great natural highway, the Thames, so much neglected during the last century as an artery for London passenger traffic, is coming into its own again in these days of...

The Welfare of the Troops With autumn approaching and winter

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not far ahead, and troops on service all over Britain in numbers exceeding any- thing before • known in this country, it is gratifying to hear of measures which are being taken...

Accommodation for the Homeless

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The problem of finding sufficient and comfortable enough shelters for the people in bombed areas is not the only problem arising out of the Nazis' indiscriminate attacks upon...

Parliamentary Notes

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Our Parliamentary Correspondent writes: It was quite obvious that the House of Commons would not be in a mood to discuss physical training in view of the serious air bombard-...

The Editor expresses regret for the late arrival of The

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Spectator in many cases last week. The paper appeared Punctually at the usual hour ; over subsequent delays in trans- portation and distribution the publisher has no controL

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THE BATTLE OF LONDON

The Spectator

T HE battle for the destruction of the soul as well as the substance of the capital of the Empire continues. The situation in the past week has shown no decisive change. Goering...

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I am 'told that in more than one district of

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London, particu- larly where there have been bad bombings, persons have been taking round from door to door a petition urging that peace negotiations should be opened, to stop...

There is a good deal of perplexity about the five

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French cruisers and other vessels which passed through the Straits of Gibraltar a few days ago and are said to have arrived at Dakar, the strategically important port in French...

The Ministry of Health is urging local authorities to take

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a liberal view of their duties- in the matter of the repair of raid- struck houses, and to cut forms and formalities to a minimum. I hope the Petroleum Department will do the...

The question whether some immunity could be secured for London

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from German bombers by a considered warning of some form of reprisals raises a triple question, psychological, strategic and ethical. Crude reprisal there certainly will not be,...

The action of Lieutenant Davies and his staff in unearthing,

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removing and destroying the vast time-bomb that threatened St. Paul's Cathedral has rightly been seized on by the public imagination as the most spectacular example of cool and...

A SPECTATOR 'S NOTEBOOK

The Spectator

S OME single authority, it is clear, with a man of proved and exceptional competence at the head of it, ought to take in hand the problem of London under fire. Admirably—indeed...

Whether you can or can't change human nature is an

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old and vexed question. But that you can change feline nature— or at least that Hitler can—I have proved in the past week. A cat that had been independent and stand-offish to...

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THE WAR SURVEYED : THE GERMAN OBJECTIVE

The Spectator

By STRATEG ICUS P IECE by piece the various parts of the German plan are falling into shape, and if it is not possible at present to see the whole design, it seems equally...

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ICELAND AND THE WAR

The Spectator

By SNiEBJCIRN JONSSON Reykjavik I CELAND exports the bulk of what she produces, and im- ports most of what she consumes. Thus the size of her trade is out of all proportion to...

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FRANCE'S FOOD POSITION

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By PETER MACKAY SOREN T HE facts about French food resources are important. Quite 1 apart from political considerations they might—and indeed do—prove that the French people...

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AN ANZAC ON ENGLAND

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By SYDNEY MELBOURNE T HE average Australian possesses a critical and enquiring mind, and some average Australians have had many surprises since their arrival in England. Here...

OFF THE BOARDS

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By B. MONTAGU SCOTT H E is no longer young. He served with gallantry in the last War. You saw him last, perhaps, playing a small but important part in a Shakespearean...

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COUNTRY LIFE

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A White Migration The group of biologists who have been pioneers into that odd corner of science, the migration of insects, took some suggestive observations during the immense...

Intensive Cultivation What a deal of food can be produced

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from a small plot! For innumerable years I have taken a particular interest in intensive cultivation, and still regard Prince Kropotkin's Fields, Factories and Workshops as one...

An Ominous Dove

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We were watching the grim wonder of the searchlights, the wicked sparking of shells and an occasional flare, when a pure white pigeon appeared from nowhere and perched within...

THE CINEMA

The Spectator

"I Was an Adventuress." At the Odeon-"Yesterday's Over Your Shoulder." At all Cinemas. IT seemed at first as though the aerial blitzkrieg would close cinemas both in London and...

IMPORTANT NOTICE Readers are again reminded of the necessity of

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

Dreary Gleams

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A chance allusion to the curlew's note and to Tennyson's " dreary gleams" has brought an interesting note on that popular passage, recording Tennyson's own views on his phrase....

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INDIA AND THE PRINCES

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Sul,—As a State subject I hope I may be given space to make a few :omments on Mr. R. G. Shahani's article. I see very little real know- ledge in the article and thus presume...

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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[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...

THE FUTURE OF INDIA

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Snt,—Has not Canon Davies in your September 6th issue fallen into the common error of identifying the Congress with " India "? Ad- mittedly it is the largest and most...

Sin,—In your September 6th issue the Dean of Worcester asks

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the plain question, If the Congress party demands the immediate and absolute independence of India, why do we not readily grant it? The reply is: (r) The Congress party are a...

