The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-11-29
Liberal Viewpoint
by DR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

CHACKLED Diplomacy. BY Michael Demiash-
- kevich. Barnes & Noble. 50.
World Diary: ls29-l934 BY Quincy Howe,
Robert NJ. Mcbride & Co. $3.50.
Autopsy. of the Monroe Doctrine. BY Castor
Nerval Macmillan Co, $3.50.
Blackbirds Field. BY Victor Komski. Rae
D. Henkle So.
The saar Struggle. BY Michael T. Florinsky.
The Macmillan Co, 81.
sociocratic Escapades. BY Francis Nelson.
G. P. Putnam's Sons. 81
The tension between Yugoslava and Hun
gary, the Tightening of the crisis in Fascist
countries and the general world swing toward
economic nationalism all serve to call attention
TO the impending world crisis devastating
and perhaps fatal World war is by no means
inevitable but it certainly will be unless the
decent people throughout the world realize the
danger and unite to avert it.
TIE ideals and methods that have entered
in To create the present crisis are very clearly
assembled and analysed by DR.. Demiashkevich.
He analyses the influence Of nationalism and
political myths in creating the World war, shows
the disastrous effects of the spirit of revenge
since 1870, portrays the fundamental elements
in modern diplomacy and argues for the neces-
sity of instituting some effective type of educa-
ton in the principles OF international co-opera-
ton
formed persons will question the assertion that
the last five years will constitute some type Of
a turning point in human civilization Quincy
Howe, editor of the Living Age, has written
vivid penetrating and critical account OF these
years presented in lucid fashion and well sup
piled with extremely cogent cartoons 1t is an
extremely valuable contribution to current his
tory The reader will not only gain from it
much relevant information but will have his
perspective cleared and his wits sharpened.
IF WE want peace and generosity to prevail,
i the United States will have to abandon some
of its own sacred cows and points Of Sef-inter-
est OF these, none are more important in our
national tradition than the Monroe Doctrine,
1t is well to have this held up to the light so
that we can see it others do
This service is performed in admirable fash
ion by Castor Nerval, descendant of a long line
of Bolivian diplomats. He exposes with great
thoroughnesS the narrow nationaliStic origins
and development of the Monroe Doctrine;
argues for its speedy abandonment; urges the
substitution of a Fan-American doctrine of joint
responsibility for the we'll being of the new
world; and shows the necessity for a broad
minded organization of opinion and machinery
to promote peace in the two Americas.
The present crisis in the Balkans and east
ern Europe set off by the murder of King Alex
ander of Yugoslavia renders particularly timely
Victor Komski's autobiography. EnliSting as
boy of 16 in the Balkan wars, he remained in
uniform until the close of the World war He
was a friend, classmate and associate Of the as
sassin of Franz Ferdinand in 1914.
He gives us an Illuminating personal impress
sion of the conSpirital and natiOnaliStic pSy-
chology of the Balkan regions. 1t is an ey-
tremely vivid book contains great deal of in
cidental information and enables one better to
understand the character of the present crisis
in the near east
ID ANKING next to the Yugoslav- Hungarian
N clash as an immediate potential cause Of
war, is the Saar plebiscite which is to be held
this coming January. All the factors involved
in this complicated question examined and
set forth clearly by DR.. FlorinSky.
1t is highly useful and timely book in spite
of the fact that it is not sufficiently critical Of
the handling of the Saar question at the peace
conference and is perhaps somewhat over
| friendly to the French side Of the case. The
Saar issue represents another instance of how
Hitler has proved liability to Germany and the
world
Had the German republic persisted, there is
little doubt that the people Of the Saar would
have voted Overwhelmingly to return to Ger
many. Today many are fearful of joining
despotic and intolerant Fatherland, while Hitler
seems determined to get the Saar Basin come
what may. Therein lies the danger which may
flare up month hence.
Few Americans have done more to expose
the stupidity and malice of past diplomacy than
Francis Nelson. In the present book he
ranges over the general field of current problems
both national and International
Those who have little sympathy for his ultra
ndividualiSm in economics and politics will
nevertheless, admire his independence of view
point and his cultivated manner of expression.
If his economic and political views are some
what archaic his spirit is as refreshing as ever