Letters to the Editor
[In view of the length of many of the letters which we receive, we would remind correspondents that we often cannot give space for long letters and that short ones are generally read with more attention. The length which we consider most suitable is about that of one of our paragraphs on "News of the Week."—Ed. SPECTATOR.]
ARE THE B.B.C. TOO CAUTIOUS?
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,— Mr. Harold Nicolson's argument receives some con- firmation from the recent resignation of an important B.B.C. official, Miss Hilda Matheson, the Director of the " Talks " department. Unless Miss Matheson makes some public statement, the grounds of her resignation must, of course, remain conjectural, but since she has (under Sir John Reith) directed the policy of the department for the last five years and since a substantial change in that policy has been indicated, it is reasonable to assume that she resigns on a question of principle ; she resigns because, in her opinion, as in Mr. Nicolson's and my own, the B.B.C. has become too cautious.
Many excellent people may welcome this policy of caution, as suitable to the times. I cannot believe that they will rejoice for long. The way out of our national difficulties lies through greater, not through less, freedom of expression and discussion, and it is for greater freedom that Miss Matheson and certain of her colleagues stood. A timid B.B.C. is an appalling prospect, because, though timid, it will always be influential, and it will confirm thousands of us in our congenial habit of avoiding unwelcome truth.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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