ENGLISH QUISLINGS "
Sta,—Mr. E. M. Forster's letter. asking for " a close time for snarling at absent intellectuals " demands an answer from. someone better acquainted than I am with these gentlemen, but when he continues that such " undignified nagging " may divert public attention from certain rich and highly-placed English Quislings, I cannot restrain my curiosity, and must entreat him to name them. He says that these wealthy villains are a danger to the country. Who are they, and how would he deal with them? Does he approve of what is being done at present by Sir John Anderson?
May I give Mr. Forster (and you, Sir) a specific instance? A friend of mine was recently haled from. his home under Section a B and thrown into prison. For the first ten days he was treated as a person awaiting trial -on a -serious- criminal charge (except that he did not know what the charge was), and was allowed no razor, no tooth- powder except what could be taken in a paper bag (for no metal is allowed in the possession of dangerous characters), and he was confined in a solitary cell for 22 hours a day. Now his treatment is slightly better, in that he is (I think) allowed his razor; also two letters a week, and two visitors (who can speak to him only in the presence of a warder), and- that he spends only zo instead of 22 hours in a cell. He has been in prison a month. No charge has been made against him, and he has had -no trial.
I wrote about this case to the Home Secretary, and received a polite answer that the matter was receiving attention. That was on June 14th. So far there has been no result. My friend must be won- dering, as I am, who aecused him, and of what? As far as I know his only crime is that in 1934 he was a member of the British Union of Fascists for one month. He is not a rich man like those Mr. Forster has in mind, but a retired officer who fought by my side in the mud of Festubert in i915. He volunteered again for service this war. If he is a traitor surely some proof could have been produced by this time. But if, on the other hand, he is only suspected of Fascist leanings, why are not pacifist and Communist sympathisers also arrested?—
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