The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY TUESDAY, MAY 13, 1933. WILL FASCISM SUCCEED IN BRITAIN

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11951, 23 May 1933, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY TUESDAY, MAY 13, 1933. WILL FASCISM SUCCEED IN BRITAIN

An interesting discussion is proceeding in an' American journal on the question as to whether Fascism i s ; likely to invade Britain in force. ,A» i’s well-known, ther'o is already in tho Homeland a British Union of Fascists. It nvns founded by Sir Oswald Mosloy, but, so far, it has not received a great deal of encouragement. Apparently’ it is nob ocha«tioning any more interest than, Lay, the British'Society of Friends of the Soviet, Union. Ill' the discussion to which wo are alluding, Sir Oswald Mosloy was invited to lead off on behalf of the affirmative side. Briefly .stated-, his contention was that Fascism avill invade every country in 1 turn, as each becomes affected by a demand for changed conditions on account of the failur’e of' the present

System. It is, in ! oihbr' word's, Ilia opinion that ’ modern science', ail'd industrial technique must eventual !y claims) lias rapidly .weakened since the mpeuing of the present century. ($p/ tlio negative hide, Air. 11. A. Scctt-James, the English author and journalist, held that, as Fascism, is horn of the fear of Communism, it can flourish only where Communism is strong . Signor Mussolini had. he said, laid, it down that Fascism would not ho suitable to an advanced democracy such as Britain. Tt|e plain

facts are, of course,, that neither Fascism nor Communism represents sV. .real danger to any democracy within tho Empire. Nobody will forget

tho greatest test to which any 'Section of the British nation, was ever put in model’ll times. It was in connection with tho 1925 general strike at Homo. The Press in other lands were certain that a revolution and civil war wore inevitable. But an an appeal to tho common sense of all classes in Britain sufficed to end tho unrest! Amongst .British communities., only in New South Wales has any organisation with Fascist-like-aims come into real'prominence. This referenda is fa then-body ..styled • ‘"Tho Neiv Guard,” which, hv the way,

would never have come into existence at. all if it- bad net been, for fears engendered by Air. .pang’s nnconstit-n----(tonalism. When the Lang party was routed at tho ballot box lust year, the.. ‘‘'New Guard,” it will ho recalled,

faded out of the national picture just a s quickly as it had entered if. It does not, however, by any means fellow, despite, its boasts, tjiat it .would have been tolerated by the people in any greater measure tnan ivas Air. Lang’s extremism. On every hand, it is realised that there are grave defects in democratic rule, hut the main one is that a large section of tho people continues to remain apathetic in regard to the national welfare. In some quarters, it is supposed that: the New Zealand Legion is 'Fascist in principle. This mnv well he doubted, although it is, unquestionably, anti-Communistic. How long it will continue to excite interest will, of course, depend upon its policy, which has yet to he framed. But we are digressing. Fascism ha s plainly n<> more chance of securing a strong nold m any Biitish community than has Communism, for 110thin<v i.s more repugnant to the average Britisher than the principle of government dictated by a few. In the years to come, the people oven of British countries may decide that additional questions should bo put, to them per medium of the ballot box. What may also be taken for granted is that the principle of parties sinkinn- their differences and combining at"a time of national crisis will be more often adopted. For all that, little Conservatives, little Liberals, (not forgetting little Radicals also) will continue to be horn, as we are reminded in the familiar linos in “lolanthe" — i I often think it’s comical How Nature doth contrive That every boy and every girl That's horn into the world alive. Is 'either a, little Liberal Or else a little Conservative. Nor will there ever bo any dearth of party leaders, good. bad. or indifferent.