FASCISM AND THE CROWN [To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—As a " royalist "—that is to say one of many millions of Englishmen who are equally opposed to a Fascist or a Communist regime, mid who regard the constitutional mon-
archy as among the most precious of our political institu- tions—I have been surprised that no one has yet pointed out what a menace to the Throne Sir Oswald Mosley and his private army represent.
Although the methods of Oliver Cromwell, our first Fascist Dictator, may be considered out of date, recent events make
it perfectly plain that under no form of dictatorship is the position of a constitutional sovereign secure. If he is suffi-
ciently ill-advised to ignore his Coronation Oath and lend his active personal support to the Dictator, he is almost certain to share the fate of Alfonso XIII. If, on the other hand, he effaces himself, like the present King of Italy, his position is more undignified while his chances of handing on the Crown to his heirs are equally precarious.
No matter what the Blackshirt apologists may say to the contrary, it can be stated as a fact that support of Sir Oswald Mosley's movement is incompatible with loyalty to the Crown.
The sooner Mr. Stanley Baldwin, or some other spokesman of the Government, makes this point clear, not only to the nation as a whole but more especially to the Police Authorities and the officers of His Majesty's Army and Navy, the more chance there is that the horror of civil war may be averted.—
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