LONDON TOPICS

Evening Star, Issue 22571, 12 February 1937, Page 11

LONDON TOPICS

[F«om Ou* Cosrbspondxnt.] [Bx Aik Mail.j January 14. AGADIR AGAIN. History is repeating itself in reverse after a Quarter of a century. Two years before the Great War that catastrophe was almost precipitated by the Agadir incident. The Kaiser sent the gunboat Panther to the Moroccan anchorage as a gesture in assertion of_ German interests. At the time that incident looked far more ominous than did later the Austrian Archduke’s assassination in the. Balkans. Liverpool was in the throes of a dockers’ strike, and Fleet Street chortled over the fact that about a dozen brigadiers were holding conferences in that city’s Town Hall. But the Brass Hats were hardly aware there was a strike. Their sole interest was the remote possibility, if war came, of an invasion on our East Coast. These facts give an awkward significance to the action of France now in sending her fleet to Morocco. Though Paris holds it strongly, the view seems absurd that Hitler can seriously think of seizing Spanish Morocco or Franco of ceding it for services rendered by Germany. Mussolini would have been fooled, and would be poportionately furious, and Germany would be risking a naval war, for which she is absolutely unprepared. EXODUS. It is no secret that affairs in France just now, and for some time past, have been causing serious anxiety. This is plainly reflected in the daily, and especially the nightly, life of the Gay Capital, which now hardly justifies that title any longer. There is a marked air of nervous unrest abroad in Paris, and one sign of the political and economic barometer is that there is a steady outflux of members of the big British colony there. The French Carter Patersons have been averaging six or seven such removals a week for over a year. The ruinous cost of living may Lave more to do with this British exodus than any political fears. A friend of mine paid 200 francs on a recent visit for a bottle of champagne on its native heath. The prevailing anxiety, so far as natives are affected, relates neither to Germany nor Spain, but to internal politics. There seems to be some curious vague impression that another Terror may be blowing up. HITLER’S CLOSEST FRIEND. From a friend-who has just returned from Germany after a prolonged stay in that country I learn that the only two men in the highest position who are really trusted by the great majority of Germans are Herr Hitler himself and his faithful lieutenant, Herr Hess. The latter has no axes to grind, and is only concerned with carrying out the wishes of the Fuhrer, whom he seems to venerate. It is, in fact, part of the current gossip that Hitler has “ bequeathed ” Hess to the German nation as his successor, in case anything untoward should happen. The effect of continuous propaganda is everywhere apparent, according to my informant. There can be no doubt that the great mass of the German people honestly believe that their country is like a beleaguered fortress, surrounded by enemies, and that their worsening economic plight is not due to the Nazi policy of self-sufficiency, but to sheer wickedness of Germany’s neighbours. MR BALDWIN. Not so long ago, artificially stimulated by certain Fleet Street organs, there was a B.M.G. campaign. We were told that “ Baldwin must go.” Not only have more recent events comE lately squelched this ambitious plot, ut there is now well afoot a B.M.S. movement. The slogan now is, though perhaps not from quite the same voices. “ Baldwin must stay.” An influential representation is likely to be made to the Prime Minister, by members of Parliament and important outsiders, too, that _he should reconsider his known decision to retire after the Coronation. The support and feeling behind this movement are genuine and unmistakable. If for health reasons Mr Baldwin cannot entertain it, there will be nothing more to be said. In the last resort it _is the doctors who settle these things. But, wanting such a reason, the view is that Mr Baldwin should stick to the helm for a further term of incomparable duty.

AGAINST IT. Professor Trevelyan, in his ‘ Life of Lord Grey, of Falloden,’ gives L.G. a shrewd academic dig. He quotes L.G.’s statement in his ‘Memoirs,’ that, had Grey warned Germany in time of the point at which Britain would declare wax, and wage it with her whole strength, the issue would have been different. Grey often pondered whether he might in any way have averted the 1914 debacle, and concluded that nothing could have done so save a change in German psychology. Professor Trevelyan suggests that L.G. shows “ more than his usual temerity ” in the criticism above quoted, in of the fact that it was the neutralists in the Cabinet, of whom L.G. was the most conspicuous, who tied Grey’s hands as Foreign Secretary. He dare not act without the assurance of a united Cabinet. “ I.G.’s great gifts are not strictly historical,” says Professor Trevelyan, 41 He lives so keenly in the present that he cannot recall his own past.” _ How beautifully these eminent historians phrase their critical comments. CHANGES AT THE F.O. Sir Robert Vansittart is relinquishing his post as Permanent Under-Sec-retary at the Foreign Office, nowadays actually, if not technically, the most important job in the Civil Service, to take over our Paris Embassy from Sir George Clerk when the latter retires next April. As official chief in Downing Street Sir Robert has often been accused of being too Francophile in sympathies. So be should be a most acceptable British Ambassador to the Republic. Sir Robert ia tall, extremely distinguished-looking, a poet and litterateur, charming but not confiding. and has been in diplomacy since he lett Etonian playing fields. Ho is only just over 50 years of age, and talks French almost like a native. His translation to Paris, though that is regarded as the plum of all our Embassies, is rather a surprise to most people, because h% seemed settled iu at the Foreign Office for the duration. OUR NEW BATTLESHIPS. In naval circles a state of suppressed elation prevails about our latest battleships. The monsters now being laid down by the Admiralty are said to be the dernier cri in naval construction, and to embody novelties as to which a hush-hush policy is maintained. But it is impossible to' keep a battleship secret for long, and, even without more definite information, intelligent foreigners will conjecture that the new features concern bomb and torpedo attack. Since Jutland belief in the infallibility of British naval architecture has weakened a good deal. Der Tag found Germany’s big ships superior to ours in several vital points. We many hope, however, that the latest battleships will have adequate deck armour, not only for bombs, but for shells, and that ammunition hoists will be flashproof. Neglect of these rather obvious precautions before 1914 cost us three big ships at Jutland. SPEED v. POWER. A feature of these now battleships is thoir high speed. _ This is partly to be achieved by making keel bulges interior instead of exterior, and thus preserving the streamline effect. We have absorbed the lesson of Jutland, moreover, to the extent of combining the battleship’s armament with the obsolete battle cruiser’s speed. But it is noted with some anxiety that these

