14 JANUARY 1949, Page 16

MURDER IN EGYPT "

sm,—May I—an Egyptian—add a word or two to your well-informed comment on "murder in Egypt " in your issue of December 31st? Had the Egyptian Government dealt promptly , and firmly with the minor offences of members of the Moslem Brotherhood, the situation would not have deteriorated to the present extent. I was in Egypt about a year

ago when a serious crime was committed by the members of that organisation in a provincial town. The offenders were caught red-handed by the police, but were released in response to demands by demonstrators. The explanation given by the commander of the police, who ordered the release, was that he had to choose between freeing the culprits and