WHY ARE THE ENGLISH ?
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR] Sra,—Mr. Harold Nicolson, in your issue of March 24th, writes of the sunshine stimulus put out by Downing Street the week before the rape of Bohemia and Moravia. I was in London that week, and in responsible military circles a crisis—i.e., coup by Hitler—was expected before the end of this month. Mr. Nicolson has been in the' Diplomatic Service, and I wish he would explain why our military authorities appear to know invariably more about coming events than members of the Government.
It was the same at the time of the Agadir crisis, the same in July, 1914.
Why are our politicians and Civil Servants always taken by surprise? During my three score years I have never been able to fathom the reason ; but fear it is because our military advisers are never listened to with sufficient attention. The latter knew perfectly well in July, 1914, that the German advance would be through Belgium, but no one else appeared to grasp that fact. Again, in your article " Britain's Re- joinder," you urge that young men should be trained to some form of national service, but modify this by stating that train- ing in the use of arms is not necessary.
Armed aggression can only be held by armed opposition, and the use of arms in war must be performed by young, fit and trained men.
Boot-making is a national service, but boot-makers cannot hold and defeat armed forces. The older men must make the boots, arms, &c„ and the younger men be trained and ready to fight. We are not yet strong enough, far from it. We are not yet strong enough to give confidence to our allies and put fear in the hearts of aggressors.
Why are the English like this? Why do they invariably dodge the issue and appear unable to think and deduce sensibly and clearly? The true • working-class man, like the late Stephen Walsh and J. H. Thomas, for instance, were, and are, in my experience, far clearer thinkers than the rest of the community outside the Services. Why?
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