Unsettled out of court
Sir: When George Galloway ascribes Ceausescu's oppressive social policies to 'puritan ideals' (Letters, 30 May), he is grotesquely misusing the English language. It was not any kind of moral 'ideals' that produced these policies, but a desire for strict social conformism and (where abor- tion and contraception were concerned) enforced population growth.
'Honestly, Jenkins, the old school tie would have sufficed.' Although he describes his book as 'a withering attack on Communism in gener- al', I cannot find a single authorial state- ment in it which attacks any of the basic doctrines of Communism itself. Indeed, since Mr Galloway used to advocate admit- ting Communists into the Labour Party, it is hard to see why he should feel so offend- ed by the suggestion that he might have some degree of sympathy with their ideas. His book does, however, contain some pretty withering comments on the people he calls 'cold warriors', and their 'virulent anti-Soviet propaganda'.
Still, I suppose we should commend him for his reluctance to make use of his expen- sive solicitors. I know how he feels. I made a similar decision when I first read his book — which reproduces a grossly unpleasant remark accusing me, without any basis or justification whatsoever, of extreme anti- Semitism, simply because of my critical review (in The Spectator) of the autobiogra- phy of the Chief Rabbi of Rumania. Mr Galloway says he has decided not to sue you because you are his favourite maga- zine. I wish I could return the compliment, but the reason for my decision was rather different: I thought the remark he printed was beneath my contempt.
Jessica Douglas-Home
63 Hillgate Place, London W8
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