It would be interesting to know what the actual position
of the Fascist movement in this country is, for the fact that Fascist meetings are so largely ignored by the Press may create some misleading impressions. I do not believe the movement can ever become really formidable in this country. One almost fatal obstacle is the national temper and tradi- tions ; another is Herr Hitler ; another possibly is Sir Oswald Mosley. But when I hear of a Fascist meeting of some 1,200 people which crowded out the drill-hall in a small town in the Home Counties, leaving three or four hundred more to listen outside in drizzling rain to loud-speakers conveying the voice of Sir Oswald Mosley making a speech of an hour and answering questions for another three-quarters I cannot be quite convinced that the county daily was well-advised in making no reference to the meeting in its columns. The result may be that we may under-rate the strength of a movement whose growth to serious proportions would be an unmitigated disaster.
Previous page
