MARGINAL COMMENT
By HAROLD NICOLSON
HAVE been both touched and disconcerted of late by realising with what depth of emotion the men and women of this country tee their hopes upon the Russian front. I do not find, in address- audiences whether in London or the provinces, that they pond with more than perfunctory approval to commendation of own prowess by sea or land or air : nor are they vividly mind- of the stark dangers through which we have passed or even of gratitude which we owe to those who, under the inspiration a heroic leader, saved Britain when she was crippled, battered alone. I do not find that they recognise the fact that the selfless, almost reckless, help given in the hour of trial by our Dominions, colonies and our dependencies is a proof that our Imperial ssion has not been ill fulfilled. The refusal of occupied Europe surrender either to blandishments, starvation or police terrorism refusal which at a later stage of the war may prove of real tegical importance) is taken (unwittingly, ignorantly, selfishly) ost for granted. A reference to the struggle in which our ese Allies have for so long been engaged provokes but a ace ripple of condolence ; while a statement of the vast power h the United States are so rapidly, and at such sacrifice,
ulating for final victory arouses among English audiences but few perfunctory nods of acquiescence. Yet one has only to ntion Russia and the whole meeting flames as suddenly as a p of hay drenched in paraffin ; one feels upon one's cheek the
• d of the wings of passion. Akin to this uncalculating enthusiasm that aroused among progressive people by the first victories the French revolutionary armies. It had all seemed so hopeless first, and liberal Europe groaned aloud when the troops of hambeau and Lafayette flung down their rifles and bolted at very sight of an Austrian patrol ; when the armies of the Duke Brunswick were with eighteenth-century leisure advancing upon is; when they had already reached the defiles of the Argonne. ten came Valmy and thereafter Jemappes. Startled subalterns of Majesty's regiment of foot guards would find themselves messed in Cheapside as "citizen soldier" and many merchants the City of London had their signet rings engraved with the
• blance of a cap of liberty upon •a pike. Then followed Neer- en and the long phase of disillusionment which slid insensibly o the Napoleonic wars.
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