Are the British Capitalists Anti-Fascist?
The British capitalist class fought the war, not because they opposed fascism and what it represents, but in a desperate struggle against rival imperialisms for world markets, for sources of raw materials – for profit. Their victory has not brought and will not bring the end of fascism. Throughout the world, the British ruling class has supported fascism and reaction against the progressive movements of the working class. Let us take but a few examples. When Mussolini was subjecting the Italian working class to his castor oil ‘treatments’ and other bestial tortures, Churchill became deeply impressed with his ‘gentle and simple bearing’. Speaking in Rome on 20 January, 1927, Churchill found only praise for the fascists: “I could not help being charmed, like so many other people have been, by Signor Mussolini’s gentle and simple bearing and by his calm, detached poise in spite of so many burdens and dangers. Secondly, anyone could see that he thought of nothing but the lasting good, as h
