Nelson Evening Mail WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 1921 PEOPLE OF DESTINY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, 30 March 1921, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 1921 PEOPLE OF DESTINY

AFTER' the Armistice, Sir Philip Gibbs lectured in the United States. This book is a collection of articles which give his impressions, observations, and experiences in that country. Ho calls the, Americans "People of Destiny," because, during this time of ruin in Europe, they hold, undoubtedly, the fate of the -world in their hands. Their wealth, their manpower, and their vital energy for good or evil give them, for a time at feast, a prodigious influence in the shaping of the future, and it is clear that what is going to happen to the human family during the next century will be largely decided by the actions and reactions of the United States. Especially will this be decided by their conduct to us —by AngloAmerican relations. It is the author's intense conviction, which he sets forth throughout this book very earnestly and almost pleadingly, that it is of the "utmost importance that friendship and understanding should prevail between England and America. In his studies of American life and people he lias had a double purpose; to interpret their character to the English public, and also to express very frankly the English point of view of America. This is certainly a. very laudable purpose, and although it is inevitable that, in a book of this sort, there should occasionally be superficial observations, a good, deal of generalisation and conjecture, iu the main it should help considerably to achieve its purpose of better understanding between two nations. It is written with sympathy and fairness and somo insight. Like all Gibbs's work, it is distinguished by a fine idealism, an intense sincerity, and a sane liberalism. The horror and agony of the war, with its long train of misery, has had the deepest effect on this writer's sensitive, imaginative mind. He feels that "to victors and vanquished alike there is the horrible revelation that out of all tho massacre and agony there lias come as yet no promise of a safer world, no likelihood of long peace, no change in the old evils of diplomacy, no greater, liberties or happiness For civilised mankind." Ho pleads for all the things which will make for 'peace, and ho believes that America more- than any other nation may help to preserve peace. "More than any pother nation, among the big Powers, it is inspired by the united, organised qualities of simple, commonplace people, with kindness of heart, independence of spirit, and sincerity of ideas." America is a "middle-class" Empire. In his article entitled "A Ylv.i for the Peronciliatioii of Pec-

pies," the author states very seriously some of tlie problems created l>y the war. their clangers, and the possible hope of their .solution. For the rest he gives many pictures of American social life, of the people lie has met, and of a hundred and one small things winch give an impression or a point of view of some phase of Ame rican life.