ABSTRACT
THIS book is a plea for a better understanding between Great Britain and Germany. I have endeavoured to give my impressions of the Third Reich. How difficult has been that upward path to recovery is known to all who have followed European events at first hand since the war. The fact that the Germany which was obliged to sign the Treaty of Versailles made any recovery at all is the cause of lasting astonishment to many, so vindictive were the terms of peace, so humiliating to the pride of a gallant enemy. To-day there can be no doubt as to the progress which has been made in Germany in the last three years. Germany is once more a great power. She is likely to be an even greater one. The complete change in the outlook and hopes of the German people is a proof of their tremendous heart and power of recuperation. It has been an even greater achievement than the recovery of Prussia under Stein and Hardenburg after the battle of Jena. At the same time the new Reich offers the hand of friendship to Great Britain, whose Government is apparently more concerned in carrying on military staff talks with France. It is forgotten that the policy of France since the war has been one of self-interest and that the only idea which is always present in the minds of the French Foreign Office officials is the inviolability of France. No matter who sinks, France must swim, and if a powerful country like Great Britain can be relied on to help in the safeguarding of French security so much the better. The fact that Great Britain has everything to lose and precious little to gain through such an arrangement is calmly ignored by the Quai d’Orsay. It is for the benefit of France. It is in the nature of a sacred trust. And the propaganda goes forth unceasingly that France is the friend, not Germany. Did you ever hear of one Codlin, and one Short?
