Mr. Oliver Lyttelton shortly after his return from Cairo, where he represented the Cabinet as Minister of State, said some very interesting things about the economic services...

HE Japanese have now established themselves on New Guinea, T the last of the great islands that lie between Asia and Australia. They hold commanding bases between two oceans...

The appalling story of atrocities committed on military prisoners and civilians by the Japanese army at Hong Kong told to the House of Commons by Mr. Eden must dispel any idea...

Some misgivings were evinced in Parliament last Tuesday about the working of the new Army Council instruction calling for reports on all officers up to the rank of...

A significant step has just been taken by the British and the United States Governments, which shows that the understanding between them goes - far beyond their association for...

A Judge sitting at Assizes one day this week said, in sentencing stealers of machine-tools to long terms of imprisonment, that if he could he would have passed a death-sentence....

Relations between the United Powers and Vichy are becoming increasingly strained as evidence accumulates that Germany is bent on diverting to her own purposes both the French...

On Tuesday Sir Kingsley Wood asked the House of Commons for a supplementary vote of credit which will bring the year's expenditure up to k4,25o,000,000. Expenditure during the...

S 0 the world must still wait for the Cabinet's decision on India. That is in a sense a disappointment, and no doubt it may be so taken in India itself. But the delay will be...

of chess that its presiding geniuses have almost invariably been of Slav, Teutonic or Jewish race. The great Cuban master Capablanca was, like Morphy, an exception—a Latin who...

or booklets on Soviet Russia, Sir Bernard Pares' Russia in the Penguin Books, and Jennie Lee's Russia Our Ally. For the benefit of those, if any, who can run to a shilling in...

up one or two facts concerning Victor Hugo, I have come by chance on an instructive pair of literary judgements. Qn Les Miserables the searcher after guidance will find this: "...

'opinion which ended Mr. Garvin's association with The Observer. There was no doubt more than one subject of dis- sension, but I gather that the final split came over the...

at the British Embassy in Moscow is about to be appointed. This is obviously a step of capital importance, and it would be reassuring to know that that is being realised where...

By STRATEGICUS HE campaign in the Far East has cast up so many surprises that we are in danger of missing its lessons in our chagrin it its rebuffs. It may, therefore, be...

By SIR MALCOLM DARLING* [At a time when one urgent need in India is the restoration of democratic government in all the Indian provinces, a study of one province where such...

By D. W. BROGAN T WO or three weeks ago, in The Times Book Club, I saw a middle-aged lady pick up a thickish volume and turn interrogatively to an attendant. " Oh that's an...

By WILLIAMSON WILLIAMS I AM never quite sure whether Felicity is an exception or a type ; I fancy a type But in her attitude to the war there is a dichotomy, or a touch of...

I STAND victorious at Creation's brink, My Father's Will being now accomplished. Is it not well, to watch a foul Thing sink From deep to shuddering deep of infamies, While I am...

but tragic interlude between 1918-1939 can appreciate the effect on German opinion of the " war-guilt clause " embodied in Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles. That clause,...

By HAROLD NICOLSON • T is strange that the British Press and public should not have I taken a more lively interest in the trials now being held at Riom. All State trials serve...

a most awkWard position. He was himself Vice-President of the Supreme War Council from 192o to 193o, and retained his membership of that Council until the capitulation. He had...

the one hand he was anxious to do everything possible to obey the Fiihrer and to carry out the policy of collaboration in the spirit of Montoire. On the other hand he knew that...

" Offenbach's Tales of Hoffmann." At the Strand Theatre. A MORE accurate title for this entertainment, which is described as " a fantastical opera-ballet," would be George...

"The Doctor's Dilemma." At the Haymarket. SEEING this play again after a lapse of years one is inclined to apply to its author Colenso's final epitaph on Dubedat—" Clever...

" What a Man." At the London Pavilion.—" Mobile Engineers." Generally released. — " Listen to Britain." For future release. THE charm of Mr. W. C. Fields has always lain in his...

" nation you say: " Yet everywhere the right spirit burns, though damped down by some unexplained frustration." May I venture to offer one " explanation " where women are...

4, BRACED AND COMPACT ? " Sot,—The majority of your readers must have been roused and shaken by your leading article " Braced and Compact? " The sternness of its tone and the...

country during the greatest crisis in her history is certainly a candid statement of fact. But are the causes so mysterious and the reasons so obscure? There are too many...

to be settling upon the people is timely. That spirit apparently mystifies you. If you lived in a great industrial centre, as I do, you Would be mystified no longer. The whole...

the issue of March 6th entitled " Braced and Compact? " It is one of the best that we have had in The Spectator for a long time, and any remarks of mine will only serve to...

an answer. I suppose the real reply is that the country is fed up with the war. However, I wish to reply as one of the " morbid cynicism of youth " class to which the writer...

