Mr. Anderson's List

INCOMPARABLY THE MOST important book for an understanding of how the war came is Hitler's Mein Kampf. Familiarity with it is essential. In no other way can one expect to comprehend how nearly inevitable the outbreak of the war was, why Hitler precipitated it by his attack on Poland, and the magnitude of the issues involved. That the war is a struggle, likely to prove decisive, between two ideologies, the totalitarian and the democratic ways of life, should become clearly apparent to any alert and open minded person who will read Hitler's book. The reading of it is not a light undertaking. In the Reynal and Hitchcock edition, the better of the two complete editions, there are 995 pages. None of them should be omitted. Particularly significant as to Hitler's real aims, is this paragraph on the final page.

"A State which, in the epoch of race poisoning, dedicates itself to the cherishing of its best racial elements, must some day be master of the world."

Britain and the Dictators (New York. Macmillan, 1938) by R. W. Seton-Watson is one of the best books for the general reader. Its author while a young man became intensely interested in the Slavic peoples living in the southern provinces of the old Austria-Hungary. By travel and stud) he became exceptionally well informed as to conditions prevailing in that part of the world and by voice and pen did much to make known the complexities of the Southern Slav problem. During and for a time after the World War he exerted a potent influence in helping to create and to shape the destinies of Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia. In recent years as Masaryk professor of history at the University of London he has written extensively upon recent diplomatic history and current international affairs. All his utterances are marked by great acumen, comprehensive knowledge, and sound judgment. His book is broader in scope than the title indicates, being in fact an illuminating discussion of the problem presented to the world by the rise of the powerful dictatorships.

Under the Austrian Republic, Vienna was one of the best observation posts in Europe. Two journalists who were long stationed there have given us books which ought to be read by everybody who wishes to get an understanding of the conditions and the course of events leading to the war. Marcel Fodor's book in its original edition bears a title which he did not select, Plot and Counterplot in Central Europe (Boston, Houghton, 1937)- The title for the 1939 edition, South of Hitler, more aptly describes the book. Few men, if any, know as much as Fodor about the conditions prevailing in central Europe during the last decade. The essence of his knowledge is to be found in this book. In Betrayal in Central Europe (New York, Harper, 1939) G. E. R. Gedye took up the story at the point where Fodor's book had left it. The account it gives of the destruction of the Austrian Republic can scarcely fail to bring to the reader a deeper realization of the brutality of the methods employed by the destroyers.

The destruction of Austria quickly led to the destruction of Czechoslovakia. The first and decisive step in the latter event, Munich, is studied in a remarkably clear and penetrating analysis by Hamilton Fish Armstrong, the editor of Foreign Affairs. It is entitled When There Is No Peace (New York, Macmillan, 1939). From it a reader can get the essential facts and much assistance toward a proper understanding of them. Further aid may be obtained from a most interesting book, Crisis, issued by the Columbia Broadcasting System. It reproduces, accompanied by numerous illustrations, the Columbia broadcasts furnished to radio listeners during the Munich crisis. Those of H. V. Kaltenborn, who was easily the number one analyst of that crisis, are particularly worthy of attention. Europe in Retreat (New York, Knopf, 1939) by Mrs. Vera M. Dean, of the staff of the Foreign Policy Association, also deals largely with the Munich crisis and is a well worth while book.

The grim tragedy which has befallen Poland lends a special interest to Raymond L. Buell's Poland: Key to Europe (New York, Knopf, 1939). Those who read it before the war came, as I did, might well have been led to believe that Poland, despite its highly dangerous situation from foes outside and internal weakness, nevertheless had potential strength for a prolonged resistance if given proper leadership. To me that belief still seems to have been well founded.

When war came the irresistible force of public opinion in England compelled Mr. Chamberlain to make Winston Churchill First Lord of the Admiralty. It is easily conceivable that from that position he may presently step to the premiership as the indispensable man. His two recently published books, While England Slept and Step by Step (New York, Putnam, 1938 and 1939), consisting of speeches made and articles written during the last six or seven years, deserve attention. They enable one to understand why England looks hopefully to Churchill in her present critical hour.

As some relief from the depression of mind and heart which the coming of the war has brought, and which the reading of these books is not calculated to alleviate, one may well turn to the cartoonists. Their drawings, while often more poignant than the most solemn words, do offer at least a momentary escape from the grim horror of the tragedy now in progress. Easily foremost among them is David Low. His ACartoon History of Our Times (New York, 1939) should not be omitted.