THE BRITISH RAJ IN MESOPOTAMIA.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
Sia,—At a time when British morality has been subjected to severe oriticism by Mr. Bok, you may care to print the following testi- mony from Mr. John Van Ess, an American resident at Baarah, who describes his experiences, up to "the coming of the British Raj," in the August number of .4sia, the journal of the American Asiatic Association :—
" Thence on the history of Mesopotamia deals with the military operations whioh also do not concern us here, save to remember that here is the only battlefront, outside of the German colonies, where the Allied forces have advanced by hundreds of miles. One testimony I want to bear. During two and a half years of British occupation, when more than a hundred thousand soldiers at one time trod that soil, I have never heard from any Arab one breath of complaint that any eoldier has ever in the slightest degree violated the sanctity of Arab womanhood. Remember that among all these soldiers half were from India, Sikhs, Rajputs, Pathans. Gurkhas and Maharathis, Hindus, Moslems and Buddhists. In that back-water of the world, which, however, bide fair to become the theatre of stupendous events, there has since been going on a work of reconstruction and administration, as well as colossal humanitarian effort, which, if known, would effectually stop the mouths of those who shake their heads at the thought of what the Allied troops will do when they set foot on enemy soil. I am not British, nor have I any British affinity, but any fair-minded man will have to admit that in Mesopotamia Britain is to-slay showing the world that she is trying to live up to her programme of justice, magnanimity and civilization. She is giving the best she has, to do the best she can, for the land and its people. It is broad daylight there now : Hamid Effendi's prophecy that the Turkish crescent was the crescent of the dawn has been fulfilled."
Asia, I may add, is published by the American Asiatic Associa- tion to further its main purpose of contributing to a satisfactory adjustment of the relations beween Asiatic countries and the rest of the world, and the policy of the editors is "to regard with sympathy the attitude and activities of all Eastern countries," while maintaining the independent privilege of criticism. Thus the August number contains two articles on Japan, one by a Japanese vindicating the opposition to the expedition into Siberia, the other by an American, frank but friendly; and a paper on "Salvaging Russia," supporting economic rehabilitation as opposed to military intervention. The journal is superbly illustrated, and issued ,monthly at 25 cents a copy, or 3 dollars yearly for European subscribers, by the Asia Publishing Company, 627 Lexington Avenue, New York City. As I have no interest of any sort in the venture, I merely mention these facts for the benefit of any persons who are interested in the relations of the New World and the East.—I am, Sir, &c., G.
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