Arabs and the West
SIR,—Professor Gibb thinks that we in Western Europe are disqualified from offering criticism and advice on Arab affairs, because we have not been conspicuously successful in the handling of some of our own problems. I will not comment on the validity-of his strictures on Western policies, but I sholild like to be permitted to quote a copy-book maxim from Arabic literature which seems to dispose of his contention. The sense of it may be rendered in English as follows:
" Do not span sage counsel: 'tis no objection ' That he who gives it is short of perfection. Does the pearl lose its worth in the market-place
If the wretched diver be lacking in grace? " - Symptoms of " ineffeetiveness " unfortunately exist in Arab public life, and they are a source of anxiety to all friends of the Arab people. The prosperity and stability. of the Middle East, moreover, are of vital concern to ,QU/SCIVeS. ,Must wet rennin silent on these matters until we have proved our greate:. wisdom;.and is it really the case that the Arabs can learn nothing from the etimple of the Western -democracies ?-
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