THE BRITISH INSTITUTE IN FLORENCE.
(To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—May I venture to trespass upon your valuable space for a word of protest against -the proposed suppression of the British Institute in Florence? It would sound too incredible to be true-did not bitter experience teach us how "penny wise and pound foolish" our present Government can be. As an old resident in Florence I beg you to believe me when I say it will be nothing short of a 'disaster if this proposal -to stop financial aid to the Institute is carried out. Under the able and self-sacrificing direction of Mr. A. F. Spender and his col- leagues, the British Institute is doing a tremendous and price- less work in knitting together the English and Italian peoples;
is laying in the best possible way strong foundations for a mutual and enduring understanding (of the necessity for which we hear so much), and, in short, quite visibly accomplishing difficult task with amazing success.
During my twenty-six years of Florence life I have never known anything that has "caught on" with the rapidity and sureness of the Institute. Italians of many kinds, especially the intellectuals, are deeply interested in it. They appreciate its work and know its value. When understood they realise that English literature, English thought and ideals are in- tensely simpatico to their own, while greater knowledge of English schools of music and art brings something of a revela- tion. The proof of this is seen in the large lecture hall of the Institute continually filled to overflowing with an audience of keen and critical Florentines assembled for lectures, con- certs or causeries that play a real and important part in international social life. They will very certainly ask why all this, and PO much of yet greater importance on which I cannot touch, is suddenly cut off when there had been every assurance and expectation of its permanency. It will not be much to our eredit out there to answer our Government cannot afford a poor subsidy of £500 a year or EC) to the upkeep of an institution that is doing the Government work, and promoting with notable success the cause of those higher ideals of civilisa- tion, Latin and Anglo-Saxon alike, to which Cerman kultur is alien and outcast. Let us make no mistake about it. The German Institute in Florence will not close for lack of funds, or cease its destroying propaganda for a moment. Neither will the French allow their Institute to be closed, for they know its value far too well. It is only the British that may perish of starvation and indifference, largely because it deals with the things of the spirit, the things that remain and are the breath Of life to nations as to individuals. Is it possible we care for none of these things?—I am, Sir, &c., MAY ELSDAIE.
Florence, Italy.
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