SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.
(Notice in this column does not necessarily preclude subsequent retina] Tan JULY MONTHLIES.—Mr. J. R. Fisher in the Nineteenth Century exposes the delusive nature of " The Federal Panacea for Ireland." O'Connell, he reminds us, flirted with the idea in 1844, " humbugging both Repealers and Federalists," as Sharman Crawford wrote at the time, " trying to make the Repeaters believe they are Federalists and the Federalists that they are Repealers." " No one has ventured to propose Federalism on its own merits," says Mr. Fisher ; " it is always an afterthought." Federalism " presupposes a will to federate," but no one in Ireland wants it or would be satisfied with it, as was shown in the Irish Convention. Dr. Arthur Shadwell asks, " Is Peace Possible 1 " and gives excellent reasons for concluding that it is not, until the Germans have become convinced that treaty-breaking does not pay. We cannot, as he says, make agreements with the present rulers of Germany, for whom bad faith has become a virtue in State policy. Lord Syden- ham discusses " The German Exploitation of Russia " and urges Allied intervention. What Bolshevik rule means is well shown by Mr. John Pollock, who, writing in January last, blames M. Kerensky in very severe terms for precipitating the collapse of order last year by his refusal to suppress the Anarchists or to co-operate with the moderate party. The Duke of Portland's account of " The War Savings Movement in Notts " is of much interest, and will stimulate other counties to greater efforts.—In the Fortnightly Mr. J. B. Firth speaks plainly on " An Illusory League of Nations," and points out that, unless Germany is completely defeated and induced to renounce her evil principles, a League of Nations including or omitting Germany would be a death-trap to democracy. Mr. Firth has the courage to deny point-blank the comfortable " assump- tion that international rivalry will diminish in intensity after the war." Mr. J. D. Whelpley, writing on " America at War," remarks on the fact that " there is now little or no discussion as to possible terms of peace, a future League of Nations, or even of American industry and foreign trade after the war." Americans think of ono thing at a time, and are now solely concerned with winning the war. Irish Nationalists and those timid politicians who are deterred from governing Ireland for fear of what America might say should take note of this American writer's opinion. Sir James Crichton-Browne has an interesting article on " Patrick BranwellBront," Charlotte's unhappy brother, who was, he declares, the victim of phthisica1 insanity. All his five sisters died of tuberculosis ; in Branwell's case, the disease affected his mind as well as his body, and accounted for his eccentric and unruly ways. Mr. A. F. Herold gives a pleasant account of Conned, in connexion with the centenary of the com- poser's birth, and rightly emphasizes the charm of " Mireille."— Sir Hugh Bell in the Contemporary discusses " The POsition of Capital after the War," pointing out how much capital will be needed for repairs—on the railways, for example—that have been postponed, and for new plant and new factories. He considers the Socialist outcry against Capital and the dishonest proposal to repudiate part of the National Debt by " a levy on Capital." We have dissipated wealth in thousands of millions, end we must " by thrift and industry and zeal raise our income so as to regain our former state of well-being as quickly as possible." Sir Hugh Bell thinks that if the productive capacity of labour could be raised by thirty per cent., we should very soon be as rich as we were before. Bishop Welldon advocates "State Purchase as Practical Politics," and Mr. H. G. Chancellor, on the other hand, pleads for War-Time Prohibition, with a Referendum in the year after the war. Mr. T. H. Mamson, who is planning a new Salonika, contributes a most interesting article on " The British Soldier in Macedonia," describing the excellent work done by the troops in tilling the soil, cleaning the villages, and setting up factories, much to the astonishment and delight of the natives. Professor J. Y. Simpson's account of " Transcaucasia before and after the Revolution " is timely, and on the whole encouraging.—In the National Review Mr. Maxse reprints a number of the Allied " secret treaties," and points out very justly that Lord Grey of Fallodon and his staff ought to be commended for their diplomatic skill in making these agreements, and that the Pacificists are trading on public ignorance in suggesting that our secret treaties were indiscreet or improper. Mr. C. Jour- nelle's article on " Prussian Manners " should be widely read ; the abominable conduct of the Germans in the occupied provinces of France is still too little realized by English people. An unsigned article on " The Man on the Throne " suggests that the King would be the obvious Dictator for us at the present time. M. Andre Cheradame in an article on " The Western Front and Political Strategy " tries to estimate the strength of the enemy and of the Allies, and urges the importance of stirring up insurrection among the non-German elements in the Central Empires, though it is easier to advocate such a policy than to apply it.— Blackwood's contains some reminiscences of the old Britannia' by " Bartimeus," and a thrilling account of " An Involuntary Visit : Three Days with the Turks in Mesopotamia," relating the capture of two airmen by the Turks and their rescue by armoured cars—c veritable romance which appears to be true and is very well told. The narrative of one of the prisoners taken by the German raider ` Wolf ' is concluded ; the author was on board the Spanish collier which ran ashore at the Skew, and ho thus escaped by good fortune a long captivity in Germany.
Previous page
