Evening star., 1935-12-01
BY Mary.Carfer Roberts

THIS highly interesting book is
avowedly an answer to those
critics of America who have
II held that this Nation, more
than others, is preoccupied with greed
for money and careless of the nicer
points OF honor when money getting
is involved. Beginning in Colonial
times and earlier, Mr.. Meyers takes
up the statements of those who have
thus accused us, and continues to the
more recent reproach implicit in the
bitter nickname. Uncle Shylock."
His method is the old one of returning
the compliment with interest. While
the whole idea sounds somewhat
crackpot, thus briefly described, it
really Is not so at all. America Strikes
Back" is a scholarly work, well worth
reading.
One can only suppose that it Is
the subject itself that makes the book,
offhand, seem bit peculiar. We are
not used to giving spirited replies to
our European critics, especially where
they deal with our supposed national
monopoly on greed. Contrarily, we
usually turn the other cheek. So meek
indeed have we become on this point
that, had. we more heads than the
hydra, we probably would apologize
that the number of our cheeks was no
greater Mr. Meyers resents this. He
would correct the error.
If, however, his purpose seems bit
ouixotic, his method is perfectly prac-
tical Displaying wide scholarship, he
goes back into the governmental de-
crees of European countries, sometimes
as far back as the thirteenth century,
and unearths laws which clearly show
that in those ancient days of unmech-
enized handicraftS tradesmen were
adulterating their products, cheating
the public and abusing their employees
He traces these laws across the CEN
turies, showing their repeated strength
ening and revision as proof that the
merchants had not reformed. This,
he remarks. ought to end the indignant
charge that sharp practice and Amer
ica came into being simultaneously.
Going further into his subject, he
examines bogus stock transactions in
England and France, and reveals that
we have been pitiable in the compare
tive meagerness of our operations. He
devotes some pointed passages to the
fur trade, the rubber trade. armament
proflteering. the buying of legislators
to obtain protection for trusts and like
practices as they have been carried on
in the home lands of our critics. He
writes with fine bite to his pen, but
never fails to document his charges.
The result is always interesting and
sometimes absolutely devastating.
One cannot refrain from observing
too that there is something eXcellently
tough-minded and heartening in such
a work done in such a manner. While
st Is gratifying to know that. as a
nation, we are aware of our faults and
guiltily quick to write about them it
has still seemed in recent years that
our authors, following sheep-like that
particular fashion, have become almost
masochistic in their desire to claim
cultural superiority by admitting, if
possible ahead Of foreign critics, any
..
berry in reverse, and sometimes plen-
tifully unpleasant spectacle. Mr. Mey-
ers strikes note of pungent sanity in
this work Of his. One hopes that it
will have wide success.
GUSTAVE S STR E SEMANN, HIS
DIARIES. LETTERS AND PAPERS.
Edited and Translated by Eric Sut-
ton New York: The Macmillan Co.
THE material contained in this
- volume is wholly concerned with
public affairs in Germany. Dr.. Strese-
mann was chancellor of the Reich for
brief period in 1928. After the fail
of his cabinet he became foreign
minister under his successor, DR.. Marx.
He held this post until his death in
1929.
The present volume is compression
Of the three-volume edition which has
been issued in Germany. Its editor,
in preparing it for English publication,
has omitted papers relating to purely
domestic aspects Of German politics.
His work emerges therefore as record
of events of international import over
six years. as they were seen by the
eyes Of Germany's outstanding Liberal,
a man who had no sympathy with the
inilitaristic demands of the National
lists. which he impatiently charac-
terized as "rattling an empty scab-
bard, and equally little generosity
toward the parties Of the left, against
which he took severe measures when
he thought fit.
State papers, on the whole, make
dull reading for most Of the world.
However, the present book can be
recommended to others than students
Of politics and history for, without
attempting to enlist the readers SYM
pathy with any individual or group, it
provides a picture of the course Of
recent events in Germany which ought
to be valuable in achieving an under
standing Of the whole drift of the
times.
Perusa1 Of DR.. Stresemann's notes
brings the reader into contact with a
mind that accepted facts, no matter
deal with them realistically, instead
OI tIyulB W CTcdLc IlcW ScL Ol
premises and bring the whole Of society
by force to agree. He was individually
committed to the idea of constitutional
monarchy as the best government for
Germany: he believed personally in
maximum military strength; he saw
the interests of the people as being
anseparable from encouragement of
what we call in this country "blg
business" None Of these personal
commitments was possible Of realiza-
ton when he took Office. He recognized
this In conduct as well as principle.
The greater part of the book deals
with the struggles over the reparations
question, with the country's relations
with France and its negotiations with
the League Of Nations. No matter how
widely members Of an allied nation
may differ with German feelings or
these points, any open minded reader
s>.,,~k t>a fvr,y,rouead urifh h. the iNfPlli-