Morgan Philips Price (1885–1973)

A surprisingly readable and informative little book given that it was written 75 years ago. The author was a Labour MP who undertook a fact finding mission in the Balkans in 1946 immediately at the end of the Second World War. He had the benefit of being a Russian speaker and had also spent time in Russia as a journalist so was knowledgable in terms of communist politics and Russian influence and ambitions in the region. In comparison with today's politicians Mr Philips Price both had the knowledge and the care to put the events of the day, what he saw and what he heard into the longer context of regional history and continental politics. He reports what he sees and what he hears. He talks not only to government representatives but ordinary people who he meets in hotels, restaurants and on visits to farms and factories. He bases his judgements on the evidence he acquires placed within a greater historical and political context. In 1946 the Iron Curtain was not yet the political, economic and military boundary it was to become. He anticipated the great divide that would soon share up Europe between the great powers. He also anticipated that it would be possible to maintain links across that divide and that greater geo-political, cultural and geo-economic factors would in time remove it. As a travelling British MP he displays great modesty in his own position. Again a contrast with today's politicians who pride themselves on their self-importance. A historical curiosity but an interesting one and well worth the quick read that it is.… (meer)