LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
[Correspondents are requested to keep their letters as brief as is reasonably possible. Signed letters are given a preference over those bearing a pseudonym, and the latter must be accompaniefl by the name and address of the author, w: ch will be treated as confidential.—ED. The Spectator]
SIR,—I admire, and would like to express my agreement with, much of Mr. Angus Watson's letter on the Classless State in your issue of December 22nd. There is, however, one diffi- culty which presents itself, viz., how will a national community divided into classes come into, and continue in, being except by advantage being taken by the members of one class and of one interest over the members of another? I know a good deal as to Mr. Watson's views on the conduct of life and business, but have never, nor I think has he, been able to solve this problem.
Surely it is just that inherent difficulty which creates and supports the communistic view. It is not as though the class State which Mr. Watson wishes for was not permanent that opportunity occurred so frequently, as to be a general feature, of members of one class passing on to another. It is permanent classes, resulting from limitations, economic and mental, which provide the beauties which Mr. Watson speaks of.
I well remember saying to a small builder at Monkseaton (Tyneside) who complained of the stupidity of his labourers that if the labourers had not been stupid their positions would have been reversed. The real problem before us is how to eliminate the power of the less mentally capable.—Yours truly, 5 Bouverie Road W., Folkestone. J. S. DOUGLAS.
SIR,—Mr. Angus Watson in his letter " The Classless State " says : " Hitler's atheistic outlook finally stands condemned because it is material. He is a traitor to life because he has no spiritual background. Better educated, if he saw himself as he was, he would have expired in unextinguishable laughter."
Hitler's motive force is derived from a disordered psyche, originating in some ghastly upbringing or experiences. As the Editor of The Spectator truly remarks in a footnote to another letter : " Hitlerism is an attitude of mind and a method of behaviour, not a form of government." This is no matter for laughter.
Hitlerism is particularly acceptable to Germany because the Germans as a nation are largely psychologically disordered. There is abundant evidence that this was so before 1914. It may have its origin a long way back in German history. It may be the result of German methods of education. The suggestion in a recent White Paper on Concentration Camps that German sadism may be due to widespread homo- sexuality is to mistake a symptom for a cause.
The spontaneous Youth Movement in Germany after the war of 1914-18, when huge numbers of young people wandered about the country, was not only economic but also an un- conscious but healthy attempt to break away from this mental thralldom. Hitler has but riveted on their chains.
The Marquess of Salisbury suggested in a recent remark- able letter to the Press that the British Empire had been a danger to the world because of the weakness of its policy. Here again psychological as well as economic forces had been at work.
Not the least evil part of the situation is that the men who frame the peace treaties are not in the least likely to take the psychological factors into consideration. Humanity has still one or two crucifixions ahead of it. Other generations, no doubt, will be " sold down the river."
The Russian Revolution seems likely to go to disaster on the rock of lack of psychological understanding, which may serve individuals well, but will not serve nations.
If anyone, Hitler included, wants a good laugh, let him laugh—not at Hitlerism—but at the little plans for a Federal Europe and revivifying the League of Nations, which take no account of the psychological factors.—Yours faithfully, NEWTON A. RowE.
Parsonage Side, Otterhampton, Bridgwater, Somerset.
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