A SPECTATOR'S NOTEBOOK
THERE is one fact connected with the Jewish pogroms in Germany which has attracted little notice—as is often the case with omissions as opposed to actions. The first attacks on Jews and their property took place in the early hours of Thursday, the loth. Down to the time of writing, this, the evening of Wednesday, the 16th, I have seen no reference to a single word of comment in the Italian Press. From the papers of the United States, France and many other countries there has been comment in abundance. The silence of Italy is significant. It is, of course, susceptible of more than one interpretation. But the natural one is that what has been happening in Germany is too much even for Signor Mussolini. Normally the Italian Press approves every action of Italy's axis-partner. Actual con- demnation, in this case or any other, would be wholly incom- patible with the existing relationship. But it seems reasonable to conclude that when Italy refrains from saying she approves Herr Hitler's policy, she does not approve it..
* * * One or two of the thin-paper leaflets which the German Freedom Party is circulating surreptitiously with some success, and apparently with some effect, in Germany have come into my hands. They are admirably printed and the point of view adopted is striking. The Party is, of course, openly hostile to the existing regime and aims only at its overthrow, but its attitude on the alleged opportunity offered by the recent crisis is unexpected, and—most people would, I think, agree—admirable. Here is a rough transla- tion of the opening paragraph of a recent leaflet :
There are some among us who in the confusion have seen in the threatened war a release from the disgrace of the tyranny from which we suffer. The brutal violence which holds us down, the relentless compulsion which governs all our actions, fetters our hands, puts our very wills in chains. But war is bound, so many hope, to break the tyranny. War is bound, so many pray, to free Germany from the disgrace of the Nazis. These thoughts and wishes may be intelligible, may be human, may be manly—but they are not German, they are not worthy of us. Not only because war might annihilate our Germany and perhaps all Europe, but still more because we Germans must not look to foreign aid for our salvation or our emancipation from our bondage. We have the responsibility of having submitted to the tyranny of Nazism. We must muster the influence, the courage and the strength to break our chains and make Germany free once more.
That seems, in the circumstances, a very creditable attitude to adopt.
The fact that the Committee charged with advising on economies in the administration of the League of Nations Secretariat has been meeting in Paris this week is sufficient proof that the stories current a fortnight or more ago about dismissals for political reasons under the guise of retrench- ment had, and could have, no solid basis. There has, it is true, been one removal, in circumstances which seem to most people who know the facts unfortunate, but actually no one yet knows what economies will be decided on, or to whose detriment they will be carried out. That there should be some economies is inevitable. It is idle to suppose that there can be work to occupy a Disarmament Section of any size at the present moment, and the Political Section similarly can have little to do. On the other hand, the League's technical organisations—those concerned with economics, finance, health, social work and the like—have as much to do as ever, and it is important that the sections of the Secretariat responsible for them should in no way be weakened. In all those activities, incidentally, the United States is co-operating regularly, and bearing its due share of the cost. * * * * A nice point was raised in the case heard at Chester Assizes on Monday in which the Judge passed severe strictures on a surgeon who had charged too guineas for an operation on a servant-girl injured in a motoring accident. The surgeon's reply was that if the girl had been without means the most expert treatment available would have been given willingly and given free, but as this was an insurance case in which costs and damages would be borne by an insurance company which could well afford to bear them, he was fully justified in charging his usual fee. To me as a layman that sounds entirely reasonable. Insurance companies draw their revenue from premiums and out of the premiums they meet claims ; I cannot see why a surgeon should reduce or waive his fees to relieve the insurance company and increase its dividends. But that is, as I say, a layman's view. I have consulted two medical friends on the point, and they are both against me. One of them quotes a recent case of a highly delicate major operation performed in hospital by almost the only surgeon in England who could do it, on the employee of a wealthy corporation which was clearly respon- sible for the fee if any was asked. It never was.
* * * * The assumption of the editorship of the Nineteenth Century, as from its current issue, by Mr. F. A. Voigt, is an event of some interest in view of the contrast between Mr. Voigt's general political attitude and that of his immediate predecessor, Sir Arnold Wilson. Mr. Voigt is the very able Diplomatic Correspondent of the Manchester Guardian, and he is well known to a larger public through his frequent broadcasts on foreign affairs. Three out of the four established political monthlies, the Nineteenth Century, the Contemporary and the Fortnightly, are now directed by men whose political views may be described as somewhere between Left Centre and Left—or perhaps merely Liberal. However, the robustness of the Rightness of the fourth, the National Review, is such as to make the average of the four something like dead centre. * * * * For reasons on which I need not expatiate I have observed with some interest the launch of a new destroyer H.M.S. Janus ' at Wallsend last week. She will, I trust, have a highly prosperous career. I should expect her at any rate to be capable of keeping an even keel, steering a straight course, and doing twofold destruction, if any has to be done, fore and aft, port and starboard. If I may offer a hint born of experience, she should be well-armoured to withstand miscellaneous missiles from all quarters. She is, I see, oil- fired. Here a distinction intrudes. I may some day be fired,
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