BOOK OF THE WEEK

Taranaki Daily News, 17 January 1931, Page 1 (Supplement)

BOOK OF THE WEEK

POST-WAR ASPIRATIONS

(By

C.E.)

"Since Then,” by Philip Gibbs: William Heinemann, Ltd., London, through Thos. Avery and Sons, Ltd., New Plymouth.

What has happened in Europe since the war? It is a question to which few people would dare to volunteer a comprehensive answer, for it is only the thorough student of affairs who has had the time and the ability during the past twelve years to keep in touch with the rapid changes that have occurred. Yet even those who have done little more than skim the cablegrams from day to day must’have realised that the latter history of Europe teems with romance, adventure and mystery, all ■of which should combine to make fascinating reading if someone could be found to tell the story. That someone ■happily has arrived in the person of -Sir Philip Gibbs, the noted correspondent of the war period, than whom it would be difficult to find a better qualified writer of contemporary history. ■Not only during the war but ever since Sir Philip Gibbs has been filling the role of a shrewd observer at various ■times in most parts of Europe. As ■one would expect, his books reveal intimate knowledge of both the pre-war and the post-war nations, their great men and, their common people alike. As a journalist charged with important missions he has had to get to the heart of things. His quick understanding seems to have been continually gathering valuable material, and his- vigorous ■memory has made good use of it. The results are seen in a remarkably attractive book. As a journalist Sir Philip appreciates the arts of condensation and emphasis and brings to his aid considerable dramatic power. Especially is this evident in “The Great Reprieve,” the short introductory chapter of “Since Then, which gives a wonderfully vivid picture of events associated with the Armistice. The author says enough to indicate the difficulties that awaited the peace- 1 makers, for “hatred remained in the ■hearts of men and women. Vengeance was desired by those who had suffered under enemy occupation.” In his orderly and logical arranger ment of his survey of events the writer deals next with the German revolution, and in eight or nine pages he covers a great subject most effectively. I wonder how many facts any of us could recall if we were asked to write an essay of 1000 words on the German revolution. I am quite willing to confess that Sir Philip Gibbs mentions incidents and names that I had forgotten'. ■How many people have heard of “a little old man named Sklarz, a,Jewish millionaire,” and his part in the revolution? Then there is the Russian named Radek, afterwards chief of propaganda at Moscow. “He ■ looked,” writes Sir ■Philip, "a genial old gentleman, and ■laughed a good deal behind his glasses, and thrust his fingers through a reddish ■beard which fringed a flat-cheeked face. The British Empire would have been ■saved a lot of trouble'if he had been •shot by a sniper’s bullet in Berlin that night, but luck was with him. 1 ’- From the revolution one passes, to the occupation of Rhineland—again & personal story because Sir Philip marched in with the Allied troops and now the way is clear for the journalist’s impressions of the Peace Conference. Since the passage of twelve years is likely to have softened the •high lights of Versailles history, Sir ■Philip may appear as a rather ruthless critic, but that at any rate is evidence of sincerity and consistency. If I quoted the most striking passages of this chapter I should be at the end of my column with nine-tenths of the book still untouched, but I must give one or two impressions. There is Lloyd George, “a great conversationalist who likes to ■absorb knowledge by word of. mouth, quick to see the essential point, but impatient of detail.” Of President Wilson we are told that “he determined to make this League of Nations his gift to humanity. He was, he firmly believed, the servant of God and the American people who were behind him. These cynics, like Clemenceau, these dangerous irresponsible men, like. Lloyd George, these old-fashioned statesmen, like Balfour, these passionate advocates, like Signor Orlando .... were trying to thwart him, perhaps even to ■trick him, but he stood for the idealism of the common people of the world, for international justice, for the brother-, hood of democracy (subject to righteous authority), and they could not prevail against him. So one reads the secret thoughts of that strange, limited, wellmeaning, harassed man,- who faced a task beyond the wisdom, perhaps; of any man alive.” As I have read that passage again it has appealed to me as a very suitable example of the pungency of Sir Philip Gibbs’ writing. The same characteristic is prominent throughout his survey of the White Armies in Russia, the mutilation of Hungary, the Greek tragedy, the Fascist regime, the future of Austria, and so on. He misses nothing, yet he contrives to put a tremendous store of information into a surprisingly small compass. 'When he deals with the state of England he is almost inclined to be as cynical as Clemenceau. He regards England as the most mysterious nation in the world, though it seems so simple, and while he is rather the aloof , observer, he cannot disguise his patriotic admiration. Just now his account of the general strike of 1926 is worth reading, embellished, as it is with several anecdotes of the type that makes such a pleasant feature in the book. ■Sir Philip is concerned for England’s failing trade, and he propounds a novel remedy. He would start a new crusade in the way of migration to the backblocks of Canada or Australia, provided he could get the Prince of Wales to lead it. The emigrants would be an expeditionary force, organised like the pioneer battalions that went to France and Flanders, and living in a semimilitary style. It is easy to see that great difficulties might arise, but Sir (Philip’s ideas are worth thinking over. His studies of what he calls the unveiling of women and of ( the post-war mind are similarly thoughtful and thorough. It is not to be supposed that he could offer ready-made solutions of the problems confronting the world, but he has done a service in giving his clean-cut impressions of the facts as he finds them. He stresses the internationalism of post-war. relations and the necessity for abolishing “the old frontiers of the mind as well as the map,” and there he gives us something to think about. All but the very frivolous should make the acquaintance of “Since Then.” ■