"If you take the contempt some Americans have for yuppies and multiply it by 10 you might come close to understanding their attitude towards the City, as they call it - London, the people of the south"

This quote by Martin C. Smith is referring to the mindset of some Americans towards London. Smith recommends that the contempt some Americans have for nouveaus riche is a great indication of how they feel about London. He indicates that the attitude is much more intense than their contempt for yuppies, suggesting that it is increased by 10. This implies that some Americans have a strong dislike for London and its people. This could be due to a variety of reasons, such as cultural differences, political differences, or perhaps a feeling of supremacy. Whatever the factor, Smith's quote recommends that some Americans have a strong negative attitude towards London and its people.