The Magazines
Tin: X ineteenth Century publishes as its first article "Time Documents in full which deal with the inquiry initiated by certain American University Professors" on "The War Debts." These documents have not yet been published any- where as a complete whole. No comment is appended. Canon Sturdee writes of "The Mediaeval Tendencies of Labour." Incidentally his article is a reply to one published two months ago. by Sir Henry Slesser, upholding the Labour Party's attempt to imitate, even if unconsciously, the endeavours of the Mediaeval Church to create "a sane human Society." Canon Sturdee, while admitting in some degree the truth Of the analogy, warns trade unionists not to imitate what were in his eyes the unfortunate mistakes of the Mediaeval Church - i.e., not to insist on" Tests," not to try by means of general strikes to lay the country under an Interdict, to avoid intimi- dation as they would avnid the Inquisition, not to be unwisely lavish in the administration of relief, above all not to tempt the State to the -probably disastrous proceeding of dissolving their organizations and appropriating their funds as Henry III appropriated the funds of the monasteries. An original lind interesting article by Mr. Delmar Harmood Banner, "Poo The Royal Academy, 1927," is sure to interest "the 9rtimary man" by whom the technicalities of art criticism are not easily understood. The Bishop of Norwich, in "The Fra3W Book a National Guide," suggests that " In the House of Lords an actual resolution, and in the House of Commons the trend of speeches, could declare that the House, while
rejecting the whole Measure, as it cannot -be amended, would welcome the early introduction of another Measure to sanction those parts of the book which are not the subject of serious controversy."
Mr. Arthur Greenwood, writing in the Contemporary Review of "Time Trade Disputes and Trade Unions Bill,"
• declares that the Government having decided on a die-hard policy of repression has expressed its decision in "a Bill which as a whole is a crude and clumsy affair." We would call special attention to a most interesting account of a journey from " Moukden to Moscow," by Lady Hosie. Mr. Sisley Huddleston gives a rose-coloured picture of France's true economic position. She has brought her factories and machinery up to date, "cruisers have to be commissioned to carry French samples round the world, trains have taken French goods in exhibition wagons across Canada."
The first two articles in the Fortnightly —" British Foreign Policy as seen from Geneva, by Mr. Hugh Spender, and "The Rhineland Again," by "Augur," cover much the same ground. Mr. Spender would persuade his readers that we English arc too ready to compromise at the bidding of France. Germany', he argues, must be freed from foreign occupation, as she has been freed from military control. The inequality imposed on her in the matter of armaments should be removed, and the amount of her reparations fixed at a suns she will be content to pay. If we would set an example by reducing our troops in the Rhineland by one-half he believes the French would follow suit. " Augur" is more cautious in tone ; he thinks " it would be against reason to expect a nation which is a member of the League of Nations and a permanent member of the Council of the League, to remain under the humiliating control of other members." On the other hand he feels uncertain of Germany's complete good faith while she remains the friend of Moscow. "Berlin must understand that the membership of the Concert of Europe is not compatible with the connection with an organisation which is the enemy of the Concert of Europe, of the League of Nations, of civilisation and of all the ideals of the white race." " Macdstra " in " The Irish Problem" explains the issues at stake in the forthcoming General Elec- tions in Ireland. Mr. H. A. Bryden discusses "Time Romance of South African Diamonds," declaring it possible "that in a few years' time African diamonds will be within the reach of everyone from the duchess to the housemaid." The difficulty at present is to keep down the output. Sir Michael O'Dwyer in " The Relations of the Indian States to British India" warns the Indian Government that the native rulers do not sympathize with the present attempt to establish British democratic institutions in India.
Bishop Knox, writing in the National Review on " Prayer Book Revision," makes an entirely new suggestion. "It is not too much," he writes, "to ask the Bishops to withdraw the Measure for the Deposited Book on some technical ground —they may in any case be compelled to do so —and to submit to the Nation a complete scheme of worship, doctrine and jurisdiction, such as can be rationally defended before the world." The difficulties in regard to time are, he is sure, greatly exaggerated. "A Book of Ceremonial could be com- pleted in two years at the most. When the whole work was finished it would be for the Nation to decide whether the Church so constituted was a true expression of her religious aspirations." In the end he thinks it must be admitted that "the existing religions unsettlement calls for a restatement of faith, a remodelling of worship, and a reconstitution of organization."
The first article in The English Review rejoices in the action of the Government with regard to Russia. It is called" Circling the Scorpion," by Mr. Ernest Remnant. He believes that similar action on the part of France and Italy would prove the death-blow of the Soviet Government. "A Fourteenth- Century Book-Lover," by Mr. Charles H. Lea, is a charming paper full of amusing detail about Richard de Bury, Bishop of Durham, the management of his library and the reluctant lending of his precious books to poor scholars.
In an excellent number of Blackwood we find three letters written by James Patrick Muirhead to his mother describing "A Day with Wordsworth." These letters are published for the first time and throw a ray of new light upon the
personality of the great poet. "To China -by Submarine," by Mr. T. A. Powell, describes a voyage in which the terrors and discomforts and heroism of submarine service keep the reader in a state of shuddering admiration. Mr. Jan Gordon writes of the marvellous pictures drawn by early man "In the Caves of Altarnira," and Mr. Herbert T. Grant discourses amusingly of "A Mining Camp in Retrospect."
The World Today is full of threats and warnings. The editor writes on Has War Regained its Glamour ? ", Commander Kenworthy on "Can Organised Labour Prevent another World War ? ", Mr. Henry Reilly on "The World Still under Arms," and Mr. Upton Close on "Where the Next World War will Start." We miss the kind of articles with which this magazine so often delights us.
The Empire Review for June has a remarkable and moving article (it is called a short story, but bears unmistakable signs of being the bitter truth), " The May Queen," giving the life of a young girl who went wrong." Psychologists and social reformers will find much material here. Others, as they read, cannot fail to feel touched by the lewilderments and bedevil- ments that our civilization thrusts upon those minds that cannot quite take care of themselves. It is the price we pay for progress, and those pay who can least afford it.
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