Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/277/1 - 1926-1939 - Part 9

FL.4151
xxxxxx
5869.
21 May 1930.
Dear Sir John,
If I might presume to do so, I would advise you to
let it be known that the articles in "Smith's Weekly" were not
from your pen. I think they went down with a certain number of
the more or less unthinking and less well-educated members of the
A.I.F., but I could hardly tell you how many ex-soldiers and
officers of the other sort have spoken to me about them and
expressed themselves as puzzled or astonished that this style of
thing should have come from a great commander of the A.I.F. The
basis of knowledge and erudition in them was evidently so slight
and the generalisations so empty, that I felt sure they were not
your considered work, but what hurt more than anything was the
sort of implicit assumption (though it does appeal to one class
of Australian) that there was nothing worthy outside the A.I.F.
There is such an idea in Australia, although anyone who knows the
facts realizes that it is based on a deplorable ignorance; and
one who is out all the time to safeguard the reputation of
Australians among the thinking and enlightened people of the
world has more to fear from that attitude, adopted by a section of
his countrymen, than from anything else. I know very well that you
do not believe this stupid, vain myth, but, when articles purporting
to be yours appear to be steeped in the spirit of that fallacy
it makes one feel as though the name of the A.I.F. - which I
cherish more than anything on earth - was being dragged through
the mud by its unwise defenders. I realize that you are not a
prey to that ignorant self-conceit, but the man who wrote those
articles was, and if they are read abroad they will do to our
reputation the very damage which they are intended to avert. I
would urge you, for the sake of your own reputation, to be
cautious in your interviews with the press, and, when you do
speak, to give them something that we can all feel is really
worthy of your great calibre of mind and of the very great
position which you occupied.
I have to thank you for writing to me frankly, and I
hope you will realize that this frankly xxxxx frank reply is written in the
spirit of entire goodwill towards yourself, and solely from care
of that precious thing which you and I and some others have to
some extent in our keeping - the great name of the A.I.F.
Yours sincerely,

C.E.W. BEAN
General Sir John Monash, G.C.M.G., K.C.B.

"IONA," ST. GEORGE’S ROAD, TOORAK, S.E. 2
U 2052.
22 WILLIAM STREET. MELBOURNE. C. 1.
CENTRAL 8292.
SIR JOHN MONASH.
27th May, 1930.
Capt. C. E. W. Bean
Official War Historian,
Victoria Barracks.
SYDNEY,  N.S.W.
My dear Bean,
I am very much indebted to you for your helpful and
understanding letter of the 21st May.
I had in several quarters felt myself obliged to
tender explanations of those articles in "Smith's Weekly" in
terms similar to my letter to you.- But your letter under
reply has made it clear to me that such desultory action is
not sufficient to meet the circumstances.
I have therefore taken the step of preparing a brief
memorandum (a copy of which I enclose), and have sent a number
of copies of same (a) to the Senior Officer in each State, (b)
to the Secretaries of the Service Clubs in each State, and (c)
to the Secretaries of the R.S.S.I.L.A. in each State, requesting 

in each case that the substance of the memorandum should
be made known to ex-members of the A.I.F.
I hope that in this way my disclaimer of the language
and many of the sentiments of the articles in question will become 

widely known. In particular, I have definitely dissociated 

myself from that aspect of the articles to which you rightly 

take such strong exception.
I need hardly add that I greatly appreciate your
entire goodwill towards myself.
With very kind regards,
Yours sincerely,
John Monash

27/5/30
MEMORANDUM RE RECENT ARTICLES IN "SMITH'S WEEKLY"
During recent weeks, a series of articles has
appeared in "Smith's Weekly" on the subject of the A.I.F.
and in particular of the Australian Army Corps in France
dealing with attacks which have been made, in recent war
books, upon the good name and repute of the Australian
soldier. These articles were published in such a manner
as to leave the impression that they emanated wholly from
my pen.
While I am aware that the substance of what has
been so published was received with appreciation by large
numbers of returned men, I am also aware that many others
have felt surprised and puzzled that literary matter of
this particular quality should have come from me.
In order to dissipate such impressions, I feel it
necessary to explain the circumstances under which those
articles came into existence. They resulted from two interviews 

which I gave to a representative of "Smith's
Weekly", who called upon me to obtain a general description
of the composition, organization and method of operation of
the Army Corps, and an expression of opinion as to the true
character and quality of the Australian soldier as I knew
him. The notes taken by this interviewer were subsequently
expanded by him into a number of separate articles. In
so doing he not only employed a literary style which is
quite foreign to me, but also added many phrases and 
expressions to what I had told him, which, in quite a number
of instances, lent a color to my statements which were
never intended. Most of all do I regret the veiled 
implication running through the articles that the Australian
soldiers were more worthy and more capable than those of
the mother country and of the other Dominions and our
Allies, - a point of view which I strongly deprecate.
I am circulating this disclaimer so that my old
comrades may not remain under a misapprehension as to my
exclusive responsibility for all the material that made
its appearance in these articles.
John Monash

June 21, 1930  Smith's Weekly    7

8  Smith's Weekly   June 21, 1930
General John Monash Faces Both Ways.

Article from Smith's Weekly

SIR JOHN MONASH'S SERIES OF ARTICLES IN 

"SMITH'S WEEKLY"

Newspaper cutting ? Smith's Weekly.

538 COLLINS STREET,
MELBOURNE.
5 April 1930
Dear Bean
I have not seen Monash's
articles in Smiths Weekly and am in 
consequence in ignorance as to the reference.

But it is most certainly not within

my knowledge that General Birdwood

asked him as a favour to take on 

Carruthers. Had it been done, I think

I should have known of it.

I am sorry to think that John 

Monash is writing anything which

is doubtfully correct & wholly unwise.

It is a pity that he should do

anything likely to destroy his reputation 

& I hope that he can control his

vanity. This writing of books is 

a dangerous business!

[?}

Brudenell White 

I wrote to McLaren (Prime Ministers

Dept) about Cuthbertson & received a

nice acknowledgt. I doubt however if 

anything is like to result.

BW.

[*2/2/30   3*]

11
V.C. PADRE 

AND 

"RETREAT'

"INSULT' BEHIND

THE BOOK

PUBLIC VIEW OF 

REPUDIATION

THE AUSTRALIANS 

DEFENDED.