GARIBALDIANS AND THE WAR.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—This morning I observe enclosed letter from General Ricciotti Garibaldi in the Corriere della Sera, of Milan, February 4th and 5th. I think it would be well worth while calling attention to such utterances of sympathy, amidst the cloud of venomous misrepresentation of English policy which disfigures German and French and a very few Italian papers. In this connection I would call your attention to the excellent Bibliothhque et Revue Suisse, published at Lausanne monthly. The current number has quite the best, ablest, and fairest article upon the South African situation which any Con- tinental publication can show, not only exhibiting im- partiality, but real knowledge of detail, and profound sympathy with English effort for the cause of humanity. You should also read the " Chronique Anglaise " and " Chronique Politique " in the same number. I see this review regularly (it used to contain admirable studies of the best modern English writers and novelists) because it seems to me the only thing in the French language which can be trusted qua impartiality and judgment. If you called attention to it, it is possible that it would oftener be seen upon London library and reading-room tables. It seems to me a terrible pity that no combined effort has been made to inform Continental opinion by putting the real facts within reach of a public which can never read any English, and which too often (as in Italy) obviously accepts all views on English matters as coloured and disfigured by passing through French sources. The Secolo XIX. of Genoa is an instance in point. They seem to have no one on the staff who can read English, or who ever sees an English newspaper. Even the favourable Tribuna of Rome spoke of the Boers as having been two hundred years or more in occupation of the Transvaal ! What seems to me to be wanted is an inexpen- sive pamphlet of an impartial historical kind, placed on sale in every newspaper kiosque, like the St. James's Gazette's "Boers and British." At present there is literally nothing in Italian, or even in French, to which one can refer one's foreign friends. They are absolutely at the mercy of the ill-informed and often spitefully inclined halfpenny news- paper editor. Dr. Leyd's campaign of misrepresentation needs to be met in an equally systematic manner. Was it not a pity that the perhaps unnecessary self-denying ordinance of the War Office, compelling us to decline the offer of the sword of a Garibaldi on our behalf, should thus have deprived us of what would have been a conspicuous justification of our policy in the eyes of all lovers of liberty who have neither time nor means to ascertain the rights of the case for themselves, and that includes practically all [It was, in our opinion, a great pity that General Garibaldi's generous offer was refused. Is it net still possible to reconsider it ? We should like to see him invited to raise a corps of Garibaldian sharpshooters at Malta. The material aid might be small, owing to the few- ness of the numbers, but sentiment is not a thing to be neglected, and of the valour of the Italians who would rally to the call of a Garibaldi there need be no doubt.—En. Spectator.]
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