LORD PLUMER: THE SOLDIER AS ADMINISTRATOR [To the Editor of
the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Your article under the above title in the issue of July 23rd recalls an incident when Lord Plumer was out here as High Commissioner. Canon Temple Gairdner came up from Cairo to take part a series of lectures dealing with the early expansion of Islam. Lady Plumer came to one or two of the lectures, and one morning the Canon was dealing with the problems confronting the central government at Madina when there Were a number of successful generals, who, as in the case of 'Amru, the conqueror of Palestine, had to find new com- missions for themselves. " You see," said the Canon, " in those days there were no posts of civil administration which a grateful country could ask a great soldier to accept," for the day of the High Commissioner was not yet. The audience was delighted, and Canon Gairdner admitted afterwards that it was " too good an opportunity to lose."—I am, Sir, &c.,
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