Burking the Issue Michael Foot, MP Little Europe Sir Tufton

Beamish, MP Facts about CND Peggy Duff Economics of Beeching Michael Lipton Politics and Sex Rev. J. L. Hooper Whose Prep Schools? B. C. Southam Pub Tales F. R. Leavis Second-Class Shock Christopher Mayhew, MP Derivations Alan Brien Island on the Run A. R. Waiter IBURKING THE ISSUE SIR,—In his article 'Politics and Sex' (Spectator, May 3), devoted ostensibly to the worthy purpose of deploring the transference of the gossip column- ists' technique of 'innuendo and allusion' into political debate, Mr. Constantine FitzGibbon in- cludes these words: 'It has been alleged that it [the Aldermaston March] is, among other things, a three-day sexual orgy in muddy tents and rented schools. Whether this is true or not .

Who made the allegations? Anyone but the gossip columnists? Is there a scrap of evidence to support such an extensive charge? Good reporters

like Patrick O'Donovan of the Observer have de- scribed the latest Aldermaston March, its general

temper and atmosphere, in terms which expose the

allegations, given fresh currency by Mr. FitzGibbon, for the prejudiced title-tattle that they are. Is the

totally unproved Smear so much less reprehensible because the victims are numerous? Did Mr. FitzGibbon ponder to think, before he wrote the sentence, that, if anyone took what he was writing seriously, some of the mud might stick? Is it merely comic that he himself should perpetrate the offence

which he claims to find so distasteful? Or may there not be some sexual, psychoanalytical ex- planation of the phenomenon?

No. It is more charitable to attribute this latest imbecility to the general mood of hysteria into which the kin FitzGibbons, the Constantine Hamiltons,

the Robert Hartleys and the Anthony Conquests have plunged the once-sedate and once-sceptical Spectator. Your front page in the same issue laments

that the Macmillan Government has a wonderful record and case but unfortunately the boneheaded

British public refuses to appreciate either. You even call Edmund Burke in aid and then garble what he wrote. Could you not have read a few more pages of his Present Discontents?

For example: 'Their [that is, your] account re- solves itself into this short, but discouraging propo- sition, "That we have a very good ministry, but that we are a very bad people"; that we set our- selves to bite the hand that feeds us; that with a

malignant insanity, we oppose the measures, and ungratefully vilify the persons, of those whose sole object is our own peace and prosperity. If a few puny libellers, acting under a knot of factious politicians, without virtue, parts or character (such they are constantly represented by these gentlemen), are sufficient to excite this disturbance, very _per- verse must be the disposition of that people, amongst whom such A disturbance can be excited by such means. It Is besides no small aggravation of the public mis!ortune, that the disease, on this hypothesis, Appears to be without remedy. If the

wealth of thc nation be the cause of its turbulence, I imagine it :s not proposed to introduce poverty as a cons-a' le to keep the peace. If our liberty has enfeebLd the executive power, there is no de- sign, I hop.... to call in the aid of despotism, to fill up the deic;:incies of the law. . . . We seem there- fore to be driven to absolute despair; for we have no other materials to work upon, but those out of which God has been pleased to form the inhabitants of this island. If these be radically and essentially vicious, all that can be said is, that these men are very unhappy, to whose fortune or duty it falls to administer the affairs of this untoward people.'

Oh for the return of a Bernard Levin to give this much-maligned administration its due! Try as they will, the FitzGibbons cannot do without him. Who but the old Levin could properly extol Mr. Ernest Marples's mastery of the House of Commons, Mr. Deedes's happy relationship with journalists in and out of prison, the new touch of human sym- pathy at the Home Office, Mr. Butler's surgical boldness in Central Africa, and Lord Home's dis- criminating concern for our country's good name. Indeed, without Levin, will the two phcenixes, Macmillan and Macleod, ever rise from the ashes?

House of Commons, SW!

[Stand by.—Editor, Spectator.]

MICHAEL FOOT