Nationalism
Sir: Professor A. L. Rowse says that Erzberger was a "nationalist". Since Germany became united, there have been no German nationalists, but there have been plenty of imperialists. (Hitler was an Austrian, a distinction without much difference.) Nationalists are people who resent foreign rule. In modern Europe, we find them in parts of the Six Counties, in Scotland, in Wales, in Brittany and the Spanish part Of the Basque country, in Croatia (despite a federal system) and in various parts of the Soyiet Union (again, despite a federal system, possibly because it is in this case thinly-disguised imperialism). Outside Europe it has erupted briefly in Biafra, Kurdistan, Nagaland, Amboina and Tibet.
Much of what Germany did had been done to Ireland, Egypt, India, etc.; but not by Germany! Would a Europe united under Germany have conflicted with British (i.e. English) interests? English and German politicians came near to making a deal in Africa at the expense of Belgium and Portugal — yes, ''gallant little Belgium" and "England's oldest ally."
But much of Asia and all of the New World never could have been dominated by either Englishmen or Germans.
Patrick J. N. Bury The Grey Door, 23 Upper Pembroke Street, Dublin 2
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