1940-08-15 — Page 7

THE CHINA MAIL, AUGUST 15, 1940

CHINA MAIL A Critical Analysis of

WINDSOR HOUSE

TILL 1942?

Those who hope pray for an early happy end of the may be disturbed by

What are the characteristic, principles of the Fascist system? This is a question not so easy to

and answer partly because so much of and the current literature on the sys- tem is patently propagandist, war partly because Fascism is on its Mr. own showing, a creed of action rather than of abstract principles.

have

an

វា

are

To the Marxist, Fascism

Fascism

business whenever it sees fit to do so. This means, in practice, that it will intervene as often as pri- vate initiative is unequal to the task in hand or—and this is the distinctively Fascist clause- political interests are at stake.

Such intervention by the State takes the form of control by pub- Instincts, lic officials. The Fascist, therefore,

to

Churchill's warning that| Besides, we must bear in mind sent of the governed; that majority to act in response to "we must prepare not that Fascism is a complex thing. rule spells in practice rule by the emotional urges and intuitive con- recognises a man's right to own. It is, in fact, a political system, strongest class in its own special victions. Indeed, its leaders, par- and control property only as long the ticularly Hitler, have often pro as he uses that right in the, in- only for summer but for an economic regime and a philo-interests to the neglect of winter, not only for 1941/sophy of life all in one. It has general interests of the hation as claimed that their views and de-terests of the people. In his eyes to be examined under all these a whole; and, finally, that parlia-cisions are not reasoned out, but-though he is insistent that it is mentary government is weak, un-rather felt or seen intuitively to not the function of the State to but for 1942. "It will aspects, therefore, if we

adequate grasp of its wieldy and unstable, in compari- be right. Hence, we are not sur conduct industry, but rather be remembered that in essential outlines.

son with dictatorial

to govern-prised that the answer the "discipline" it-property owners ment. This substitution of what question, "How are we to re- are just the feudatories of the September last directions

is has come to be termed capacity cognise those best fitted to rule?" nation. Their rights derive from

'the national、 ' were given by the British nothing more or less than State rule for majority rule is the dis- is simply: "Their fitness is always their function in

Fascist self-evident."

economy and are conditional on Government for prepara-supported capitalism of the worst tinguishing mark of the

In practice, this means that the the due performance of that func- type. Fascists themselves, how-State.

caste By capacity rule is meant rule Leader and ruling

prove tion. tions on the basis of a

ever, flatly deny that they favour

by their ability to war that would last at capital in any way as against la-by the elite; the elite being the themselves

perfervidly reach and retain power. They rule least three years.

bour. But when pressed to tell supermen, the more That

of does race-conscious members the because they are the better ele- us what exactly Fascism

The class-struggle is the major to community. In practice, the ment in the nation; they prove disruptive force in modern society. would prolong the con- connote, they usually refuse

commit themselves to any forma]]Fascist Party and the elite of each they are the better element by the Fascism recognises it for what it is flict until September, definition.

nation will be identical. That fact that they have been success-

and proposes to end it. It is not 1942. Events since then For them Fascism is, first and party is the living, active embodi-ful in obtaining power.

part of its policy either to reduce emo-ment of the genius of their nation

all capitalists to the proletarian have moved at such a

tional reaction, an attitude to life, all other parties can but repre-

Another fundamental postulate state or, conversely, to make all staggering speed that the rather than a synthesis of reason-sent sectional and selfish interests

of the Fascist ideology is that there workers property owners. In fact, and are, accordingly, to be sup- ed principles-their credo is in a

Jcan be no real political indepen-three classes, instead of two, are world has begun to think leader and a party rather than in pressed.

dence without economic indepen-envisaged in the Fascist economic in terms of blitzkriegs and a programme, and they find

dence. A nation which relies to society-namely, the traditional stand Leadership in the party itself any.great extent on imported sup- bourgeosie or propertied class, the smashing victories achiev-easier to say what they

against than what they stand for. will fall, naturally, to the most plies of either raw materials or wage-earning class or proletariat, ed within a few weeks. The conception of the nation as forceful and nationally-minded manufactured goods must dance and a new class comprising the the supremely real and valuable member of the elite. The emer-to the tune of those she buys technicians and scientists of in- There are both pessimists thing in the world is the pith and and optimists in the ranks kernel of the whole Fascist philo- of those who believe that sophy. What counts is the society

words:

""

foremost a movement, an

it

blood,

*

1

*

*

*

✡

of By

Rev. Cornelius

Lucey

from. If she doesn't, she can be dustry. quickly forced to do so by econo- [mic boycott. And, should she re-

ticular generation. To it the nation

tradition and aspiration,

(Condensed from

"Irish Ecclesiastical Record.")

the

+

*

+

[sort to war, she cannot win, for But, despite this triple align- either her armies will lose in the ment, there is no room for class- field through- lack of supplies or war in the system, at least ideolo- her civilian population will begically. Two things preclude it. The one is the common loyalty starved into collapse.

