Letters to the Editor
[In VieW of the length of many of the letters which we receive, we would remind correspondents that we often cannot give space for long letters and that short ones are generally read with more attention. The length which we consider most suitable is about that of one of our paragraphs on "News of the Week."—Ed. SPECTATOR.] SAFE FOR DEMOCRACY [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,--It is a pleasure to learn that Sir Norman Angell, who is certainly not a supporter of arbitrary power, but a staunch Liberal, also sees clearly that there is something wrong with our present Democracy and Parliamentarism. May I, however, venture to call your attention to two facts in which Sir Norman's statements in his last article, "Safe for Demo- cracy ? " seem to me lacking in precision ?
Who "talked during the War of dying for the cause of Freedom and Democracy " ? Only England and France, who are both enjoying Freedom and Democracy at the present moment. The nations who have submitted to dictatorship since the War are Spain, who never took part in the War, Italy, who never pretended to enter the War for any other reason than saero egoism°, Russia, who has plunged from one dictatorship into the other and, finally Poland and Yugo- slavia, who fought merely for their national inde- pendence.
Hungary is not an example in point as she was proved to take part in the War reluctantly and against the will of her premier, Count Tisza. Moreover, after a short period of Bolshevism in 1919, Hungarian Parliamentary Government was restored to its full power, which it had exercised ever since 1222. The Constitutional King being compelled to live in exile, the Parliament has elected Admiral von Horthy as provisional Regent of the Kingdom. The Regent's power does not in any way exceed the power of any president of a European republic.—I am, Sir, Sre.,
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