24 APRIL 1959, Page 24

OUR OLDEST ALLY

SIR,-1 trust that there will be a wide •measure of protest against the offensive statement by Pharos in your current issue where he describes Portugal as 'our oldest (and dirtiest) ally.' She is indeed our oldest ally but certainly one of the cleanest, in every sense, as anyone with a recent knowledge of Portugal will know.—Yours faithfully,

H. C. TRAVELL STRONGB