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LIMITATION OF SUPPLIES ORDER, 1940

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Sta,—You make the comment that the latest unemployment figures are puzzling, not to say disquieting. Disquieting, yes, but purIling, hardly, in view of the Limitation of...

THE POLICY OF MUNICH

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Sm,—Is it not time that The Spectator placed an embargo on cheap sneers at the policy of Munich? See Professor Brogan's article in your issue of September 6th. In the light of...

PHYSICAL TRAINING OF YOUTH

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SIR,—I feel sure that the great majority of those connected with youth organisations will be as doubtful as your Parliamentary Correspondent about the prospect of success of Mr....

THE OVERSEAS BROADCASTS

The Spectator

Sta,—Mr. Crookshank's letter would have been more effective had it been more reasonable and less querulous. No doubt our overseas broadcasts could be improved, but to impart...

PURCHASE-TAX HARDSHIPS

The Spectator

Stst,—There is one aspect of the purchase-tax that appears to hart es:aped public notice. Its intention is to reduce consumption of non- essentials, and its incidence has been...

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B.B.C. BROADCASTS

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SIR,—The letter from a correspondent in your issue dated Septem- ber 6th on the inefficacy . of Overseas broadcasts applies equally to " Home " programmes, and appears to...

BRITISH BOOKS IN U.S.A.

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Sm,—In one of his admirable and invaluable radio talks to the United States, Mr. J. B. Priestley sponsored the cause of English writers and urged people here to buy and read...

WASTED TALENT

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Sta,—Before this war commenced, like most people, I had a desire to do my " bit," so I joined the Territorials, and having a very good knowledge of building construction,...

DECORATIONS FOR MERIT

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Sm,—Herewith some suggestions for the consideration of the Authorities on the subject of awards and decorations, which I believe would meet the definite and urgent wishes of the...

THE HIGHER BUMBLEDOM

The Spectator

Sta,—An article entiled " The Higher Bumbledom " in The Spectator of September 13th encourages me to ask for space for the ventilation of a personal experience. Of British birth...

THREEPENNY-BITS IN SCOTLAND

The Spectator

SIR,—The tone of Lt.-Col. Lorimer's letter with its sneer at the " average Englishman " is not very happy, and his strictures on the remarks of " Janus " on the above subject...

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Books of the Day

The Spectator

Lessons of the Finnish War IN this strikingly illustrated book Mr. Langdon-Davies gives the impressions he formed of the Russo-Finnish campaign and of the Finnish people after...

Two Great Democracies .

The Spectator

The Democratic ideal in France and England. By David Thomson. (Cambridge University Press. 3s. 6d.) THE new series " Current Problems," edited by Dr. Ernest Barke r, is a most...

Murder of the Mind

The Spectator

Nordic Twilight. By E. M. Forster. (Macmillan. 3d.) MR. FORSTER'S writings are of a rarity that gives them peculiar value. That alone differentiates his monograph from the...

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Fiction

The Spectator

Jacaranda. By Kathleen Bellamy. (Methuen. 8s.) I THINK that the first of this week's three novels is badly named. Its hero, Little Son, afterwards called Manoel de Deus, is an...

History of a Great City

The Spectator

THE third volume of Dr. Redford's book—prepared to com- memorate the centenary of Manchester's incorporation as a borough in 1838—completes a considerable achievement of...

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IN its avowed aim, " to focus as a whole

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and with regard to its bearing on our present problems . . . the literary tradition in Scots," Mr. Speirs' rather stiffly written collection of studies falls far short of Edwin...

Miss Du MAURIER is a follower of Dr. Buchman, and

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the silo sketches collected here are designed to show the value of " Mo Rearmament." Miss du Maurier is rightly described on the cp%, as the author of Rebecca. Actually this...

Shorter Notices

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TWENTY-SEVEN years elapsed 'between the second and third editions of Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Now after a space of half that time Dr. Cones has brought his...

Sea Urchin : The Adventures of Jorgen Jorgensen. By Rhvi

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Davies. (Duckworth. 8s. 6d.) IT was the fate of Jorgen Jorgensen to flourish when the Romantic revival was sweeping Europe. Disdaining his oval little Denmark, he fixed his love...

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FINANCE AND INVESTMENT By CUSTOS

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WITII characteristic sang-froid the City is standing up well to intensified air bombardment. Only a glance at prices is needed to show that the resisting power of markets is...

SOLUTION TO CROSSWORD No. 80

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AIR D E1A L IE AID E N SOLUTION The winner of Crossword No. So is the Rev. Canon C. 13 Ye , Rowe of Trees, Alderley Edge, Manchester. NEXT WEEK

tt THE SPECTATOR " CROSSWORD No. 81

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IA prize of a Book Token for one guinea will be given to the sender of the first correct solution of this week's crossword puzzle to be opened. Envelopes should be marked...