A MISCELLANEOUS PARCEL

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 103, 3 May 1919, Page 16

A MISCELLANEOUS PARCEL

CASE FOB THE JUGO-SLAV.

"Tho Fight for Freedom." By G. L. Scansie, Editor. Gordon and Gotch, WeUington.

Mr. Scansie, editor of "Zora" ("Tlie Dawn") and President of the Sloveno-Serbo-Croatian League of Independence, sets out in "The Fight For Freedom" the case for the Jugo-Slavs. Incidentally, lie shows that the .Tugo-Slavs of tho.Auckland district, although they were Austrians in a political sense and wore popularly known as such, were, on the contrary, anything but "aliens enemy" in race, sentiment, and sympathies. They took the earliest opportunity of renouncing all connection with Austria-Hungary, and this they did in a public manner by destroying the Austria-Hungarian flag in Auckland. Furthermore, many of their young men, according to Mr. Scansie, "served with honour and distinction in the New Zealand forces." In England the Jugo-Slav was recognised as on an equal footing with Allied subjects. He pleads for tolerance and justice of the Jugo-Slavs in JS"ew Zealand on tho ground that they are mainly hard-working men, conducting themselves as indtistrious and loyal citizens. "Even in the days when the espionage scare was at its height, the finger of suspicion was never pointed at them." Mr.. Scansie. puts down the Jugo-Slavs of the world as 12,840,000, of whom 800,000 live as emigrants overseas. Tliey consist of Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes, and form the compact population of Serbia, Montenegro, tho Jugo-Slav provinces of tho Austria-Hungary (7,000,000), and the Italian district west of Gorizia, or Gorica. They have always desired to form an independent State and to lead their own national life free from all domination. The Austrian-Ger-mans and Magyars are their hereditary enemies. Mr. Scansie denies that the Jugo-Slavs have leanings to Bolshevism. While they are truly democratic they are also truly nationalistic; but a strong Jugo-Slav State would be an effective barrier to the spread of Bolshevism southward.

The editor then furnishes in ably collated form documents consisting of official records of the Jugb-Slavs' War Aims Committee meeting held at the Mansion House, London, in' July last; Prince Alexander of Serbia's proclamation of Christmas last at Belgrade, convoking the national (Serbo-Slovene-Croat) Assembly; and much other official matter relating to the Jugo-Slav right to self-determina-tion. The attitude of Italy towards the Jugo-Slavs is described by Mr. Scansie as "cl_aim_Jumping." "The Italians (he writes) saw in the -Austrian debaole_ a golden opportunity for claim-jumping r and1 by their conduct they havo fanned the dying embers of Italo-Jugo-Slav rivalry into a fierce flame, which is dangeil--ous to' the long-dreamed settlement of Europe on sound lines of nationalism and a, menace to the peace of tho world." Mr. Scansie ably puts the vexed Adriatic, question from the Jugo-Slavic point of view. The whole work on the rather, difficult subject of Jugo-Slav aspirations and rights is timely and has been very well done. It is a work of special interest at the moment £ when Italy is insisting on her Adriatic claims.

"The Nature of Being: an Essay in Ontology." By Henry H. Slesser. George Allen and Unwin, Ltd., London.

This is a deep and erudite statement of "the philosophy dealing with the nature of Being"—to use the Encyclopaedia Britannica's definition of ontology. The work is not one for the general reader, but rather for the philosopher and student of philosophy. The writer holds that "Being is outside knowledge, though knowledge is an aspect of Being." Further, when philosophers affirm that "we cannot transcend Knowledge, they may be correct if they are using the phrase merely in the sense that Being can only be known conceptionally, but their doctrine is unsound if they draw the further inference that because Being is only to be predicated through Knowledge, the assertion of Being beyond Knowledge is absurd. It is extraordinary, with the example of mathematical infinity before them,' itself incomputable, not to speak of the theological assertion of God, that so many metaphysicians should have sought to thrust the Totality of Being into- tho Spanish boots of Knowledge as unknowable, and in that very process affirm its transcendency. Yet, inasmuch as Being can only be appreciated in Knowledge, so ontoiogy cannot arrogate to itself the consolation of finality. However deeply wo may prospect the mystery of Being, we should be committing a gross' philosophic solecism if, at the end, we regard our conclusions as anything but tentative."

"Shadows," and other verses. By Edward Tregear. WMtcombe and Tombs, Wellington.

Mr. Tregear needs no introduction as a public servant in the best and fullest sense of the words; but outside the wide circle of his friends he is not perhaps so well known as a writer of graceful verse. For his friends he has had collected some of this verse. It is varied as to subject and treatment; also it affords glimpses of the personality of its author. This little poem, perhaps more than any other, may be identified with Mr. Tregear's ambition— , v Oak on the ridge was I! Tossing my boughs to the sky ;• Princes should dwell in my shade j Weapons from me be made; . Dead, I would flame afar, A beacon-call to War ! God of my changedl desire.l Make me a common fire; Let my enkindled wood Comfort the multitude, Guiding to warmth and light Souls a-gropo. in the night.

Ballads of old Chartist days are suggestod by "Worn Out," the dirge of .a man "sacked" on account of age. It shows which way Mr. Tregear's sympathies do lie. In "A Whisper of God," ho assumes the mantle of the prophet. Quoting the text I. Kings xix., 11-12— the wondorful picture of Elijah on Mount Carmel, when the "still, small voice" came to him —Mr. Trogear sees only dire results for the world- unless it mends its ways— Now is tho hour of "still small voice"— This the Immutable Word "Justice and mercy and service!"—or the Edge of Anarchy's.sword! This is "The Day." Will ye live? or pass with the sins that are done? Haxk to the owls that hoot over, the dust that was Babylon! Hear ye no whisper of God, old world ? Na-y ? rv Bleep on!

This collection of verse will be prized quite as much for its intrinsic merits as verse, as for the fact that they express the emotions of a man with a large heart and broad vision.