POLITICS.
EUROPE SINCE 1918. By H. A. Gibbons. (J. Cape. 16s. net.) Mr. Gibbons is an American publicist who has already written on European questions. In this long volume he gives thirty chapters:to as many distinct questions or countries. They contain a vast amount of contemporary history very clearly set out. The facts on the whole are correct, though we notice a few slips such as a statement that British troops took part in the occupation of Duisburg, Ruhrort and Dussel- dorf in 1921 ; and a reader might gather from p. 558 that Parliament never ratified the tripartite treaty guaranteeing France against German aggression. But when he comes to explain motives Mr. Gibbons is less than fair. In a chapter upon_" The Unsheathed Sword of France " he gives us credit for being " even more eager than we (i.e., the United States) to settle European affairs in such a way as to leave no open sores, no burden of long-term military responsibilities on the Continent," and proceeds to explain fairly the agonizing doubts to which France is a prey. But elsewhere he can see nothing but fear and greed as the motives of every step taken by the great European Powers. The Supreme Council has, of course, much to repent of, but Mr. Gibbons has little understanding of the difficulties. Though we make no self- righteous claim to perfectly clean hands ourselves, we do resent the attribution of invariably materialistic aims and the utter failure to recognize that we have taken up some burdens as well as gained some advantages. The important thing to be learned from this book is how America looks at Europe. It shows us why America makes what we believe to be the mistake of lumping all European Governments together as " impossible " people to interfere with. The worst of it is that until Europe shows a little more high-mindedness in international dealings, it is difficult to condemn these views as wholly unfounded.
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