My Life

My Life - Oswald Mosley1951 and it was difficult enough in combination with my resumed activity in Englishpolitics directly after the war; it became impossible when frequent European journeyswere added after 1949. Close attention to farming in England and to European politicswas incompatible, and it was no good deluding myself that I could do two entirelydifferent things at once. The Wiltshire house and farm were sold in 1951 with regret,because we were much attached both to the neighbourhood and the occupation. Thequestion then arose how to combine my political activities in England with thedecision to become a European, and what base to establish for this purpose. My overridingpurpose in leaving England in 1951 was to make myself a European, and afterseventeen years I can say with confidence that purpose is achieved. It seemed to meessential that some Englishman with a political background should become aEuropean by spending most of his life in Europe, a decision which has given me anexperience of Europe unique in British politics.Ireland was chosen as my base for two main reasons; my old friendships in thatcountry dating as far back as my political campaign on the Irish question in 1920, andmy desire to be free of time wasted in combating what then appeared to me as the dullspite, the petty obstruction of the British official world; in retrospect I realise that agood many others were suffering at that time from these minor troubles, but I wasnaturally not a particular favourite of the bureaucrats, who then had much power ofintervention and control in individual lives. Again it was the sentiment of evading anuisance rather than bitterness which made me move; I felt it better to put myselfbeyond reach of the troglodytes who impeded my liberty. Above all, I was determinedto win the freedom to become a European.Apart from minor but time-consuming friction with the official world, I was involvedbefore my departure from England in three lawsuits which had nothing to do with thelibel courts where I have always so far won the final action. These lawsuits resulted intwo losses and one win. Paradoxically, the more important of the losses was asubstantial advantage to me. Some difficulty occurred in the printing of my newsletter.I took action in the Chancery Division alleging conspiracy to prevent its productionand to impede my legitimate business. After protracted argument, the learned judgedecided that there was no concerted action, just a matter of spontaneous combustionon a local and limited scale. However, it was made clear that any concerted action ofthis kind would be a very serious matter under English law, and this much fortifiedmy position in the future. I was free to circulate my opinions within the limited meansat my disposal.The second loss had at least the charm of simplicity. It concerned a fiscal matter at anelementary level, and in conclusion eminent counsel turned to me with the friendlyadvice that he would have won the case for anyone in the country except me. I wasnot interested to take the matter further, as I was thinking already of a larger and moredecisive move. The reader may now begin to think that involvement in all theselawsuits indicates a persecution complex after our unpleasant experiences. I was ofcourse much on my guard against any such development after reading during myprison years the main books on psychology in the two languages chiefly concerned. Itwill however be clear that two of these lawsuits were necessary to save my publishingand farming businesses which were under attack, while the third action, justmentioned, had the simple motive of trying to prevent the loss of a considerable sumof money.356 of 424