One Autograph Letter Signed ('E. Batsch'), three Typed Letters Signed (two 'Batsch.' and one 'Ernst Batsch'), all to Bower; with two typed book reviews by Batsch (one marked 'translation').

An interesting correspondence, from one maritime expert to another, casting light on German naval attitudes in the period following the Great War. Batsch's father, Admiral Karl Ferdinand Batsch (1831-1898), is regarded as one of the founders of the German navy. Bower, who served for twenty years in the Royal Navy, retiring in 1884 with the rank of Commander, is best known as Imperial Secretary in South Africa at the time of the Jameson Raid. Following the First World War he established himself as an expert in international law relating to naval matters. All items in good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with text clear and complete. The autograph letter with minor wear to one edge. Letter One (typed): 26 October 1930; quarto, 4 pp. From 'E. Batsch. C.Admiral a.D.' Batsch begins by thanking Bower for his 'enchanting and wonderful letter': 'The Chief of our Admiralty and his next fellow-labourers to whom I gave your letter to read were most intensively [sic] interested in the way you regard things of today.' Referring to the crash of the R101 he writes: 'What a dreadful airship-disaster England lived to see! If it gives a new impulse for cooperation between England and Germany this unparalled [sic] sacrifice was not in vain.' Paragraphs on 'the London Naval-conference' and 'Captain Hashagen's "Recollections" ' (see below). Discusses 'the Berlin-Mosc[o]w policy': 'I have the impression that this intimacy has done us from the political point of view, more harm than good. [...] Of course it is ridiculous to say, that a group of German generals is trying to run a foreign policy of its own which is not the policy of the German Government.' Asks for Bower's view on the role in England of 'Lord Melchett, formerly Alfred Mond' and 'his German-English cooperation in electrical industries in Stourport'. 'With regard to our last elections for the Reichstag they have shown that especially the young people are drifting away to the radical parties.' Unless 'the diplomatists will give way, this abominable Treaty [of Versailles] will not give room to a genuine reconciliation'. Ends with introduction to his friend Major Herbst, who 'took part in the war in Cameroon'. Accompanied by a review (quarto, 2 pp), dated 'October 1930' and signed 'Batsch.', of Ernest Hashagen's 'Submarines "Westwardho" '. Letter Two (autograph): 12 December 1930; 4to, 2 pp. He thanks Bower for sending 'the December Number of "the Round Table" Journal' which 'seems to contain a great many interesting articles, by which the public opinion in Germany ought to be influenced'. Discusses the exchange of books, and a possible visit to Bower's home at Droxford by Batsch's friend Herbst. Letter Three (typed): 17 September 1931; 4to, 3 pp. Batsch considers that, 'politically and economically', the summer 'has been a disappointment as well as a surprise'. 'Very true is what Lord Cecil said in Geneva lately, that in many countries an atmosphere of internal unrest reigns, which will react upon the whole world. Also very truly did his Lordship remark, that a genuine German-French understanding would clear the world of 75% of its present political uneasiness.' Asks Bower if 'Snowden's latest tax-bouquet really goes to the root of the matter?' The common sense of the English Fleet does certainly not believe that; for I think the late behaviour of your crews had a quite sound antibolchiwistic character'. Discusses 'the terrible Bolchewist menace', Hoover and 'the markets of the world': 'The Moskow bandits [...] veil their Bolchewistic world revolution propaganda under the mask of economic non-aggression pacts'. The 'visit of the British fleet with the "Dorsetshire"-division to Kiel in July was a ray of light. Exactly 50 years ago, my father then in charge of the Kiel naval station, entertained a British squadron com[m]anded by the Duke of Edi[n]burgh, there.' Praises the British 'commanding Admiral' (Edward Astley-Rushton) as 'an able, politically enlightened, distinguished sailor', whose 'tact' avoided a 'discordant note' regarding 'a most superfluous article' in The Times. He credits Bower for his part in bringing the 'German-English relationship, into more rational lines'. 'When we parted 5 years ago in Berlin, you called out to me: "I salute the German navy". These words so full of hope I today returning the compliment call out to you! in the firm belief that the German-British naval-entente will contribute not a little in bringing about a political understanding between our two peoples.' Letter Four (typed): 30 July 1932; 4to, 2pp. Discusses a possible visit to Bower of 'Miss Elsa Boysen [...] since several years the first translator-secretary for international conferences at the electric firm Siemens & Halske'. Batsch will not be able to attend 'the Oxford-conferenc[e]', of which the German foreign office 'takes an indirect notice [...] by letting go there two German law[y]ers, so our Admiralty unfortunat[e]ly is not able to send a naval man even not as private observer. If I could I went there with the greatest pleasure on my own expense but such journeys are an impossibility for a retired manwith reduced pension'. He misreads the forthcoming German election spectacularly: Whatever the result [...] there is no cause to be alarmed. The government of today will be the government of tomorrow with the exception that two or three ministers will change so that the cabinett's policy will remain the same, that means of course not only reconciliation with England but also peacable [sic] modus vivendi with France and cooperation with the United States. Only in that way we all will be able to overcome the world crisis which can be defeated only by stopping bolshewisation of the world. Compared with this all our sorrows out of the Treaty of Versailles are childstoy automatically cured as soon as the Moscow evil will be suffocated - not by war and weapon but by trustfull political and economical cooperation of all civilized nations.' Accompanied by a review by Batsch (4to, 4pp; 'Published in "The Little Journal" No.22. 27th May, 1932.'), dated 4 March 1932 and headed 'TRANSLATION', of Dr Gustav Ritter von Kreittner's 'Behind China Stands Moscow'.