World Service
Sir: When I read John Tusa's letter to you (3 December) about the World Service I thought at first that I had strayed to the pages of the New Statesman. Obviously Tusa will defend his proposals for the BBC World Service. However, the easy refer- ence to Myles Harris's remark to the BBC press office (that'll teach him to talk in confidence another time), the sneer at Harris's implied lack of cultural and moral sense, the careful avoidance of many of Harris's more telling points, and above all the confident assertion that 'the Service's astonishingly successful prescription' is another important reason to change things, perhaps reveals more about Mr Tusa's cultural and moral centre than he realises.
Unlike Myles Harris (or perhaps Mr Tusa?) I have listened to the World Service regularly for the last 15 years, very often in the company of developing country citizens from 'China to Peru'. My friends have of course the possibility of voting with their ears. No doubt they will do so, if as I believe Mr Tusa is mistaken about their wishes. Unfortunately, this will be too late to affect his sublime belief that he alone knows best about their desires and tastes.
J. Stoneman
8 Norrels Ride, East Horsley, Leatherhead, Surrey
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