THE ARABS AND BRITISH TROOPS
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—This won't do at all. Professor Namier writes English history, and he evidently quite misunderstands both British officers and Arabs. Of course, Miss Blyth's story was propa- ganda, not truth.
All the marks are there present and correct. How many British officers have been wounded and have recovered to the pub-crawling stage in Palestine ? Do British officers attend bars and drink with natives ? C'an Miss Blyth imagine even Colonel Blimp standing whisky at its present price to all and sundry, even forcing the good liquor upon Jews ?
Two months ago I, like Miss Blyth, got a letter from the same source. They said they sent it me at Sir Arnold Wilson's request ! It described how British soldiers . had murdered some Arabs in a village. I fear I did not take it seriously. But the same letter was sent to other M.P.s. Questions went out to Palestine, but as vain as those addressed to Miss Blyth. No trace could be found.
Then there is the well-known hackneyed story of nuns stripped and forced to dance naked in the streets. That has good Catholic authority. In all these cases, the end justifies the means. Only pedants would object, and I apologise to Miss Blyth for Professor Namier's obtuseness.—Yours,
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