THE STATE AND THE BBC
SIR,—Sir Compton Mackenzie's categorical statement that " the -BBC, however, is an instrument of the State " must mean either that he regards that body's charter as a sham, or that he thinks that any government can, at a pinch, take over the BBC. Whether the BBC's activities bear out the first possibility must be left to individual judgment; most people would judge that the BBC does act • independently. Probably, then, Sir Compton believes in the second possibility. Can he, indeed, believe anything else ? It is obviously true, but it is equally true that any govern- ment could take over any other broadcasting organisation. An independent, commercially financed broadcasting company is no more immune from government control than the BBC. If Sir Compton thinks it could be, it would be interesting to know the grounds for his opinion.—Yours faithfully,
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