Oct. 1.
By a remarkable feat of organization Signor Benito Mussolini and Herr Adolf Hitler have demonstrated the solidarity of the Nazi-Fascist bloc in present-day politics. The carefully framed atmosphere of unanimity which the technique of the totalitarian state can produce creates as it were an immense vacuum of vociferous silence, The drop of a pin of dissent would have been immediately audible; it was not forthcoming and enthusiastic acclamation greeted the two Dictators as they set. out their ideals in spectacular unison. Yet, in spite of what to the democratic mind must appear to be an artificial state of grace, the general effect vf this unprecedented performance is reassuring. To the cause of peace both leaders gave their allegiance. The novel device of conducting diplomatic negotiations in the full glare of the spotlight of a mass meeting necessarily demands broad effects. Neither dictator had to trouble to make an elaborate defence of his. policy. It was sufficient to utter the familiar appeals to emotional fervour. The emphasis was laid on physical force, without special regard to the intellectual justification for its employment. Beautiful in the Fascist, that attribute becomes dastardly only when resorted to by the Communist totalitarian by the Democrat seeking to develop the collective system of security. It would have! been fantastic to expect the speeches to proceed on other lines. The time has. not come for Germany or Italy to abandon faith in the high-powered dynamics which for both nations has been fruitful in material—and in many respect moral—benefit. The technique demands unwavering subscription to _the perfection of the leaders. Nice discrimination which balances success against failure, which endeavours to give the picture the chiaroscuro of true perspective is not wanted and, indeed, cannot be made to ft in with the essential intolerance of what is virtually personal rule, Yet, in fairness to both countries, it should] be noted that so far the great majority of their respective peoples are satisfied with this denial of the rights of liberty.. If an attempt be made to define their attitude in terms of intellectual significance, it would probably take the line of arguing that by surrendering those rights a greater measure of national solidarity is secured. Within that closely guarded mental enclave personal, liberty is replaced by personal self-esteem.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.