17 NOVEMBER 1939, Page 18

Looking back upon the events of the last six years

it is impossible to resist the conclusion that our essential error was to interpret Herr Hitler's ambitions in terms of " nationalism " (which for many of us still has about it pleasant associations with " Songs before Sunrise ") instead of recognising in them a ruthless vulgarisation of the centuries-old doctrine of Pan-Germanism. To that extent I am in agreement with Sir Walter Layton in that it would be ignorant to deny that Pan-Germanism does make a direct, if often unavowed, appeal to many millions of reasonable Germans. Yet I regard Pan-Germanism, not as a symptom of health but cs a symptom of mortal illness. It is a symptom which, throughout the course of German history, has recurred again and again. * *