Evening star., 1946-09-29
World Government
Viewed as Answer
To Lasting Peace
THE GREAT CHALLENGE

you have taken up his book, you vii
find it hard to put down. You vii
not be disappointed, indeed, until tn
very end, when you will realize that
though Mr.. Fischer has summed "
the problems of the planet very i'm
pressively, he has offered solution
for them which, in the practica
sense, solves nothing at all. If h
had told you that there just was n,
solution, you would probably fee
less let down about it.
The book reviews the war year
from Dunkuerque on, doing it il
both the general sense familiar tt
all readers of recent history and th'
personal one enjoyed by the author
as foreign correspondent. HI
visited many of the national leader.
in the period, and he interlards hi!
reports with accounts, sometimes of.
fered as verbatim, of his interview:
with these men. Churchill, Bevin
Morrison, Laski, Gandhi, Nehru
Wavell, Eden, Welles, Hull-these
and many lesser personalities con-
tribute their bits to Mr.. Fischer's
book. His conclusion is that there
must be a democratic world govern
ment. But before he arrives at that
he is very explicit in showing why
there can be no such thing.
Analysis of Conduct.
The chief obstacle, as he sees it
Is Imperialism. And the chief i'm
perialist power is Russia. One o1
the most important chapters in the
book is Mr. Fischer's analysis OF
Russias conduct since the 1889 pact
with Hitler Germany.
He says that Russia at no time
has had more than one aim, and
that aim has been to acquire terri
tory. In 1899, she shook the bloody
hands of the Nazis because the Nazis
promised a share of Poland. BY
Nazi consent, she also made hel
grabs from Finland and the Baltic
Republics. She believed that, with
Poland conquered, England ano
France would make peace and open
the way for more appeasement
steals. From that point on, Mr.
Fischer turns his eye on Russia s
backing and filling, and shows how
at every one of her numerous
changes Of direction. she has ben
efitted at the expense of smaller
power.
She has seized far more land than
ever belonged to the Czar-even the
much justified Curzon Line takes in
territory that never before was Rus
sian, says Mr.. Fischer. She aims at
continued grabbing, in both Europe
and Asia. There is no high purpose
in it, in Mr.. Fischer's view. It is
not, as some writers have said, a
move toward the world revolution of
Communism. 1t is grabbing. for the
sake Of power alone, the old i'm
perial game.
Why is Russia doing it, when she
already has more territory than she
needs? Because, says Mr. Fischer,
Stain is Russia, and Stain is an
old-fashioned imperialist combined
with an Oriental despot and topped
OF with megalomania.
Soviet Conditions Outlined.
At this point he goes into lengthy
description of conditions in Russia
reporting the social and economic
inequality, the establishment of ar
hereditary aristocracy, the wretchec
living standard, the absence of any
freedom-all of it. He says no more
than has been evident for the las
10 years. But he expounds it as il
1t were red-hot news. One is forcec
to remember, consequently, that HI
was for long time Communist
himself. He retains the mentality
which makes them He alone ha.
the light. He will share it with the
rest of us.
More serious is his statement tha
Russia has recently gone in fol
raclsm, taking on still another
Fascist feature. The Slavs are be.
ing exalted over the other Sovie
people, he says. The Jews are be.
coming uneasy.
What should the rest of the worlc
do? Mr.. Fischer holds to his prin
ciple. There must be no imperial
ism. Since Russia is taking tn,
course of empire and cannot bt
stopped by force or appeasement
the rest of the world must just SCI
her an example. We must make ur
. world government on a democratic
order and refuse admittance to any
imperialist power. Britain mus
give up her possessions and thu
United States must not acquire any
There will then admittedly be two
worlds, says Mr.. Fischer-there be.
Ing actually two already. Tht
strategy is that when the peopl,
under Russian tyranny see that tn,
people under democratic freedom
live better than they, they will de-
mand democracy themselves.
1t will take long time, but /
can be a peaceful time if Russia i
confronted by this powerful demo
cratic bloc. Russia's present con
duct, in Mr.. Fischer's view, is no
that of nation which fears attack
as some apologists have said. 1t
that of a nation which knows tina
1t will not be attacked. Russi
thinks she can get away with Il
She will pull in her horns if sh
knows that she has to deal with
world union.
Mr.. Fischer doubts the value O
the present United Nations Organ
ization, says that free India woul,
resist Russia while colonial Indi
may turn to her as a liberator, ad
yises against giving the atomi
bomb secrets to any other powe
and urges the common man every
where to make politics his chief in
terest.
He does not say what is to max
his world government adequatel
pure Of heart. People must jus
improve.
Best Sellers
NATION WIDE.
Accordins to Publishers Weekly