OURSELVES AND RUSSIA
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR] SIR,—i was interested to read the comments by Janus on the Prime Minister's most unfortunate reply to a question about the desirability of making personal contact with Moscow. It is true that it was a reply thrown off on the spur of the moment ; but it was for that reason especially significant, for he thus showed in an unguarded moment what were his real feelings as regards our relations with Russia. It must have been clear for some time to anyone who has studied Mr. Chamberlain's replies to questions on this subject that the
negotiations which he is now compelled to carry on with the Soviet are not at all to his liking, and it is unfortunate for the cause of peace that the man charged with this supremely important task is, perhaps not altogether without reason, regarded by Moscow with distrust.
About four months ago you printed a letter from me on the subject. In k I deplored the Fabian tactics of the Government and the rebuffs administered to Russia. Since then much precious time has been wasted and still Notes are being bandied to and fro. (It took the Government about three weeks to reply to one sent them last month.) Mr. Chamberlain seems still to be trying to ride two horses at the same time. One of them, Appeasement, a broken- kneed animal, is now fit only for the knacker's yard ; the other, a charger, may yet save us if it had a more resolute rider.
Mr. Chamberlain himself stresses the urgency of being prepared to resist aggression. But he will not achieve this end unless he is realist enough to face stern facts after the manner of Moscow which has long shed all illusions, if it ever had any, about the chances of appeasement.
I am loath to write critically about our Prime Minister. I am, and have been all my life, an ardent Conservative and a great admirer of his father. But I feel strongly, and I know my view is widely shared, that it is high time to include some new blood into the Cabinet. The time for quibbling about teims and the writing of verbose Notes is past. If Mr. Chamberlain cannot, or will not, achieve what I am persuaded the great majority of people in this country want, he must make way for someone else. It cannot be too often stressed, as it often has been in The Spectator, that the co-operation of Russia is essential if Europe is to be saved from the blight of Fascist and Nazi domination, and every day's unnecessary delay is fraught with grave danger.—! am, &c.,
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