latest battleships will mount only 14in main batteries. It may be there is a point at which the dominant advantage of superior salvo power, so clearly demonstrated during the War at Coron-, nel, the Falklands, and Jutland, ceases to function. But, unless this is demonstrably the case, our new battleships may find themselves disastrously outweighted by foreign warships mounting 16in batteries. Both_ Japan and the United States of America are going in for the latter, and so probably will some European Powers. It is an idiotic competition of calibre, but wo have to face facts. ARMY REFORMS. The Government is to take the conscription bull by the tail and popularise voluntary recruiting by making Army conditions more attractive. Better pay, brighter barracks, improved rations, reduced foreign service in peace time, and possibly politer R.S.M.’s are to be the inducements to our post-war youngsters to join up. But the main trouble is employment on leaving the service, and it is by _ no means certain that extended technical instruction will meet this. It ought to be possible for the Government, by taking thought and exercising a little judicial pressure, to ensure prompt employment for all reputable old soldiers. This reform may mean the end of the evil old system under which we relied for our regular Army in the main on the rag-tag-an3-bobtail of the population. “ Bread and boots ” recruits they used to call them. Yet what a glorious fighting tradition that same riffraff made for themselves on innumerable stricken fields! Nelson’s jack tars were of the same lowly origin, and won equally illustrious laurels. INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC ON THE METROPOLIS. Truth to tell, it is neither politics nor Spanish wars that London is now most concerned with, but the worst influenza epidemic since the deadly visitation after the war. The present scourge, thoigh happily at present most cases seem to take a rather mild form, with fsw of the usual serious complications, is having a far-reaching effect on the Metropolis. All offices, whether big Government or small business ones, are now working on what a sailor would call jurymast staffs, mainly reinforced by supernumeraries. Often there is the gravest difficulty in carrying on. Moreover, outdoor workers, such as railway guards, policemen, and buimen, are falling victims to this insidious germ. Dortors attribute the bw death-rate so far to the mild woaflier, but we cannot build on that continuing, and the peak of the epidemic will not be passed until this month is out. A depressing symptom of the pestilence, for it now amounts to ffaat, is the deserted look of even the usually most busy streets. There are no; half the normal crowds in Fleet street or the Strand. ISHMAEL. The ’flu it getting on Londoners’ nerves To How one’s nose in public or sneeze is to feel oneself “ alone the villain of the earth.” On my way to town this merning, in a crowded railway carriage, some tobacco smoke made me snejze. Now, so far I have escaped the _ ’flu germs, and have not oven a cold hi the bead. But with one accord the whole carriage scowled on me as though the brand of Cain were on my forehcid. One podgy old chap, probably a city alderman, remarked

