A SPECTATOR'S NOTEBOOK
DR. GOEBBELS, I should imagine, has never proved his value more decisively than at the present moment, for he wields a weapon of enormous value which no one can easily strike from his hands. In the present state of German morale, so far as we know anything reliable about that, two things must somehow be got into the public mind— that the Luftwaffe is retaliating effectively for the R.A.F.'s raids on Germany and that von Manstein has succeeded in rescuing the ten divisions trapped round Korsun. Hence the lurid descrip- tions of what has been happening to London—the utter disorganisa- tion of all public services, the fires blazing to heaven, the panic evacuation to the country—a precise replica, in short, of everything that has actually been happening in Berlin. This, of course, is precisely what all Germans want to hear, and the belief that Britain is suffering as they are fosters the conviction that Britain can, and will, he crushed ; expectation thus substantially stimulates endur- ance, and even the fainter-hearted abandon any fear of defeat. This is a great asset. But how long, it may be asked, can the truth be concealed? For a long time, I should imagine, so far as anything like the London stories are concerned. For how can truth penetrate? Control of incoming news in Germany is completely effective. B.B.C. denials, even if they are listened to, will naturally not be believed. Even if an occasional Swedish visitor tells what the German raids have really done, his testimony will only reach small circles. Not many people are likely to listen to the Swedish wireless. The Korsun story will have a shorter life. Returning soldiers will gradually disclose the facts. But meanwhile that story, too, will serve its turn. And by the time it is exploded there will no doubt be another ready. Till it does the resourceful doctor is able with some plausibility to point to " the growing volume of opposition to Churchill " as evidenced by British by-elections.
My reference last week to the appointment of two retired diplomats to advise the censors on messages sent by foreign correspondents from London to their own countries has elicited the explanation that this represents no new departure, only new personalities, and that the censorship on matters " likely to stir up discord between the Allies " applies to all countries, not to America alone. Of this I was well aware, but relations between Britain and America be:ng what they are, any censorship of messages from London to American papers (except on grounds of security) is open to objection. The announcement of these appointments draws atten- tion to its existence, and I am not surprised that American corre- spondents here are restive. If there is to be any check in London on what Americans in America are to read I still think it would be best applied by Americans. * * * * Many readers will have noted, as I did, with sincere sorrow the official announcement of the loss of H.M.S. ' Janus.' A day or two before there was an entry in The Times mentioning as " missing, presumed killed in action," Lieut. J. J. Gresson, who established the connexion between the destroyer and this column by inviting me to become President of the ship's Sports Fund and in that capacity help to secure some much-needed sports equipment. " We carry a completely new and very young ship's crew," wrote Lieut. Gresson, " we have already had a number of teams out in the field and the outlook is quite promising." Thanks to the kindness of readers of this column—one at least sent football shirt, shorts and boots that had belonged to a dead son—I was able to forward a substantial amount of equipment ; whether it reached the ship before she was lost, which was last publicly mentioned as bombard- ing the Adriatic coast of Italy, I have no means of knowing. In the letter from which I have quoted occurred the further sentence: "I feel that a meeting between ' Janus' and ' Janus' would be an excellent idea if it could be arranged. Please always remember that we should be delighted to see you aboard if ever you can manage it." The opportunity never came, for so far as I know the ' Janus' has not since then been in a home port. Now, alas! it never will be.
Last Monday's Daily Telegraph contained a very agreeable mes- sage from New Delhi, telling of the testimonies of Indian troops who came to England after Dunkirk to the treatment they have received in this country—where they apparently stayed for some years. One of them, on Salisbury Plain, was one evening invited in by a village woman to take a cup of tea. " From that day she treated me like a son." Another, in Scotland, was much impressed by the fact that there were roads even to the remotest cottages, and that every cottage had a wireless set and every child went to school. " We must see India developed like that," he commented. A subandar from Bengal found that " at dances we could dance with girls simply by asking them." He had to add, "it is like that in India." This kind of contact, multiplied a thousandfold, would do more than all the politicians can to create the right relations between India and Britain. But I am afraid there may be Qther Indians here who would not tell quite the same story as the returned soldiers.
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Why dumb animals should be maligned by adoption as yard- sticks of inebriation I have never understood. It seems rather an unwarranted injustice. Still, as it is so, I should like to satisfy the curiosity of an inquirer who wants an explanation of the expres- sion, current in many circles, " Tight as a newt." To that might be added "Drunk as an owl," but here a ray of light glimmers through, for there is (I am told) a preternaturally serious stage of intoxication which suggests resemblances with this solemn and wise bird. But tight as a newt?
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The last nail is driven into the principle that a tip is a gratuity by a printed notice posted in the bedrooms of a hotel where I have lately stayed. " Will visitors," it runs, " please remember to re- munerate the staff for their services before leaving?" because a to per cent. charge is not, as in some hotels, added to the bill. I thought once that hotels remunerated their staffs themselves. Here it is plain that guests are meant to pay the servants' wages, and no bones about it.
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Writing at the beginning of this month, I expressed considerable scepticism about the report that the Lord Chancellor contemplated resignation. The Lord Chancellor, I observe, is a sceptic on the subject, too. He has declared, indeed, that he has no idea of resigning. It is hard to see why anyone suggested that he had. He
and his present post suit each other admirably. JANus.
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