KEIR HARDIE SIR,—I cannot claim to rival Mr. Pelling's encyclo-
paedic and reverential knowledge of early British Socialism. It may be that I worded my remarks about Keir Hardie's opinions rather too sweepingly. Surely, however, the view that Keir Hardie's policy was to stir, up • and exacerbate animosity between the classes is not invalidated by the fact that he did on occasions oppose a particular theory of class war, nor was his general hostility to the rich greatly mitigated by his friendship with some rich men.
The point of my article was that, although Keir Hardie's attitude was understandable given his background and the circumstances of his time, it should be recognised for what it is—a piece of past history, not a guide to present conduct. It is about as relevant to the needs of Socialist policy today as Mr. Ted Hill's impassioned reference to 'soup kitchens,' Socialists who worship ,.Keir Hardie, like Conservatives who idolise Disraeli, are liable to find themselves the slaves of antique shibboleths and an outworn creed.—Yours faithfully,
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