That lady in Vienna
Sir: The Marquand references to Ramsay MacDonald in the realms of romance led inevitably to the Skidelsky comments ( I 2 March) 1 have always refused to publish the story of my temporary rescue of that Prime Minister from his dilemma. It seemed to me dishonourable to tell tales about a man who at that time was my friend. This caused indignation to some of his opponents who had a little information and sought my cooperation when we were later at enmity; also long subsequently to my publishers for more genial reasons.
MacDonald's initial relationship to this lady in itself would shock few moderns. In fact the absurdity of his adolescent behaviour reflected all too clearly his innocence in such matters, and contrasted with the masterly though abrasive conduct of Lloyd George in the same sphere. The real charge against MacDonald was loss of time in idle conversation and social snobbery which exhausted him for serious business; he was verbose rather than amorous. Clearly for the few years of highest office a statesman should at least live like an athlete in light training, and should remember Isaac Newton's reply to the question how he really discovered the principle of gravity—`by continually thinking about it.'
The larger issues between us then and now are covered variously in My Life and in Robert Skidelsky's own book. They are particularly relevant today as he indicates in the final sentence of his review : 'poor Labour Party, will it never learn ?' In the obverse situation to that of 1931 their action is simply to revert to the opposite policy of that period. Both parties today embrace monetary deflation in support of the 'export-led drive' which inspired the speeches of J. H. Thomas and took the Labour leaders into a National Government resting entirely on a Conservative majority. Do men learn from nothing except their own mistakes? After nearly half a century has the time riot come for new policies in a world of deep change? Experience of the men involved certainly reaffirms the classic truth: 'the world is character.'
(Sir) Oswald Mosley 1 Rue des Lacs, Orsay 91400, France
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