THE " RAPPROCHEMENT " BETWEEN BRITAIN AND ITALY.
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Sin,—It may interest some of your readers to know that from the literary as well as from the political standpoint there is at present an increasing rapprochement between Italy and Britain. The War marked the beginning of the change, the popularity of Inghilterra varying considerably with the course of events. For a time hope turned towards America for aid in the reconstruction of the nation. Since the Genoa Con- ference the eyes of leading Italians have again turned towards England. But the influence of America, owing to the fact of emigration, is still a factor in the total. The enthusiasm manifested towards the late Premier, Mr. Lloyd George, marked the turning of the tide and its beginning to flow. The visit of the Italian Syndics to Britain doubtless helped to foster a new and more cordial sentiment between the two peoples. Among other things that mark the state of rapproche- ment are the increase of essentially British sports, especially football, during the last two years, and the rapid growth of the Boy Scout movement in Italy. Socially, there is always a certain amount of coming and going between visitors from Britain, or British residents, and the Italian population, and one has to acknowledge gratefully the constant courtesy of those who are our hosts in this and other cities. In some of the principal clubs the membership includes both nation- alities. Educationally, the movement is still more evident. The teaching of English in the schools, in place of German, is now made obligatory, and from 1919 onwards the English class in the Universities has been officially established and is well attended. In Genoa, for example, there are many more students of English than of French. Special lectures are given from time to time on such authors as Keats, Shelley, Dickens, &c., and the connexion of these with Italy gives an added popularity to the subject. Applications for private instruction in English are greatly on the increase, especially by clerks in shipping offices and business correspondents.
Two years ago a British literary and debating society was revived in Genoa, and still continues to exist. A number of the professors in the University have given lectures or other- wise taken part in the proceedings. There exists also what is called the Universita Popolare—really a large popular literary society, with lectures and classes for instruction in the even- ings. In the syllabus recently sent me I note such subjects as Milton and Dickens, by Prof. C. Cucchi, of the Technical College, and I had the privilege of giving one of the course to an audience of about six hundred, my subject being Scottish Latidscape. English hooks on philosophy and other subjects are in many cases studied and understood even by those who do not profess to speak the language. And in University lectures the English point of view receives what might be termed respectful attention. It is a pleasure to one who understands enough Italian to follow the lecture to listen to one or other of these University lectures, which are always eloquent and delivered with a freedom of speech and gesture more like that of an inspired preacher than of what one usually associates with a professorial chair. In social philo- sophy the Italians are at present making rapid headway. This is a natural result of the times and the political situation. The other day I looked in on the class of Prof. Bensoni, in the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, and found him cate- chizing his students as to the difference between II Socialismo and Ii Fascismo. The students, male and female, in their replies waxed almost as eloquent as the professor himself.--
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