*

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that results from ties

the middle of next month the nation. That nation is some- tory and common_culture—namely or at any rate before the thing above and beyond the in- end of this year.

dividual men and women consti- Those

Accordingly, the immediate aim and devotion of all these classes tuting it.

of Fascist economic planning into the same national State. The* who are dismayed by the Fascism endows the nation with

each country is to achieve econo-other is the emphasis laid on. the mic fact that Hitler has so far a life beyond the span of any par-

the solidarity of capital and labour in self-sufficiency-what Germans call Autarkie, and for the production process, antagonis- interests are kept to his programme of is an unbroken unity of succes-

which the term autarchy is rapid-tic though their conquests, and even been sive generations, a mystical being

ly becoming current in English. when it comes to the division of charged with a mission all its

Such a policy obviously cannot the social product. Classes which ahead of it sometimes, own; as an organism, like all or-gence of this leader, the elite of should take heart from ganisms, greater than the parts the elite, is mystically conceived but foster many uneconomic in- have so much in common-such is and explained he simply emerges dustries and result in a lowering the argument-cannot but colla- that go to make it up.

is recognised instinctively.of the general standard of living.borate. Mr. Churchill's

One other feature of the Fascist It is easy now to understand and

stressed. the Fascist preoccupation with Then as Duce, Fuehrer, Leader,

ideology remains to be "Hitler has not yet been the ideas of racial purity, racial he becomes the sole source and It is the very essence of the Fascism is definitely anti-feminist, withstood by a great na-hygiene, racial culture, racial au- repository of power in the State.

In fact, he is the Government, Fascist ideology to regard private The ideal of equal rights for wo- tonomy, long-dead national heroes,

infallible tion with

and ownership as sacred only in so far men and men has no place in its a will

omni-competent, power etc. Fascism is simply nationalism equal to that of his own. run riot. It stands for the apo-impeccable, deriving his authority as it serves the national interests. conception of the good social order. to rule solely from his unique Accordingly, the doctrines of free It is not so much, however, that trait,

ownership Fascism rates women as being in- Many of the countries theosis of each distinctive

'identification with the racial and competition, absolute. national soul of his people and and the like are anathema to the ferior in status and function to that have been swiftly

responsible to nobody for the doctrinaire Fascist, He takes his men as that it considers them to struck down by his vio- Hence, it cannot but be anxious exercise of that authority.

stand instead on the principle of be different. Their primary social is to be good house- to eliminate all traces of foreign Fascism, as we have said earlier. State supervision. The State-so function

and good lence had first been poi-influence from the national body is professedly anti-intellectualist runs this principle is entitled to keepers, good wives soned by intrigue and corporate. In its eyes the inter- It conceives of men as being born!"discipline" property owners and mothers.

nationalism preached by Com- treachery. But Britain munism is Communism's most de- was never more united testable and unnatural heresy.

Fascism and Communism are than she is to-day. Apart both totalitarian. Ideologically, from the immeasurable the only difference between the resources of her empire, communist totalitarian State she is in good health and that, for the former, national well- being is the supreme value, in good heart.

whereas for the latter economic Hitler himself announ-well-being is all-important. The national well-being does,' off gei eight months ago course, include economic well- that he had asked Mar-being as one of its essential con- shal Goering to plan for stituents. But it is not exclusively economic nor, for that matter, ex- a war that might last five clusively materialistic. years. In spite of all

*

Fascist totalitarian State and the is

✡

It includes cultural well-being,

that the

Germany's recent terri- for instance. Above all, it includes torial acquisitions and ad- the possession of great military ditions to her supply of power, prestige, economic self- sufficiency and whatever else raw materials, she will be makes a people feared and res- no match for the British pected in the comity of nations.

Fascism rejects · Rousseau's Empire, with full com-theory of popular sovereignty in govern- mand of the seas and with favour of authoritarian

ment, or the dictatorship of the America's boundless re-elite, as it is called. It does so on sources to draw upon in a right to govern depends rather on

the triple assumption long war of attrition. A the superior excellence of some short war is Hitler's only party or leader than on the con- hope. But it is not for his numerical superiority him to say when the war in the air in the process, The began must end. Al- then the German people| though Mr. Churchill will begin to realise that says that "all goes to there are no more victor- show that the war will belies that German arms can| long and hard, and that achieve; that the war no one can tell where it must develop into a long will spread," there is at and severely trying eco- least one hope that its nomic struggle; and that duration may be short-British air attacks on ened.. If Hitler ctakes all Germany will increase in on a furious attack on number. and intensity Britain and fails to without fear of serious re- achieve anything like a taliation. Then will come decisive success, and if the day of reckoning for as seems possible he loses Hitler and his gang.

all Resources" (oh yeah?)

own

R

VOLJASTARO

EFFORTS "PRIVATE

ENTERPRISE

THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE "APOCALYPSE (Copyright in

All Countries.}