Dear all,

After the very informative responses on?Because our fathers lied? (particular thanks to Alastair Wilson) and, with the importance of ?reading? RK in the context of the events at the time uppermost in my mind, I decided to do some exploring in my bookshelves and came across Orwell?s 'The Lion and the Unicorn' which I read again.

I found it to be more thoughtful and objective and less politically extreme than before and the first hand observations (1940) on the attitude of the general public towards the management of Britain (England) and the Empire, particular in times of warfare, included comments on attitudes between 1931 and 1939  and made me wonder what RK 's thoughts were put to print during this period.

Orwell refers to the roots of the 'English hatred of war'  and states "...within living memory it was common for ?the redcoats? to be booed at in the streets and for the landlords of public houses to refuse to allow soldiers on the premises?(amazing if true).  It is also mentioned that even the blind could see that from 1931 to 1939 that Germany was arming itself for war but that the ?monied classess? argued in favour of the Fascist system which still allowed private business to thrive and make a profit and were anti-communist ?just like us?; using this an excuse to sell metals, rubber and other raw materials until as late as August 1939!

The comment about the ?blimps? who were planning for the Sudan in the Boer War, planning for the Boer War in WWI and could not keep pace with modern ways and thus still in the WW1 mentality leading up to WWII. (Land and air warfare only, not the Senior Service), was also interesting.

I can only guess that RK?s devotion to King/Country/Empire would not have allowed him to be as publicly blunt as Orwell in his critical writings in the first half of the 30s and would be most grateful if anyone can point me to anything I can read which would giver me an insight into RK?s observations and/or opinions on the period, particularly with regard to any opinions on the obvious political failings of the time  which allowed the pursuit of profits by big businesses through dealings with a country (up to 1 month before war broke out) that was obviously preparing to wage war against the countries of  Europe which would inevitably involve Britain.

I would imagine a highly principled man like RK, at least privately,  would have been no less than incensed at the irresponsible behaviour of these leaders of Empire who apparently placed  'private income'  above the security of the Country and the general public for so many years merely for a quick return !.

Best wishes all

Tony Hanley