Laurence Sherwood wrote:

>My question is do Wagner's non-musical writings contain any concerted
>animus toward the French? If so, could you direct me to them (in English
>translation)? And if not, why would you think his ugly depiction of the
>non-German was a veiled reference to the French? His writings do, of course
>reflect his vicious anti-Semitism, but I am unaware of anything comparable
>directed toward the people of France.  I would note that generally
>"enemies" from within- which in Wagner's case certainly meant Jews-
>are generally considered more insidious than those from outside.

The old German word "welsch" means "foreign" in general and "French"
in particular.  So the quoted phrases are definitely and clearly both
anti-foreign and anti-French.

Robert Peters