London
Sir Oswald Mosley’s valiant challenge to the Jews, hurled from the battle and bottle-scarred field of Leicester recently, has provoked speculation and comment regarding the chivalric forms for issuing such challenges. Disregarding the fact that the would-be Hitler of the British Empire has failed to acknowledge a challenge from the Jewish side more forceful, as customs of “insult” go, than a swipe across the face with a glove, how should Sir Oswald have couched his knightly vaunting? And how should the “Jewish interests” reply?
Rose Macaulay, the British novelist, discusses these burning questions in a recent issue of The Spectator. Her comments are reproduced herewith as the portion of the week:
HOW TO REPLY?
What does one do when challenged? Merely challenged at large, I mean; not to be a specific contest or game, or to prove an assertion. I have often wondered, when I have seen such phrases as “a challenge to youth,” or “a challenge to the churches,” how youth and the churches, should they desire to take up these challenges, would do so. And now Sir Oswald has been issuing a challenge to “Jewish interests in this country,” commanding commerce, the press, the cinema, the City of London and the sweat-shops. And the question arises—what are the Jewish interests thus referred to to do about it? To what contest of daring or of skill are they bidden? To single combat with our British Fascist leader, or to a more multifarious warfare against the Gentile interests “commanding” similar activities to their own?
A PITCHED BATTLE?
Is Sir Oswald proposing a pitched battle, in which the houses of Rothschild and Montagu should head a charge against those (say) of Coutts and Glyn Mills? Shall the noble army of the Gentile Press Lords march out, terrible with banners, against the few Hebrew newspaper owners? Shall there be war in the provision world between Messrs. Lyons for Israel and Messrs. Fleming and the A. B. C. for Gentiledom? In the cinema industry between Isidore Ostrer and Mr. Alfred Hitcheock (with the ranks of Elstree and Hollywood in some-what confused formation behind them)? And in the emporial world between the establishments of Messrs. John Tanner and Bob and those of Messrs. Isaac Shekel and McBawbee?
Industry has, so one has heard already its wars. But commercial embattlement along lines of race would be a new grouping of combatants. Sir Oswald says that he and his comrades-at-arms, the “Fascist movement of the modern age,” are not to be intimidated by Jewish interests. Indeed, they need not be so, since the big battalions are, in nearly all the spheres to which he made allusion, on the Gentile side. He is, very naturally and humanly, challenging the smaller side; a noticeable tendency of “the Fascist movement of the modern age” in all countries.
MORE QUESTIONS
But can I be misinterpreting this challenge? Was Sir Oswald perhaps using the word in its sense of reprove, accuse, calumniate, or take exception to? Or in yet another sense, that of the giving cry of hounds who sniff the scent of the creature they pursue? On the whole this last meaning seems apt, and one can well picture the Fascist pack, black-chested, baying up the wind.
However, supposing that a challenge to combat was intended, let me remind the challenger of a classic formula for politely conveying such an invitation. As Sir Lucius bade, “Do the thing decently, and like a Christian. Begin now—Sir— To prevent the confusion that might arise from our both addressing the same day” (in this case substitute interests) “I shall expect the honor of your company to settle our pretensions in King’s Mead Fields. …This,” Sir Lueius explained, “will put a stop at once to all confusion or misunderstanding that might arise between you. … Take my advice, and you’ll decide it this evening if you can; then let the worst come of it, ‘will be off your mind tomorrow. But remember now, when you meet your antagonist, do everything in a mild and agreeable manner. Let your courage be as keen, but at the same time as polished as your sword.” And mind, no knuckle-dusters, I fancy Sir Lucius would add today.
It will, anyhow, be interesting to see what is the challenger’s next step in the matter, should his present overturn be ignored. Were I a “Jewish interest” I should reply by challenging Sir Oswald Mosley, and thus get a little instruction in the reception of challenges.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
