[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sin,—Once more you have
permitted an anonymous corre- spondent to attack me personally in your much respected columns. Nothing but anger could excuse the letter of " Fair Play," and if a man is angry, how can he be fair ?
You must, in justice, now permit me a brief personal explana- tion, which incidentally may assist your readers to understand the psychological situation, which is always the key to the true understanding of the political one.
I can prove by the files of my correspondence, as director of the British Institute of Florence, that I have always
been one of the best friends and advocates of these Anglo-Italian anti-Fascists, when they get themselves into trouble with the Italian Government. When the Signora
Rosselli was still a British subject and a teacher at our insti- tute, I intervened time after time at the Board of our Governors to save her from the consequences of her incursions into Italian politics. When she married Signor Rosselli and he was arrested—not only for the part he played in the Turati episode but for other activities against the Fascist State— I was appealed to and used such influence as I possessed as a life-long friend of Italy in order to get him treated as leniently as possible. I wrote to all my friends in Rome, and one of them at least, Senator Count Cippico, left no stone unturned to help him with the authorities. I am always appealed to for help on such occasions, and just because I am known to be a friend of Fascists and an upholder of Fascism.
Now I must repeat once more that I am not concerned to defend in your columns the actions of a foreign Government in its dealings with its own subjects. But you must admit that it is galling not to be allowed to express one's views on the essential principles of a great political philosophy in a privately printed pamphlet without being publicly attacked and insulted by anonymous correspondents. Their letters also indicate the psychological difficulty of helping them. They will neither cease from their useless agitations in a foreign Press, which onl y poison the ancient springs of international friendship, nor refrain from insulting the advocate who has never refused to do his best to help them.
I repeat, it is the psychological atmosphere which is always the key to the true understanding of the political situation. Active Italians to-day are far too busy and too enthusiastic in building up their new prosperity by corporate effort to have time or patience to consider what happens to those who refuse to co-operate. Those non-co-operators in the great work who keep silent are not molested. But those few who obstruct and openly oppose undoubtedly run the risk of incurring the fate of Remus, who mocked his brother Romulus and the first builders of Rome. Nothing short of removing them from society could save such bitter critics from the wrath of the workers.
It is just this immense enthusiasm of united effort which
is most difficult for Englishmen to understand in our com- paratively - impassive country. It is this enthusiasm that is working miracles, on the one hand, which must be the excuse, if such be needed, for what may seem " excesses r to the cool outsider, on the other. The old adage that " to understand is to forgive " is once more proved by the undoubted fact that, with few exceptions, the vast majority of thoughtful English men and women who have known pre-Fascist as well as Fascist Italy, and who mingle sympa- thetically with the life of the Italian people, are as firmly convinced as ever of the great moral and spiritual, as well as the great practical, value of the Fascist creed.—I am, Sir, &c., HAROLD E. GOAD.
74 Grosvenor Street, London, W. 1.
[We regret the delay in publishing Mr. Goad's letter. The Spectator, in accordance with its usual practice, has thrown open its columns to supporters and opponents of Fascism, but it never had any desire to countenance a personal attack on Mr. Goad, for whose integrity, and public spirit it has the greatest admiration. (As Director of the British Institute in Florence, Mr. Goad has performed work of lasting benefit to the cause of British-Italian friendship. To our personal knowledge Mr. Goad has on many occasions helped fellow-countrymen of his, irrespective of their views on Fascism, and it would be hard to find an Englishman who is more widely respected by all who know him.) We do not necessarily share his views on Fascism, of which he is an enthusiastic supporter, but that in no way detracts from our admiration for him and his work at the British Institute. We propose to discontinue this correspondence as it has aroused such bitter feelings on both sides.—ED. Spectator.]
Previous page
