Sir, - Considering that Francis Stuart was awarded the honour of Saoi, not by the elected Government of the day, but by an honorary artistic body, I find the discussion of his entitlement to this honour unseemly.
Time and time again, Mr Stuart has told us why he went to Germany when he did. Perhaps the artistic philosophy that directed him there was a great mistake; nevertheless I believe we should credit his sincerity in what he tells us.
He believed that the artist should be a true witness to his time. He saw the maelstrom that was to be let loose on Europe and he wished, as an artist, to be at the centre of it. Maybe this was some sort of romanticism, but it was not the romanticism of Wagner or Nietzsche, much less Hitler.
Artists do make political mistakes. If they made as many artistic mistakes, they would cease to be artists. - Yours, etc.,
Piperstown,
Tallaght,
Dublin 24.