Sta,—Emotion, however sincere, disguised as reason, is the most dangerous
of political weapons, especially when, as in the case of Mr. Bruce Cooper, it leads to distortion of the facts. In opposing the Communist Club at the debate referred to, Mr. Thompson did not condone the trial of Cardinal Mindszenty, but expressed the need for a cautious opinion where a charge of espionage had been made.
Similarly, in his article in the Spectator, Mr. Thompson was far from condoning Communist' espionage when he criticised the serio-comic activities of the Un-American Activities Committee. Every nation has the right to defend itself against espionage and aggression ; but when in so doing any national body enquires into the possession of Paul Robeson's gramophone records, surely we have the right to laugh it out of coun- tenance.
It is a sad reflectionion the way we have come since the Atlantic Charter that a plain statement of belief in freedom of speech, which ought to be merely platitudinous, should call forth violent reactions, not only in your columns but in those of an Edinburgh daily paper, from people who cannot have tried to understand what Mr. Thompson was saying. The more credit to the Spectator and its kind for refusing to be influenced by this group thinluttg, either from the East or the West.—I am, yours, &c., C. J. Ptouvinz. 12 Warrender Park Terrace, Edinburgh, 9.
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