BRACERS Record Detail for 52418
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On the difficulty of their debating (re Asia, Russia, and civilization). This concerns their appearance on the BBC's "London Forum", prerecorded 5 May 1949 and broadcast 6 June, on the topic "Is Regional Association the Most Practical Step Toward World Government?".
"Much the most delicate branch of the subject is Asia, where democracy and economic justice conflict with the preservation of civilization. ... nothing we can do will prevent Asia from going communist."
"Where democracy and civilization conflict, I am for civilization."
A Bodleian transcription is at record 79423.
BR TO GILBERT MURRAY, 27 APR. 1949
BRACERS 52418. ALS. Murray papers, Bodleian
Edited by W. Bruneau. Proofread by K. Blackwell
<letterhead>
Penralltgoch
Llan Ffestiniog
Merioneth
27.4.49
Dear Gilbert,
Thank you for your letter. I agree with all you say, which makes a difficulty, as I do not see what we can debate. Much the most delicate branch of the subject is Asia, where democracy and economic justice conflict with the preservation of civilization. If you were on a raft with 12 philistines, and you alone had a revolver, would you shoot and eat them because your death would be such a loss to the world? We do this to Asiastics, Russia does not. That is why nothing we can do will prevent Asia from going communist.
Don’t feel senile — I assure you it doesn’t show! Anyway I am in the same boat.
Where democracy and civilization conflict, I am for civilization.
Yours ever,
BR
