THE MUNICH PICNIC

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 151, 23 December 1938, Page 15

THE MUNICH PICNIC

WALRUS AND CARPENTER?

Lewis Carroll is supposed to be a soothing author for a crisis, but a glance at "Alice Through the Lookingglass" shows that he was not so safely walled up in an ivory tower as you might suppose, says the "Manchester Guardian." In the poem about the Walrus and the Carpenter one reader finds a frank—indeed, a terrifyingly frank—analysis of the negotiations between Mr. Chamberlain and Herr Hitler to settle (or, perhaps one should say, to "liquidate") the Czechoslovak problem The well-disposed Walrus goes for a walk with the Carpenter, a ruthless but emotional figure. They "weep like anything" to see the mess on the beach, and suggest to *> lot of trusting little oysters that they should go for a walk with them After walking for some time they rest on a rock fßerchtesgaden). and the : Walrus suggest? that it i? time to eat. "But not on. us!" the oysters cried Turning a little blue, "After such kindness, that would be A dismal thing to do!" rhis pathetic protest is apparently ignored. The two diners concoct their plan for the future security of the oysters, though their personal attitudes to-wards their victims are markedly contrasted The Walrus speaks: "It was so kind of you to come! And you are very nice." The Carpenter said nothing but ' "Cut us another slice: i wish you were not quite so deaf— T've had to ask you twice" True to his character, the Walrus maintains perfect courtesy towards the oysters "1 weep for you," the Walrus said: "I deeply sympathise." It was this courtesy that made Alice at • first prefer the Walrus. "You see, he was a little sorry for the poor oysters." But it would be as well to draw a veil over her final comment, when the realist Humpty-Dumpty had explained the inner story of the picnic to her