Mr. Davidson's Germany
SIR,—May I suggest that Miss Wiskemann in her review of Germany, What Now ? by Basil 1;tavidson has, well directed though her criticisms are, missed one, essential' point ? This book is not a serious study of Germany, but a clever presentation of the Soviet case—the more effective because of the restraint of presentation and the absence of ,Marxist jargon. The repetition of which Miss Wiskemann complains appears to be deliberate. The author's aim is to answer the question, " What were the real grounds for the inter-Allied dispute which led to the partition of Germany ? " by attributing 95 per cent. of the blame to the Western Powers. " The abrogation of Potsdana," " Retreat from Potsdam " are referred to again and again till the uncritical reader could hardly fail to agree with Basil Davidson's summing up (page 249): "The Russians . . . are not to blame, as these pages have shown, for the partition of Germany." The uncritical reader who accepts Mr. Davidson's premises could hardly reject his conclusions that the Western Powers should make a complete change of policy, and agree to the withdrawal of all occupying troops from reunited Germany.—Yours faithfully, FRANCES BLACKETT.
Hon. Sec., British League for European Freedom. 66 Elizabeth Street, S.W.1.
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