t; Miss Rathbone, whose record of public service in this
country held in universal respect, is surely unduly credulous so far as the rrnan people are concerned. These vait numbers in Germany eagerly rious to help the Allies exist, I suspect, only in her imagination ; but indeed they exist, in fact they do so only because they are opposed the present German rigime on account of its failure to achieve success.
Britain gone down in 1940 these kindly people would never have serted themselves to protest against the crime committed by the German vernment, the German Army and, in fact, by the German people.
Let us, however, allow Miss Rathbone her point. In that case these enlightened Germans will welcome a firm peace to render. ineffectual the power for evil of their less enlightened compatriots.
Miss Rathbone is evidently satisfied that Lord Vansittart's proposals are a " gift for Goebbels," but German propagandists are already subtly at work over here attempting to discredit the proposals, since they fear that if Lord Vansittart obtains a fair and proper hearing Germany will be unable to make a third attempt at world domination. The dis- crediting of these proposals would be a splendid present for a future Goebbels (Circ. 1960-1970).
I believe the settlement of this vexed question will largely be taken out of our hands by the Continental peoples who have suffered and who, through suffering, understand as we quite obviously do not. Meanwhile, I cannot help occasionally pondering as to why se much " progressive " thought in this country is so deeply concerned about the fate of the aggressor, and is so superior and so indifferent to the sufferings of the victims of that aggression.—I remain, yours faithfully,
R. ERSKINE WATSON.
Lund House Green, Harrogate.
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