at large that it was criminal to go careering about, spreading germs and disease in public places. There was a hearty chorus of approval. I apologised, and, to pay them out for their ooorishness, explained that, my doctor was almost certain my attack was not really the deadly form of ’flu. Four passengers, including the alderman, hastily started to suck cough lozenges; a lady in a corner seat appealed for someone to open both windows, and everybody used their newspapers as germ barriers. At Charing Cross that carriage emptied like magic. I hope I did not Coue anybody into really getting the ’flu. LADY HOUSTON’S WILL. It can hardly be a surprise to her intimate friends that Lady Houston s will is not forthcoming. The almost certain explanation is that there is no such document. Two facts may help to account for this omission. One is that Lady Houston, whose vigour was quite remarkable for her age, had a confident expectation of longer life. The other is that she shared a very prevalent vulgar superstition that it is “ unlucky ” to make a will. Whether this superstition is founded on any scientific basis that will-making is likelv to Couo one into ill-health and possibly decease, it is not easy to say, but it exists amongst persons of not-too-balanced inentality. Not that there are lacking instances of eminent minds, including at least one great Lord Chancellor, dying intestate. But that was procrastination, not superstition. VICTORIAN GUSTO. There are many great stories about Lord Melbourne, the famous Victorian statesman who “ liked the Order of the Garter because there is no damned question of merit about it.” The late Earl Cromer, our most famous Egyptian Pronconsul, and grandfather of Lady Violet Baring, whose engagement has just been announced, told one that is not so widely known. At a time when there was rather severe criticism of nepotism in the Civil Service, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, who had most of this patronage, discussed the position with Lord Melbourne. He told that robust nobleman that admittedly, if he had two applicants before him, one a complete stranger, and the other the son of an old friend, he would—certeris paribus —which is Latin for other things being equal, give the post to the son of the old friend or - relative. “ So should I,” rejoined Melbourne heartily, “ but certeris paribus bo damned.” There was no hank about Lord Melbourne. OUTCLASSED! Ex-servicemen, especially if they ever slept in those rampart dug-outs at Ypres, are apt to hold the common flea in some contempt. Much as a big-game hunter, who had bagged his elephants, might regard rabbit shooting. One s judgment undergoes some revision, however, after reading a weighty tome, on ‘ Fleas, Their Life History, Habits, and Control,’ by the Natural History Museum. The human flea, pulex inutans, can lay up to 450 eggs. That has the inhuman hen absolutely taped. Before emerging as an adult, the adolescent flea breaks it eggshell with a special tooth on its forehead. But it is when we come to the domain of pure athletics that pulex irritans compels respect. After mentioning that fleas are “ large-hearted ” this invaluable textbook points out that a flea has been known to jump 7Jin and cover 13in horizontally; Even assuming these figures represent records, swaggering athletic blue must be chastened on reflecting that the latter achievment equals a 300 yd leap by a six-foot man. KING’S PHYSICIAN. Lord Herder of Ashford, Physician-in-Ordinary to the King and half the aristocracy, was 66 last week.- He is remarkable for the wide range of his medical knowledge, and is reputed to make a bigger income-than any other physician. His hobby is the very human one of gardening. He is called in to all and sundry, and gives of his professional knowledge as unsparingly to the poorer classes as to the more fortunate. A few years ago he was called to the West of England, and the case necessitated staying in a princely mansion. Asked by the butler what he would take to drink with his luncheon, ho said: “I suppose in a house of this description you have nothing so common as beer.” The admiring butler, on his mettle, produced some. Whereupon Sir Thomas, as he then was, remarked: “Tin's is excellent stuff, and the healthiest drink going.” - His Lordship is the leader of the forces arrayed against preventable noises, and the fruits of his campaign are beginning to attain both visibility and audibility. The National Physical Laboratory have

devised methods by which noise can be measured, and Mr Hore-Belisha. has obtained an undertaking from manufacturers that new motor bikes shall bo incapable of producing their present fiendish din. OLD AND MODERN. An inspired definition of architecture is “ frozen poetry.” _ But after studying some of the masterpieces by seventeenth and eighteenth century builders, and comparing their results ■ with those of the Neo-Georgian School, one must conclude that the architectural freezing process has lapsed from sheer poetry into blank verse and even a good deal of vile journalese. This is not true of all the ultra-modern by any means, but probably of most. Gilbert Scott’s High Wycombe church is a thing of august beauty. So is his Liverpool cathedral interior glimpse. Shoosmith’s garrison church at Delhi is another redeeming exception, like Harold Gibbons’s Bournemouth church. I like immensely, too, F. X. Velarde’s St. Monica’s, Bootle. Dick’s model for St. Paul’s Kitchener Memorial is also a lovely piece of work. So far as wo have abandoned meaningless pretty-pretty for majestic ensemble, we are on sound lines. The trouble is that incompetent mediocrity can so easily turn majesty into naked puerility. The ultimate denouement of uninspired simplicity may be a packing' case. JOHN FAMILY. Though ho dresses and barbers like a real Bohemian, Mr Augustus John is in fact a thoroughly domesticated family man. He has been blessed with a big family circle of handsome and clever children. One son, Mr Henry John, was a Jesuit priest, or on the way thereto, but was drowned about a year ago. There remain Miss Vivian John, who, like her father, is a painter; Mr Edwin John, who deserted the art ateliers, at any rate for a time, to try his fortunes in the rough arena of professional pugilism; Mr Robin John, who is said to be able, with tolerable fluency, to converse in about 10 different languages, and once tried his hand at bull-fightmg ; and Mn Caspar John, who was the most junior of all naval officers promoted this New Year to the rank of commander. None of the young Johns, however, can rival in picturesqueness the familiar figure of their painter-father, who ought to paint a self portrait for the Royal Academy. Augustus John would be the. ideal subject for Augustus John. It would be a brilliant portrait of a brilliant artist.