When Goebbels in a recent broadcast called us a capitalist State inspired by jealous hatred to try to destroy German Socialism, he omitted to say that it is the great masses of the British people who are now the capitalists. Lord Howard de Walden has to give up Seaford House in Belgravia. Lord Salisbury must make over most of Hatfield to the Government, But "the tinker, the tailor and the candlestick-maker" build themselves houses and amass wads of the three per cents. From the majority's point of view this sort of capitalism seems to beat Germany's Socialism (?) into a cocked hat.
It seems fairly safe to hope that the Finns, whose superb fighting thrills the world, should now be reasonably secure and safe until the spring, by which time it is just possible that enough Russians—poor brutes—may have died of exposure and under-nourishment to cause some really effective mutinies in Russia.
Sir John Wardlaw-Mimes Committee of N.C.O/s, set up to investigate the spending of the different departments, is already hard at work, and has formed itself into a number of sub-committees to look after the Army, Navy, Air Force, Trade Agriculture and Economic Warfare, Home Defence Services and Supply Services. It is a pity that the Social Services (unemployment relief, grants in aid, ete.) have been expressly reserved from their attentions. This is to avoid ruffling the Socialists. But there is good reason to think that without at all imparing benefits, much might be saved on this score.
The most difficult items of wastefulness to check will be the little ones—a motor lorry daily travelling from Kent to Whitehall with perhaps nothing more than a letter which could as well have gone by post. The "Evening Standard" has been making a collection of such items, which it will send to the Committee.
Surprise is expressed that Mr. Amery has not been employed. He did excellent work in the last war, was for five years Colonial Secretary under Mr. (now Lord) Baldwin, and is undeniably a man of drive and energy. The Prime Minister is famous for loyalty to his friends. But in war, efficiency comes before friendship, or should do so. The Cabinet gives foo much the impression of having like Topsy "just growed," with some not fruitful graftings Reopening of Theatres The general reopening of threattes is a good sign of public morale and Very popular, "Cinderella" at the Coliseum, at one time expected to be the only pantomime has a companion in "Whittington Junior and his Cat" at the Players' Theatres, in the traditional style of pantomime with a real Harlequinade. That wonderful evergreen "Me and My Girl" is going as strongly as ever, now in its third year. "Where the Rainbow Ends" is being played for the 29th successive year, but alas no Peter Pan appears, There are four or five revues, noisy, Xnock-about patriotic and distinctly popular. But one may be forgiven for thinking that they are rather unworthy descendants of their ancestors, the music-hall and musical comedy. Some of the new plays recently produced are by all accounts poor stuff. "The producers seem to have thought that, for a relief from war stress, ihe public want bosh, in which they are probably wrong. But at the St. James's—one wonders what Alexander would have said—there is the most gruesome thriller, found on a particularly horrible French murder, called "Ladies in Retirement which is equally praised for the writing and acting.
John Gielgud is reviving "The importance of Being Earnest" which the War interrupted, Accounted the third best comedy ever written (after "School for Scandal" and Congreve's "The Way of the World") perfectly acted, and beautifully recapturing the 39th century atmosphere, it seems sure of a long run.
It also has the popular attraction ing Mr. Jack Hawkins, as io eat five cucumber sandand four eating must be eating. How to de-jiver his lines clearly with a mouth ful of muffin has cost Mr. Hawkins endless practice. He is now reckoned the stage's most perfect muffin-eater.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.