FASCISM AND THE ITALIANS [TO the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.]
Sin,—You have, no doubt, received many letters -of protest against the article by your Special Correspondent, on "Fascism and The Italians " (April 6th). Allow me to add mine to these. Your correspondent makes two statements that are not, like the rest, misleading ; they are false. Mussolini most certainly does not " inspire aversion and fear in the educated and artistic classes " ; even those who criticize Fascism appreciate his genius, and his integrity. The University professor who led your correspondent to believe that the mind of the young " is incapable of bringing his learning to bear, by way of constructive criticism, on his social and political life " cannot he in touch with the real life of the students. They are, if anything, distracted from their work by their great interest in social problems ; their outlook on life has completely changed in this as in their outlook on sportsmanship. Most of the younger professors would, I believe, uphold this statement ; that all students would do so I am certain.
As an Englishwoman, I dislike your correspondent's sneer at Nordic women. I have seen no advertisements of the type to which he refers, but if these exist it is strange that an Englishman should object to them. Then, perhaps, he is not English ; nor was his informant on Italy, perhaps, an Italian.
—I am, Sir, &c., Y. MARAINI. 6, Via Benedetto Castelli, Firenze.
The writer of the article was an Englishman thoroughly familiar with Italy.—En. The Spectator.]
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