“VILE AND WICKED”

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21243, 14 October 1940, Page 4

“VILE AND WICKED”

SIR T. BEECHAM’S TIRADE CRITICISM OF AUSTRALIANS CORRESPONDENCE IN SYDNEY Sir Thomas Beecham. English conductor, has confirmed in black and white his low opinion of the "vile, wicked Australians,” says the Sydney Sun. In fact. Australia is (according to Sir Thomas) the “most backward portion of the Empire,” with a much larger percentage of “Illiterate, unpleasant and even vicious people” than any other “civilised” country he knows. The new outburst followed a letter by Mr H. R. McWilliam, of King Street, Sydney, who had asked Sir Thomas, in the interests of Empire goodwill, not to persevere with his intention of publishing a book attacking Australia. Mr McWilliam has now forwarded the correspondence to the Sydney Sun. Sir T. Beecham’s Letter Sir Thomas Beecham’s letter to him was:— “Dear Mr McWilliam, "I am taking the trouble to answer your letter because you appear to be one of those numerous, wellintentioned and amiable Australians who live in a state of chronic delusion about their own country. But let me first comment upon what you say about my alleged ‘wild statements.’ If you can produce a single instance of these, I should be pleased to see it. “Since my arrival in this country, up to the present moment I have offered no opinion upon any Australian subject unless I have been asked to do so. Some of my replies have been criticised, but they have been those, I observe with some amusement, which are only an echo of the views expressed by most of the responsible statesmen here. The reason why I have used the word delusion is that, although you, as a sensible man of affairs, must know that your Press is easily the worst in the world, you seem to give unqualified credence to everything you read in it.

“Furthermore, you are unaware that there is a much larger percentage of illiterate, unpleasant, and even vicious people here than in any other civilised country known to me.

“This is not my view only, it is that of every Englishman, American and European of judgment who has visited this country any time during the past 20 years. The simple truth is that Australia in every respect is much the most backward portion of the Empire and is too complacent and self-satisfied even to begin to understand its actual condition. “There are many delightful people here as there are everywhere else, but to tell me or any other public man of world-wide experience that the majority of your population is intelligent, tolerant and well-behaved in the sense we understand it in Europe, is sheer nonsense.” Australians in War Following is the letter written by Mr McWilliam on September 25: “I notice your violent outburst in today’s Sydney Sun against the vile, ignorant and wicked Australians. Whilst I deplore the use of anonymous letters or abuse of any kind, I cannot help thinking that your own highly strung temperament and many of your own wild statements are directly responsible. “Apparently you forget that men of your high standing and undoubted genius have a duty to perform to your fellow men. particularly as between nations, more so as regards those of British stock. “I always regard visits from the great men of the Empire as links cementing the ties of the Dominions to the Homeland, of which we are all so justly proud. You should be an ambassador of goodwill, but unfortunately your Press statements tend to create ill-will rather than the amity we so much need at the present.

“Your outbursts are all the more regrettable at a time when so many of our men are doing valuable Empire defence work in England, the Middle East, and on the high seas and in the air.

“I sincerely trust that you will restrain your outbursts as becomes a great man, and that your threat to publish a mischievous, irritating book will not be persevered with. “The ties that bind the Empire are too precious to be shattered by the bad-tempered and ill-considered statements of people who do not know, or understand, the sterling qualities of the Australian people. The Australians are generous and warm-hearted to those who try to understand them. “I trust if you do publish the book this mild censure on yourseif will be inserted as an answer to yours.”