Emil Ludwig's Biography Of a "Defender of Democracy

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19124, 19 September 1936, Page 9

Emil Ludwig's Biography Of a "Defender of Democracy

EMU. Ludwijj is the author of many biographies of famous Kuropeuii slii I esiuen and o| her-, bin his hit esl is likely lo prove one of the nmsi popu lar, ' for he deals in " Defender of Democracy" with ex-l'resideni .Masaryk, who has recently resigned In-; cflii e ifiei \ : its o! sn -, ■•: I", the smaller European pe.oples al a vital time in European history.

The biography, however, is unusual, because ii is almost an autobiography, for ii lakes i lie form of an extended interview, for Herr Ludwig talks to Mr. .Masaryk. who lolls not only I lie story of his life, iuil above all his light for democracy on behalf of the small nations. In reply to a question tfs to some possible disadvantages of small peoples, Air. Masaryk said:—

"l'|i lo now men have paid respect to whal is visibly big rather than to what is smaller. This is mostly due to'a materialist and mechanical I urn of mind. In politics men strive after material greatness, territorial aggrandisement, colonies, etc., so we have war. A big army and a big state make a striking impression on the human mind. Imperialism always. . . . Big Things Done by Small States.

"On the oilier hand, there are the small slates. As a small nation, the Jews produced the Testaments and Christianity, with the .aid, of course, of ihe Creeks and Komans. Then, again, Ihe Greeks wc.fo a world people living everywhere, gifted and active, and ye! were subjugated by the Komans. Is not our richest heritage from antiquity principally Grecian'? So it pomes nb,oul that a great nation and a small mil ion have equally influenced the world for succeeding generations.

"Take the ease of Switzerland rind Holland to-day, and other such enuntries. These small nations are extremely active and industrious. The Norwegians have a large merchant navy, and a considerable literature which deals with world themes. The problem of the small nation is to find a plan of ils own to follow in every! hing. . . .

" Let the big overlords argue with the Almighty as to why Ho did not create the great nations only, but also smaller and small ones." Masaryk went on. "In Europe there are live large stales. The majority are small, and one or two medium. Therefore, federation ant! division of labour in the cultural held between the small nations and states. The truth is that right does not depend on numbers.

"Politically, Europe will have to i to school again.

The Geographical Factors Count,

" 1. have pointed only to the problem of Ihe large and small nations. We might compare more closely tho statistical data of population, economic. capacity, and so on. We must also take geographical conditions into account, how far the sea and the rivers and the mountains, etc., play !i pari in the transformation of the slate. "We should bear in mind ihe historical fact thai front lime lo time Sjroat imperialistic slates were founded, in which' various languages were spoken, but those slates fell lo pieces. Those large states were built up by (he use of force. Since the World War the large states and the small States have been able, and indeed have felt themselves obliged, in decide upon a policy id' mutual peaceful relations and federation. El hi cully, that means humanity on a large scale, both in domestic and foreign policy. And this again implies Geneva, the idea of Pan-Europe, etc" In several sections of Ihe book Ihe question of religion crops lip, and in the talk on "Might and Mind" the ex-President asserts: — "I consider religion to be the most important and most profound social force which keeps men in organic union, not . only with heaven, but with their fellow-men." Discussing "Authority or Liberty," Mr. Masaryk said:-- •

"Nature, and especially gold, but not mankind must be held in subjection. Cold must not rule men. Unexpected gain, especially when unearned, may easily demoralise people of weak character. As it was won so is it gone."