HOOP OR CAR ?
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR] SIR,—If a mere reader may intervene in the intercolumnar controversy between the writers of " A Spectator's Notebook and " People and Things," I should like to disagree with Mr. Hobhouse. Metaphors are always tricky things, but, in reference to Nazi policy, there is more to be said for Mr. Nicolson's hoop than for Mr. Hobhouse's car equipped with brakes and reversing gear. At least, if we adopt the latter, any " distant scream faintly audible last Saturday " was more probably due to friction in the differential of the axle, which has since been lubricated (the South Tirol), than to the appli- cation of " powerful four-wheel brakes." A hoop, of course, may revolve slowly or fast, and may follow a straight or a devious course ; though, as Mr. Nicholson observes, " it topples over when it stops." The Nazi hoop has hitherto moved at a smartish pace along a previously determined line : no doubt little Adolf, when told by his governess that he mustn't bowl it between anyone's legs, has repeatedly promised not to do anything of the kind, but he has as consistently belied these assertions by his actions. There was, no doubt, a bit of a swerve in 1934, after the Austrian putsch, but nothing like a permanent cessation or reversal of the movement then indicated. Still less today, with the continued arrival of tanks, machine-guns, and Nazi " tourists " in Danzig, is there the slightest evidence of a real halt.
May I, in the interests of " appeasement " among The Spectator's standing contributors, suggest an alternative meta- phor which both parties may accept? Herr Hitler seems to me to resemble a deerstalker, who lies flat when the animals raise their heads, but continues his progress the moment they start feeding unsuspiciously once more. But I really prefer Mr. Nicolson's simile, since everything indicates that any- thing like a real stoppage, or even marked slowing-down, would be fatal to Nazi stability. It was before the Fiihrer's policy had attained a satisfactory momentum that he was impelled to massacre a large number of his closest associates. And how can he repudiate his definite promises that " Danzig will come to Germany " without forfeiting for ever his reputa. tion as a trustworthy guide?—Yours faithfully,
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