BR TO GILBERT MURRAY, 18 FEB. 1954
BRACERS 52436. TLS. Murray papers, Bodleian. SLBR 2: #526
Edited by W. Bruneau and N. Griffin. Proofread by A.G. Bone

Middlesex Hospital
Cleveland Street, W.1.
18 February, 1954.

My dear Gilbert,

It has been most kind of you writing to me while I have been in hospital and your letters have cheered me greatly. I am very sorry to hear that you are suffering from foot and mouth disease.1 I think this is carrying sympathy with animals too far. I wonder if you remember the story you used to tell about the Professor of Latin whose great toe caused him so much uneasiness. I have a feeling that I remember many good stories you used to tell that you perhaps have forgotten. I am interested in what you say about China. I have taken a good deal of trouble to find out what the Communists are doing to Chinese scholars and persons of learning generally. The process which is called “brain washing” seems to me unspeakably horrible.2 All those who have had any Western learning are compelled to state that they now perceive it to be futile and malignant and to abjure henceforth everything that they have learnt from Western Europeans or Americans. I am afraid the ancient culture of China disappeared from academic circles a good while ago — through thea victory of the Kuomintang — but that did not penetrate to the beliefs of the peasants. It is one of the peculiar strengths of Communists everywhere where they are in power that they can completely transform the peasantry. You speak about what happens in a savage tribe if white people come in and ridicule all the nonsense that they consider sacred. I wish there were “white” people to talk like this to the Anglican clergy.

I think the Berlin Congress has done some good in showing up the Russians.3 I find it impossible to believe that another great war will be prevented by the prospect of its being destructive on all sides. I am afraid Communists think that God will see to the victory of the Right (i.e. the Left).

I should now be well if only the doctors would say so. I think they will let me go in a few days. I hope your afflictions will soon disappear.

Yours ever,
B.R.

• 1

  I am very sorry to hear that you are suffering from foot and mouth disease.  The letters Murray wrote Russell in hospital are missing, so it is not known what occasioned this remark.

• 2

  “brain washing” seems to me unspeakably horrible Tales of brainwashing in Chinese POW camps had emerged after the Korean War. Though the techniques were certainly horrible, they achieved much less than was generally feared. The CIA was conducting its own experiments on psychiatric patients.

• 3

  I think the Berlin Congress has done some good in showing up the Russians. In January America, Russia, Britain and France met in Berlin to discuss the future of Germany, along with other world issues. Nothing was achieved on Germany, but the basis was laid for the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Austria and for a conference at Geneva on Indo-China.

Textual Notes

• a

  through the inserted by hand above deleted a