SIR,—One should not laugh away too readily the rather Jaborious
cleverness of Mr. Czdslaw Jesman's letter in your issue of December 28; for it covers a deal of irrelevancy, ignorance, rudeness and sag- gestio falsi. Surely you do not wish to encourage further intellectual dishonesty in your readers?
Mr. Jdsman complains that the British Army has affronted Egyptian feelings: he says so at great length, and many times, so as to make it clear to ignorant voters who might otherwise find difficulty in understanding 'autochthonous' at first blush. Can he possibly be so naive as to believe that this is a special phenomenon? It is of course the habit of all servicemen in any fOreign country at all times (the Romans affronted •us, too): and the Egyptians, whose habits are not .all that progressive, have pro- voked a great deal. If the morals of King Farouk arc deplorable, it is rather much to expect the normal and often harassed soldiery to refrain from making Music-hall jokes about them. Mr. Jesman further dimly discerns a 'potential equality' between Egyptians and Europeans, and I suppose one should take account of this preposterous accusation, 'though it is difficult to do so in serious manner. What is this 'potential equality'? In intellect? In maturity? In responsibility? 1S not this appeal great rubbish?
The Egyptians, Sir, have at no time during the last hundred years contributed anything of value to the world, and I really do not see why we should flatter them, and prostitute ourseNes, by pretending that they have. They have been treacherous and cowardly rice Israel-- and no amount of encourage- ment by our foreign policy excuses that. They have been dangerously irresponsible in playing at politics. They have been law-breakers in nationalising the Suez Canal. They have disturbed international peace in every Possible way, usually with malice afore- thought. These are crimes against every country— white, red, black or yellow. I am as anxious as Mr. Jdsman to see a just .settlement in the Middle East, but we shall advance backwards rapidly if we pay any attention to his unbalanced and unreasonable remarks. His sort of confusion about truth may be entertaining, but when you, Sir, give it.wide circula- tion, it becomes dangerous.
To save any cheap gibes, may I add that I am not Jewish or of Jewish extraction, was not involved in any world war, 'have- not • served in the Army, am reasonably travelled, and wish to grind only on axe —realism as the first essential step towards any sort of justice or peace.—Yours 'faithfulfy,
WILLIAM F. PICKARD
1 LeadenhaltStreet, London, EC3
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