SIR OSWALD MOSLEY

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 October 1937, Page 4

SIR OSWALD MOSLEY

ANT I-F ASCI ST BRI TAI N A writer in the “New York Digset" gave some impressions ol Sit Oswald Mosley recently. To-day, at. 40, ardent Sir Oswald is still the bad boy of English politics, says the “Digest” contributor. Though his background combines the three time-honoured virtues of 'lop Drawei England—family. education, and wealth—Mosley like other Hotspurs has hacked his way through political jungles. lie is an "ex" almost eveiything. . Ex-Conservative. ex-Independ-ent, ex-Socialist. and ex-leader of his own “New Party.” A lone wolf, it has been said that on a fox hunt he would side with the lox.

To achieve his overwhelming ambition — a Fascist Britain with himself as dictator—Sir Oswald Mosley “works like an ox." He told me that he has not taken a vacation in four years, and that his social life, which was previously considerable, is to-day non-ex-istent.

Next to Mr. Winston Churchill. Mosley is probably the finest orator in England. His speeches arc pure propaganda, dogmatic and bombastic: but lhe.y are fire. Mosley’s office is unconsciously symptomatic of the maji and his movement. The three pictures in the room represent the three main points in his Fascist programme: King George symbolises “Britain first!” Mussolini reflects “the Corporate State": Hitler personified “down with the .Jews." '['he final irony consults in the realisation that Mosley’s office is one of the very few modernistic ollices in conservative and t.rad itiona 1 England, tied that Mosley’s movement is itself too “ultra" and un-English for Mr. and Mrs. John Bull.

As a Fascist "leader” pursuing bis own destiny, Mosley has always cracked the whip. His lieutenants are for ever leaving him. Those who stay with him never get. very close. To his face they call him "sir.” among themselves "0.M." and in speaking to the rank and file he is always "leader.” The Fascist, salute with the outstretched arm is given to Mosley alone. The “leader" never invites his lieutenants to his flat for dinner, but sometimes attends official Fascist functions. On such occasions, the conversation always turns to politics and party policy. Sometimes Mosley cracks a. political joke.

He never travels by train, but occasionally flies. He is one of the fastest. drivers in England. Small wonder that his lieutenants dislike driving with him. With Perrott. his private chauffeur, twists and turns are much safer. Although Mosley has received “very many” threats on his life, he has no bodyguard save Perrott. As a would-be dictator, Mosley has concocted his own brand of Fascism; a mixture of Italian castor-oil economics with a still more concentrated dose of German politics. Spending considerable time slaying the fanciful •Jewish dragon in the public square, like Hitler, Mosley only sees Jews on the streets, likes to generalise from particular incidents. He estimates his followers at 500,000 members, four million sympathisers—a ludicrous number with which no outside obsc-rv-' er would agree. It is probably in the neighbourhood of 100,000, especially since in their first election campaign

• last March, the Fascists look a bad • drubbing. - MILITANT FOLLOWERS Mosley's followers are militant, devoted, well-disciplined. Until recently, [they wore black shirt uniforms, mod,'elled on those of Mussolini’s Black Shirts, paraded and were organised on a semi-military basis. Military terms such as “G H Q.” “leave,” and “canteen” were continually employed. Their tactics were those of Hitler before the German Fuhrer acquired dictatorial power, provocation, provocation, and still more provocation. Like Hitler, who led his Brown Shirts right into Hie heart of the enemy’s camp, in Red Berlin, so Mosley leads his Black 'Shirts into the heart of the London Jewish and anti-Fascist East End thus taunting his enemies into a rage. Often a riot results, blood is spilt, and

publicity gained. Last.'Winter, after a. series of such sorties, including one particularly ominous one on “Bloody Sunday,” .when t here were barricades in the streets of ' London for the first time within liv- ! ing memory, English democracy and 'tolerance rouse ditself against such Continental political hooliganism. Laws were passed, forbidding the .wearing of political uniforms, and. 'placing Mosley’s future marches and J . provocations under closer police scrutiny. Now that Mosley’s German oper--utics have been curtailed, his move- ( ' meat has lost much of its former colour insofar as many of his followers' are concerned. These come mainly' from the middle classes in the big cit-i ics. arc mostly young, though a considerable number of retired military officers follow the “Leader." Mosley’s appeal to women is considerable. His future? Rough-and-tumble—and ]

probably ineffective. Mosley has all i the build-up, panders to the typical ‘Fascist prejudices and bogies but lacks ithe basic wherewithal. A desperate man in desperate need of a desperate l situation. But England is sane and her situation is anything but dcsper'ate. Mosley-stamps but has no stamp*’ ing ground.