Sue,—Before S.P.C.E. goes into recess, may I comment on some of " Janus's " ruling in last week's Spectator? His single damn for the use of " Scotch " instead of " Scots or...

Russia," Mr. Leon Kiril says, " He cannot draw an income from rent, royalties, &c." In the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Pamphlet No. 375 of December, 1941, it is...

ut,—I have been waiting in the hope that someone might raise the vious question which arises from Mr. Jacks's plan. If it is essential the welfare of Public Schools that they...

Suz,—The extremely interesting article by Sir Watford Selby in your nue of March 6th stresses the key position Austria held, and may hold again when this wjr is over, in the...

filling the public schools with the best brains in the country by a process of elimination which would be irrespective of the social or financial status of the parents. There is...

Snt,—My family and I are more than thankful to see a letter in your issue of 6th inst. deprecating the low quality of B.B.C. entertainments for the Forces, especially as the...

WE have always been taught to make hay when the sun shines, both by farmers and superficial philosophers ; but it now seems that both are quite wrong. The agricultural research...

Sac—What a glorious event! The whole nation is brimming over with joy at the news of a successful raid by a combined force of our men on a small but important enemy post on the...

Harold Nicolson's comment on Rebecca West's book Black Lamb and Grey Falcon reviewed in The Spectator of February 27th. I thought it an extremely interesting analysis of that...

SIR,-Mr. Gandhi's views on Civil War in India may shock some of your readers, but he has made no secret of his hostility to the Moslems for many years. Last summer his private...

ten men was planted, cultivated and cropped at the cost of no more than eight hours' work . per man per year. This detail is recorded in last year's annals 01 the County Gardens...

The other day I ventured to suggest, in opposition to the view established by keepers, that the balance of Nature in our well-balanced island would be better preserved if stoats...

Was there ever a year when so many unexpected birds were seen inland? I heard this week of a bittern being picked up in a wounded state in Hampshire, and though the species has...

Hardy the Unhappy Thomas Hardy. By Edmund Blunden. (Macmillan. 7s. 6d.) THIS is an excellent book, and if it has one special fault it is that Mr. Blunden has not obtruded...

Strictly Personal. By W. Somerset Maugham. (Heinemann. 8s. 6d IT is strange to find Mr. Somerset Maugham in the role of more or less orthodox British propagandist. Suetonius him...

Eight Oxford Poets. Edited by Michael Meyer and Sidney Keyes. (George Routledge. 2S. 6d.) ANTHOLOGIES should be selective rather than exhaustive ; they should have some definite...

IN these days of competence plots abound and if plot alone vm the tide-mark of success most authors would earn hand tributes and all would be well. But can plot, by itself, sup...

Hitler's Reich and Churchill's Britain. By Stephen Laird and Walter Graebner. (Batsford. 6s.) Tins short book is the record of a dialogue between two American correspondents...

IF this statesmanlike little book had fro other merit it would serve to dispel decisively the idea that a Christian peace must be something in the nature of a laissez - faire...

ACROSS She had cross ways (2 wds.) :5, 7). It's made of wan glue. ::. Does it make the chicken sleepy? " Alone she cuts and binds the —." (Wordsworth.) Fit for a day's hunting...

SOLUTION ON MARCH 27th The winner of Crossword No. 155 is Miss E. F. Rashley, Cornwallis Crescent, Bristol, 8.

These are difficult days for life insurance companies, esp on the investment and valuation side. Interest rates are steadily screwed down, and the net yield is brought still 10...

By CUSTOS WITH the approach of April the City is reminded that theBu is looming ahead, but nobody is likely to get unduly wo about Sir Kingsley Wood's plans this year. There...

My hopeful view of the home railway dividend prospect strengthened by the chairmen's speeches at the annual meeti It is now made clear beyond any doubt, not merely that railway...

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY CO. chairman's speech at annual and special general meetings of ockholders, Wednesday, Mardi 11th, 1942: ACCOUNTS With regard to the accounts, the net...

LONDON MIDLAND AND SCOTTISH RAILWAY COMPANY THE nineteenth annual general meeting of the London Midland and Scottish Railway Company, held at Friends House, Euston Road,...