Evening star., 1936-12-20

geratlOn 10 say tndt Eu-
" " rope is now separated into
two camps there is never
theless, dividing line between the
countries governed under one form or
other OF the Fascist system, and those
which still adhere to the parliament
tary system. Leaving aside Russia,
governed by the dictatorship Of the
Communist party. the completely Fas-
cist states are italy and Germany.
There are near-Fascist systems in
operation in Hungary. Austria and
Portugal: while in Poland an elected
Diet is overshadwoed by the political
power OF a military general supported
by the army.
The states which adhere fully to the
democratic system of government are
Great Britain, France. ireland, Czecho-
slovakia. Holland, Switzerland, the
three Scandinavian states and Bel
gium. What may be called borderline
cases are Finland and the Balkan
states Of Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Greece
and Rumania.
Is fascism making progress in the
democratic states, and is it likely to
make further advances?
Broadly speaking. fasciSm has lost
ground in Britain. Ireland and Scan
dinavia. and Is either gaining or. hold
ing its own in France. The situation
in Belgium is uncertain, but dangerous.
have not mentioned Spain, because
there the struggle that Is going on in
greater or lesser degree throughout
Europe is being decided in bitter and
bloody civil war. Supporters of fas-
cism represent the Spanish struggle
as one between their system and the
Communist system. Opponents de-
scribe 1t as a struggle between fascism
and democracy. because the Commun-
ist party in Spain is comparatively
unimportant. Many of the intellectu-
ais and liberals are opposed to the in
surrectionaries, and the strongest
working class movement in Spain
anarchism-is opposed to communism
and the wohle Communist system. =,
Gets Setback in Britain.
In Britain fascism has received a
setback. During 1884 and 1885 it
seemed to be making progress. Its
creed attracted many of the intelli-
gentisa and some of the working peo-
pie. Experience in other countries
has shown that there must be certain
conditions prevailing for fascism to
succeed in obtaining power.
There must be economic distress
affecting particularly the young men
of the lower middle class, the ex-
students who cannot get work, pro-
fessional men who find themselves
superfiuous, technicians for whom
there Is no place in industry. In
Britain there has been a revival In
industry; there is not abnormal un-
employment among the lower middle
class. and there are outlets for pro-
fessional men and technicians in the
dominions, in the colonies and in the
Indian Empire =
Another necessary condition Is ef-
ficient leadership. Sir Oswald Mosley
Is an energetic man, good platform
speaker; he has been able to command
considerable financial resources. AT
one time he was supported by the
powerful group of right-wing news
papers controlled by Lord Rothermere
But he lacks the personal magnetism
OF . Mussolini or Hitler and their
capacity to inspire admiration or af-
lection. He repels rather than attracts
men of independent character. He
also made the mistake Of copying toe
slavishly first the Italian methods
and then the German methods. : II
fascism should come in Britain, it
will be in the form Of q native growth
using British names and methods.
In Germany, Austria, Hungary and
Poland, but not In Italy, fascism is
anti-Semitic. All these first-named
countries have a Jewish question. In
Britain there are comparatively few
Jews, and still fewer who have not
been more or less assimilated. In the
East End of London, and in one OF
two large cities such as Leeds and
Manchester, there Is q considerable
Jewish population, and. as Is usually
the case, there was an incipient racial
antagonism, quiescent for years but
capable Of being stirred up and stim.
ulated. The Fascists in Britain found
that they could recruit . certain mum.