Miscegenation
SIR,—As I have taken a keen interest for many years in the study of human genetics I was naturally sur- prised and not a little shocked at the observations being made by Mr. H. B. Isherwood on miscegena- tion, and comparable perhaps, to what the Nazis wrote and said about the Jews. And so. I sent a clipping from the Spectator of the first letter by Mr. Isherwood on miscegenation, to Dr. Hermann J. Muller of the Institute for Advanced Learning in the Medical Sciences at Durate, California. USA, who is considered in the words of Dr. Julian Huxley as the 'greatest authority in the world on genetics,' and, being a famous biologist himself, Julian Huxley should know.
In reply Dr. Muller, though recovering from a period of illness (cardiac in origin), very kindly wrote mc a long letter to say that he considered Mr. Isher- wood's letter 'most outrageous.' He has given me full permission to quote him in this, and in another statement which is as follows: 'Hawaii. in which I lived for fourteen months about a decade•ago, is an excellent example of the fact that miscegenation (in this case involving Orientals, Polynesians and Caucasoids) can result in a people of admirable cul- ture, mentality, character and health.' etc., etc.
The most up-to-date authoritative book on genetics, though mainly technical and intended for readers who have already specialised in genetics, is by Dr. Hermann Muller, called Studies in Genetics. If Mr. Isherwood could understand it, which I very much doubt, else he would not be writing such nonsense on race and miscenegation, there is also a wide range of other works by 'reputable authorities' and too numerous to include in this letter. I shall be glad to send him a bibliography and to anyone else as ill- and mis-informed as he is. Incidentally. it would be interesting to know the names of Mr. Isherwood's 'reputable authorities.'
SAMUEL DENNIS
2 Lammas House, Speer Road, Thames Ditto,, Surrey
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