THE TABLET, December 3rd, 1955. VOL. 206, No. 6028

Published as a Newspaper

TH E TAB LET

A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER & REVIEW

FOUNDED IN 1840

Pro Ecclesia Dei, Pro Regina et Patria

DECEMBER 3rd, 1955

NINEPENCE

Asia D c t O U r : The Significance o f the Russian Visit to India

Unity in American Labour: The Expected Merger. By John Fitzsimons

The Genius o f Stanley Spencer: A t the Tate Gallery. By Sir John Rothenstein

The Holy Week Liturgy: I : The New Decree o f the Congregation o f Rites

II : The Background. By Lancelot C. Sheppard

Words for Advent: II : Must Charity Grow Cold ? By Illtud Evans, O.P.

CHRISTMAS BOOK SUPPLEMENT B o o k s R e v i e w e d : The National Gallery, London, by Philip Hendy ; Lord Crewe, by James

Pope-Hennessy ; Children o f the Game, by Jean Cocteau ; The Quiet American, by Graham Greene ; Inside Africa, by John Gunter ; The Dark Eye in Africa, by Laurens van der P o s t ; New Hope in Africa, by J. A. Oldham ; Richard the Third, by Paul Murray Kendall ; No Man is an Island, by Thomas Merton ; Passionate Search, by Margaret Crompton ; The Incompleat Gardener, by Alfred Noyes ; Just a L ittle Bit o f String, by Ellaline Terriss ; Finale, by Adelina de Lara ; The Boy Friend, by Sandy Wilson ; Tableaux Vivants, by Osbert Lancaster ; A Thurber Garland and Thurber's Dogs ; Fasten Your Lapstraps, by Geoffrey Willans ; and a selection o f children’s books. Reviewed by Sir John Rothenstein, John Biggs-Davison, M.P., Martin Turnell, Christopher Sykes,

B. C. L. Keelan, D.W ., Bruno S. James, Isabel Quigly, E. W. Martin, Michael De-la-Noy, Aubrey Noakes and, combining in the children’s books, Maryvonne Butcher and Janet Bruce.

ANTAGONISING GREECE

W HEN the House of Commons debates the problem of Cyprus it will be doing so for the first time since last May. Much has happened since; the most recent outbreaks of terrorism have been the worst in a long series, costing casualties on both sides, and a technical state of war has been declared. There is no police in Cyprus which could be used as effectively against demonstrators as, for instance, the famous Celere which Signor Scelba created in Italy, and which uses modem technical and tactical methods. Soldiers are, as a rule, prepared neither by their training nor by temperament for police work of this kind.

The British troops in Cyprus have been operating, on the whole, and contrary to what has been said in the Greek Press, with much restraint. They have been issued with unbreakable rubber spectacles, long sticks and shields as protection against the stone-throwing Cypriot youths. But in the present circumstances their attitude may well have a worse effect than counter-attack would have. What is needed now to suppress terrorism is a clear statement on the British political objectives on the island.

The recent change of Government in Greece, following the death of Marshal Papagos, may contribute to an improvement of Anglo-Greek relations. A new electoral law is now being drafted by M. Karamanli’s Government, but there must be anxiety lest a majority system, such as was used in the last elections, produces a further strengthening of the Left extremists who are now gathered under the Communistdominated EDA. In the present atmosphere of bitterness over Cyprus there is no small danger that radical solutions which the Communists are advocating will find considerable support.

But it is the Greek attitude to matters of defence in the Eastern Mediterranean which must cause most concern in the West. The Baghdad Pact now unites Iraq, Turkey, Persia, Pakistan and Great Britain. This military, political and economic alliance is intended as a fink between NATO, to which Turkey and Britain belong, and the South East Asia Treaty Organization, to which Pakistan belongs. It has a constructive aim, which is to improve the atmosphere in the Middle East, but it will have to prove its substance in many directions; against Egypt, where attempts are now being made, with some Communist support, to create a bloc between Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Syria ; against the Arab world, which has been stirred up by Soviet moves intended to gain friends and influence ; and against the Balkan Pact, which the Cyprus dispute has probably done most to disrupt.

The Baghdad Pact has closed one gap merely to open another. Greece, like Turkey, is still a member of NATO, and will want to remain one, but the Greeks did not take part in last September’s NATO manoeuvres. They have withdrawn their troops from Korea, reduced their military budget, and deprived American and other foreign missions in Greece of extra-territorial status. These are examples of the estrangement that has grown up between Greece and the NATO Powers. In the United Nations Greece is now supporting the candidature of Yugoslavia, and the Balkan alliance has in