“MUSSOLINI AND HITLER, HAVING DONE EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE TO THEIR COUNTRIES’
— ‘IN EVERY PUBLIC REFERENCE OF MINE TO THE PERSECUTION OF THE JEWS, DENOUNCED AND RIDICULED IT IN THE MOST UNEQUIVOCAL TERMS. I HAVE NEVER SUGGESTED THAT THE IMPERIALIST WAR OF CONQUEST BY JAPAN ON CHINA IS COMPARABLE IN ANY WAY TO THE ITALIAN CONQUEST OF ABYSSINIA’ —
‘BRITISH INDIA IS AN INEVITABLE PART OF THE REPLACEMENT OF TRIBAL SAVAGERY BY CIVILIZATION’
‘THE BOMBARDMENT OF SHANGHAI IS QUITE ANOTHER MATTER’
‘I AM, AS I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THROUGHOUT MY POLITICAL LIFE, A COMMUNIST’
SHAW, GEORGE BERNARD. (1856-1950). Irish-born writer. Superb Typed Letter Signed, “G. Bernard Shaw”, on his imprinted stationery. One and a quarter pages, quarto. [London] October 6, 1937. To Henry Elphick, Shaw writes:
“Mussolini and Hitler, having done extraordinary service to their countries, have been elected rulers by overwhelming majorities of their fellow—countrymen. I have to accept their choice with common civility, as they had to accept our choice of Mr Baldwin. I have, in every public reference of mine to the persecution of the Jews, denounced and ridiculed it in the most unequivocal terms. I have never suggested that the imperialist war of conquest by Japan on China is comparable in any way to the Italian conquest of Abyssinia or the present operations of the British army in Waziristan. The civilization of the Danakil desert and all the north—west frontier of British India is an inevitable part of the replacement of tribal savagery by civilization; and it is useless to complain of it. The bombardment of Shanghai is quite another matter; and I have been careful not to confuse the two. General Franco has begun the class war instead of talking about it. The British Government rushed to support him by closing the munitions market against his proletarian opponents. Italy sent troops and submarines to assist him. Russia alone took the proletarian side and held back a general European capitalist and clerical attack in the open field. What this threatens is not a war of nationalities in the 1914 -18 sense, but an outbreak of civil war – class war – throughout Europe, the fundamental issue being between Capitalism and Communism. Meanwhile General Franco’s attempt to restore the old order in Spain is perfectly correct according to existing usages; and there is no excuse for being uncivil to him. The denial of belligerent rights to him can now operate only in making the civil war one in which no quarter is given. For the rest my position, which can be ascertained from my writings, has not changed. I am, as I have always been throughout my political life, a Communist, though I differ from most of the members of the bodies calling themselves the Communist Party, in knowing what Communism mean, both absolutely and in its relation to Capitalism which I understand also. Faithfully, G. Bernard Shaw.”
Just one of the finest, and most remarkable letters [ from any authors’ pen] we have had the privilege of offering! One of our “Best of the Best”. ™
$12,500.00