15 JUNE 1951, Page 18

The Pledge of a State

Sta,—Perhaps it would be wise in these days for Persians to ponder over the following passage which occurs in the work of one of their foremost writers of modern times, and one who incidentally was perhaps more than anyone else instrumental in bringing about the adoption of con- stitutional rule in their country, whether with good results or ill. I refer to the late Prince Malcom Khan. He wrote: " Once a signature 01 the State has been fixed below an agreement, it must be our paramount duty honestly to abide by it, even should it mean the loss of half our country. For in that case a country can still survive as long as its honour and reputation remain unsullied ; whereas if not, and it is held in contempt. by the rest of the world, it can accomplish nothing and is virtually extinct."—Yours faithfully, F. MALCOM. St. Albans.