21 OCTOBER 1938, Page 22

KING JAMES I AND MR. CHAMBERLAIN

[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR] SIR,—I have not yet seen a parallel drawn between the foreign policy of Mr. Chamberlain and that of King James I. I should like to see a competent scholar deal with this.

King James, after a period of war and ill-will, tried a policy of rapprochement with Spain, partly, curiously enough, on account of the Bohemian problem. He tried to stop the House of Commons from attacking Spain, and some people in this country would apparently favour a like attempt, vis-d-vis Germany, now. (Perhaps I wrong them.) Finally, of course, it was to placate Spain that, he executed Raleigh. I confess I cannot find a present-day parallel for this.—I am, Sir, yours faithfully, W. STUART BEST. Manor Farm, Godmanston, Dorchester.