11 MARCH 1938, Page 17

[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] EIR,—Is not democracy in

Britain developing into a series of paradoxes ? Those who now declare, in harmony with Germany, Italy and Japan, that Mr. Eden's policy was leading to war, perhaps do not remember that the men who now wish to resist the demands of armed dictators were the very men who advocated coming to an understanding with Bruning and Stresemann about the Peace Treaties, before it was too late ; and, conversely, that those who resisted Germany's reasonable and moderate demands in 1928-29, made by a democratic but unarmed government, are the very men who are now eager to bargain with the dictators, in the name of peace—but actually for the financial and commercial advantages this will entail. Will they also be prepared, in the name of " peace," to bargain away portions of the British Empire ? Will these peace-loving gentlemen admit their share of respon- sibility for the defeat of democratic institutions in Italy and Germany, after Briining's failure to gain concessions, and realise that Britain is now conceding to powers organised for war, and inspired by a hostile ideology, much more than she refused to concede to democratic Christian governments with progressive and liberal ideals ?

One may perhaps be forgiven for wondering, in these days, whether a democracy is government, not by the people, but by the policy which best suits a single, but most powerful, section of the people ?—I am, Sir, your obedient servant,

A. M. THORPE, (A supporter of the National Government). Ceylon House, Aldwych, London, W.C. 2.