12 MARCH 1943, Page 13

BRITONS OVERSEAS

Sin,—Following are extracts from a letter just received from an R.A.F. officer in India. He lived for some time in South Africa.

"I am often quite disgusted with my fellow-countrymen overseas. The average treatment of the natives is often quite appalling. I have heard a Wing-Commander talk about a (obscene epithet) who, it trans- pired, was a well-educated Indian who had been to Oxford. And officers treat their servants in a way they wouldn't treat a dog at home." (Examples given) . . "I have an excellent bearer" (details of his loyalty and efficiency). "Incidentally he speaks five Indian languages, four African, Burmese and good English."

Last Saturday a Conservative journal, in an article on Red Army discipline, noted the tradition that "a Red Army man is courteous." We have been told of the care taken to ensure that British troops in America, and Americans over here, shall behave with intelligent sympathy towards "the natives." There appears to be room for similar efforts among those who represent Britain in India.—Yours faithfully,