Arabs and the West
SIR,--1 venture to think that, after the letters from Professor Gibb and Mr. Hillelson, the views of an Arab will not be out of place in your columns. No reasonable Arab ever thinks that the Arabs have nothing to learn from the West. They have learnt a great deal, and will have to learn more in the future. It is fair, however, to guard oneself against the tendency to attribute all Arab progress to mere Western "advice," and all the present difficulties to a seemingly inherent Arab inefficiency.
It is gratifying to be smug and patronising, but in the period between the wars much " advice " has evidently been given and taken. One may be permitted to wonder if this Arab " ineffectiveness " could be wholly
laid at the door of the Arabs alone.—Yours very truly, S. HAMDI. University of London.
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