A WORD FOR DICTATORS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 84, 8 April 1936, Page 10

A WORD FOR DICTATORS

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—ln his eulogy of Hitler and Mussolini and their achievements in his address to the New Zealand Club, it is quite apparent that Mr. F.M. B. Fisher "foot-faulted." The system of governments now existing in Italy and Germany may have been the saving of these countries from Communism, but it has gone further than that. The sacrificing of personal wealth for that of unnatural power, similar to that of Napoleon, has become probably a graver menace to the peace of the world than that of Communism. As a firm believer in British democracy, I honestly believe that both of these dictators are striving their hardest to destroy the League of Nations, behind which stands British democracy. Should such a thing come to pass, British democracy will be imperilled, peace treaties and-obligations will be worthless, and the world will once more be an armed camp. To say that Hitler and Mussolini saved Europe and the world from Communism is very wide of the mark. If such is the case why did Germany obtain loans from Britain, reissue them to Eussia, and then default to Britain? When reference is made to the Franco-Soviet Pact and plans for encircling Germany, it may be asked, Why has the latter planned to attack Russia and intimidated the smaller countries surrounding her? Germany's methods for years have been aggressive. Italy's war of

aggression in Abyssinia and defiance of the League presented Germany with the opportunity which she has long awaited.

Mr. Fisher .is silent on Germany's methods in the persecution of the Jewish'people and on Italy's methods of waging war on the aged, the women and children of Abyssinia. The claim that Hitler and Mussolini are idealists is not substantiated. What of their treatment of their own people who were opposed to their ruthless methods? Mr. Fisher's address on "Dictators" might have been acceptable many years ago but that is not the case today, as the subjects of his address have now become a definite menace to the peace of the world and so, let it be our duty to stand behind the League of Nations and the upholding of British democracy.—l am, etc., D. F. MILLIGAN.