The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-02-07
Bernard Shaw's Excellent Satire on
British Socialism"
BY KARL RADEK.

fall Of the labor government. Isves-
tia approached Bernard Shaw as a
sincere friend Of Soviet Russia,
evidently overlooking the fact that he
is at the same time, one of the greatest
satirists in the world. The result is
that reply was received equally
valuable both from the standpoint Of
politics and literature. Bernard Shaw
is first class satirist, not only when he
directs his arrows against the philis-
tinism and prudery of the British
bourgeoisie, but also in his reply, he
presents an excellent picture of the
poverty of thought, the philistinism
and the national narrowmindedness Of
the best of the British petty bour-
geoisie.
In publishing his satire in the Daily
Herald, the organ of the British
labor party, and wishing completely
to camouflage it, Bernard Shaw ex-
pressed the fear that Izvestia would
not dare to publish his article. The
Daily Herald in publishing the
article in full, stated that the author is
exceedingly well able to mystify his
very first number Of the Daily
Herald falling into the hands of the
more intelligent readers, would i'm
mediately expose the scheme of the
brilliant satirist and would cause
hearty laugh at the expense of Mr..
Hamilton Fyfe. Mr. Bernard Shaw's
new satire is ten times more excellent
than his est. JOAN" for it takes as
its subject, not the religious prejudices
OF the middle ages, but the burning
questions of reality. 1t is reported
that Bernard Shaw was not pleased
with the manner in which "St. Joan"
was produced at the Kamerny Theatre
in Moscow. hope that have grasped
his idea better than Tairov, the
Kamerny producer. -,os4ss
Bernard Shaw On the Comedy Of the
Macdonald Labor Government In
England.
bernard Shaw commences his satire
ID by words Of consolation addressed
to Soviet Russia:
Don't be afraid of Baldwin and
Chamberlain, don't be afraid or the
conservative government, they are
businesslike fellows. Macdonald dare
not even look over the hedge but
Baldwin would steal horse. MacDon-
aid dare not grant Soviet Russia a
loan, and actually come to an agree
ment. If economic facts press with
sufficient firmness upon Baldwin he
will be 'Marxist' enough to draw all
the political conclusions. You see to it
that the economic relations between
Soviet Russia and the rest of the world
are strengthened. Wait, and Mahomed
will come to the mountain"
Can more witty satire, on the
British labor government be i'm
agined than this from the pen of
Bernard Shaw? Picture to yourself:
Bernard Shaw, member of the labor
party, and friend of Macdonald comes
forward and says to the British work
ers: Rapprochment with Soviet Rus
STA is one of the central questions of
tAO WOAAag OAAC Va NAAS NCAAtA Oh AASotAOAAo
affecting the international proletariat.
Fortunately, the economic interests of
the British bourgeoisie demand the
improvement Of relations with the
Union of Soviet Republics. MacDon-
aid and the labor government could
have taken up the fight on this ques-
ton, II they had only dared. But
they lost their heads and quailed
before the camorra of foreign office
officials and the professional prisoners
of public opinion of the yellow press.
Baldwin could and would dare to steal
horse, but these towards dared not
even look over the hedge. How then
can they lead you to the fight for
emancipation from the domination of
capitalism? Why, in that fight, it will
be necessary not only to look over a
hedge, but over barricade.
One can recognize the genius Of the
satirist at the first stroke.