27 JANUARY 1939, Page 21

THE PRIME MINISTER'S CORDIALITY

[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR] SIR,—In the article on " The Fruits of Rome " in your issue of January loth, the fact that the personal relations between the Prime Minister and Signor Mussolini were genuinely cordial is presented as an asset. But cordiality surely implies mutual approval, or at least an absence of disapproval. Many must feel that appeasement is bad enough if it means silent acquiescence in polides which they believe to be wrong. Cordiality with the man who has ravaged Abyssinia and Spain would appear to be misplaced. Would it not be more helpful to the cause of law and order if the Prime Minister stopped being " cordial " to those who openly flout that 98 Palace Gardens Terrace, W.8.