>From:  Everett Lee Lady <[log in to unmask]>
>To:    [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Fw: Re: Futurism
>Date:  Sun, 23 Jan 2000 12:39:36 -1000
 
>history.  He was opposed to the war partly, as you say, because he was
>on general principle opposed to war, but primarily because he loved
>Italy, even though his primary allegiance, even during the period when
>he made his radio broadcasts, was to the United States.  He was in the
>position of someone who sees two friends, both of which he loves
>dearly, getting into what seems like a senseless fight.
 
Another factor, which I forgot to mention, was that the first year
or so there seemed to be a very strong chance that the Allies would lose
the war.  I don't how strong a consideration this was for E.P., but
living in Italy, most of what he knew probably tended to support the idea
that the Axis forces would be triumphant.  (He did listen to the BBC, but
he didn't think very highly of their broadcasts and I suspect that he
heard a lot more desperation than optimism over British radio in 1941 and
1942.)
 
Whether we think of Pound as a traitor or not, he definitely did not want
his country to lose a devastating war.
 
--Lee Lady