“Britain Has Gone Potty”
LONDON, August 21 (Rec. 10 a.m.). —Sir Thomas Beecham today described the 1951 “Festival of Britain” as the “most monumental piece of imbecility and iniquity.” Sir Thomas, who was speaking in Edinburgh, where he is to conduct the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the opening concert of Edinburgh’s International Festival, added: “We are broke. Underline that three times. We have been misgoverned worse than any nation in the world. Lunatics have dragged us into world wars. We are going to celebrate 50 years of the most abominable mis-government by having an exhibition and a festival at the expense of United States money. To what depths have we sunk?”
Speaking of the national theatre project, Sir Thomas said: “The country has gone potty. I strongly object to money being provided for musical enterprises by the whole body of taxpayers. As we have not the money for our necessities, we cannot afford luxuries. The Americans, therefore, are paying for our music.”
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Greymouth Evening Star, 22 August 1949, Page 5
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162“Britain Has Gone Potty” Greymouth Evening Star, 22 August 1949, Page 5
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