CURRENT LITERATURE
THE APRIL MAGAZINES THE Nineteenth Century prints Mr. Chamberlain's statement on foreign policy with Baron von Neurath's highly imaginative account of the Austrian affair which the Prime Minister quoted. Professor R. B. Mowat describes very temperately " The Crisis in Central Europe." Mr. J. S. Barnes takes a favourable view of " The Economic Situation in Italy " and suggests that Italy is now a " satiated Power " and wants peace, when once General Franco has won. Mr. F. W. Hirst, writing on " Expenditure, Debt and Taxation," urges " a severe pruning of all the Estimates " and the avoidance of new debt and new taxes, but he does not seem hopeful. Mr. Cecil Binney's article on " Military Courts and the Judge-Advocate-. General " explains the situation which the new Departmental Committee on courts-martial is to review.
There is plenty of plain speaking in the Fortnightly. The editor, under the heading of " The Avalanche "—set loose by Mr. Eden's resignation—presents General Franco as a puppet in the hands of the German and Italian dictators whose object is to sever " the life-lines of the British Empire." Mr. Jeremiah Warner describes as " Nazi Mirage " the economic progress which Herr Hitler lauded in a recent speech. Mr. F. L. Lucas, writing on " Dictatorship," maintains that in the long run arbitrary power, whether Fascist or Communist, must fail to benefit mankind. Lord Bridgeman has an interesting and sympathetic article on " The Army and its Officers ' ; he stresses the need for promotion by selection so that exceptional men may not lose heart.
In the Contemporary Mr. Wickham Steed pleads for a bolder and clearer definition of " British Interests " which we are
resolved to uphold; he thinks, the aggressors might
be deterred. Dr. M ' Maxwell Garnett holds that " The Future of the League " is really a matter of education, and that the young people are attracted to the idea. Signor Angelo Crespi has a poor opinion of " The- Significance of Gabriele d'Annunzio," except as a creator of Fascism in its most pagan form ; he laments " such a sacrilegious misuse of divine gifts." Mr. R. L. Me In the National Sir Edward Grigg maintains that " The Urgent Question " is that of compulsory registration for air- raid defence " to establish the moral front that ought to be established in this country." Germany, he says, has trained her civilians already. On the other hand Mr. W. J. Blyton, answering the question " Will Juggernaut Survive ? " in the negative, tries to persuade himself that the dictators in the long run must fail. Blackwoods prints a vivid account of the beginnings of the Japanese attack on Shanghai last year by Captain J. V. Davidson-Houston. " Bombardier " contributes a learned and amusing article on partridges.
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