6 OCTOBER 1928, Page 37

A German journalist with an English name, Dr. W. H.

Edwards, commends the late King and criticizes the ex-Kaiser in his " psychological study," oddly entitled The Tragedy of Edward VU (Victor Gollanez, 18s.). The author, like most foreigners, misconceives the functions of an English monarch and attributes to King Edward a much more active part in our foreign policy than he really took. Moreover, he is painfully anxious to argue the question of " war guilt," which seems to obsess German political writers, and enlarges on what he regards as the error of the Liberal Government, from 1906 onwards, in not puituing " a vigorous Pe-ace Policy " which "could under certain circumstances be imposed on neighbours and friends." Such a policy would be a contradiction in terms. We cannot enter into the old con- troversy here, but must simply point out that Germany, had she so desired, could have kept the peace by restraining Austria instead of encouraging her to attack Serbia. Dr. Edwajrds's comments on the late Lord Oxford are ill-natured and- ill-informed, and he has no true idea of the services Which Lord Haldane as Secretary for War rendered to the British Army. * * _* * , -