SEE WHAT I MEAN?
S1R,—Your contributor, Robert Hancock, by implication, lays a charge of corruption and favouritism against members of this Associa- tion working for the BBC and in Independent Television. This is one of those anonymous, collective accusations which enable an indi- vidual to escape the consequences of direct libel, and which leave the intended bad taste nevertheless.
Perhaps Mr. Hancock would agree with me that it is 'common ground' that the press is sometimes staffed by individuals against whom accusations of abuse of their professional position are levelled, and that sometimes these accusations are true.
If Mr. Hancock has specific evidence of the acceptance of bribes by members of, for example, the Gramophone Department of the BBC and is prepared to make it public, I shall be glad to afford him any public redress which he may feel is due in the light of the implication contained in this letter. If he has no such evidence, he will presumably be equally ready to admit it publicly in order to safeguard the reputation of members of this Association.—Yours faithfully, T. L. LITTLEWOOD General Secretary Association of Broadcasting Staff, 69 Shirland Road, W9 [Mr. Hancock writes : `Mr. Littlewood's Association comprises about 50 per cent. of the total BBC staff. See what I mean?'—Editor, Spectator.]
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