In 1950, the world is divided into two blocks, the United States (including South America and China) and the European Union, controlling the rest - in 1920 many European States were still colonial empires. A border incident threatens to escalate into a Second World War, and the Peace League, based in London and "pledged to fight to the death for Universal Peace", as opposed to the profiteering provocateurs blowing up toy-trains in the English Channel Tunnel, are called upon to intervene. "Will it really be war?" the heroine asks. "Frankly, no," the hero answers confidently, "the people to-day are much too sensible." "That's what they said in 1914," her father remarks. Soon after, even the women are mobilized. Flapper eyeing her uniform critically: "What a terrible thing war is!" In the end, the peaceniks assassinate the President of Europe. The masses rise up against their governments, the soldiers refusing to fire on them - which is of course what always happens in times of war. As expected, everything is extremely futuristic, except for the women's hairdo. What could possibly be more modern than page-boy? Having abandoned hats, everyone wears shiny clothes - black for the bad guys, white for the good (but they are still heiling). It's the same grim look as in THINGS TO COME of a no-nonsense future.
Review of High Treason
