If the German invasion of Britain in September, 1940, the
plans for which were disclosed by Mr. Attlee on Monday, had gone through it would have come up against something stiff. The in- vaders would, it appears, have swept northwards to my village in Surrey, little expecting to find Janus in their path. But he would have been—at the head of what in towns and villages was known at that time as a triumvirate, consisting of a chairman (myself), the local Fire Warden, the local Home Guard commander, with, if I remember, the local policeman in attendance as observer. It is true that our main function was to surrender gracefully and keep essential services going under occupation, but there was no knowing what we might have done under provocation ; it was very well for the Germans that they kept away. Perhaps I should say were kept away ; the Royal Air Force had something to do with that.
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