TITE "MESSAGE OF THE EAST" IN AMERICA
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Sm,—Several weeks ago a condemnation of my book, My Brother's Face, appeared in your correspondence columns over the signature of Mr. Harvey Watts. Mr. Watts believes that the book is all propaganda. But others do not share his views. Will you be kind ehough to reprint the following from the pen of- a Briton ? It appeared in the Calcutta Statesman, which is an English paper. I think if a British critic on the spot finds my book utterly devoid of any personal opinions and blameless of any intention of propagating my pet ideas it behoves you to print the enclosed in its entirety for the enlightenment of Mr. Watts and his friends. I shall not give many other testimonies of Englishmen who have found My Brother's Face acceptable. But, in conclusion,
may I say that writings like that of Mr. Watts help to widen the breach between the East and the West ?—I am, Sir, DIIAN GOPAL MUKERJI.
Bez, Vaud, Suisse. July 22nd.
[Mr. Watts referred to Mr. Mukerji's book in a letter describing what he conceived to be a foolish movement by- certain lecturers in the United States to commend the religions, philosophies and customs of India to men and women of Western training. We did not, and do not, make ourselves responsible for Mr. 'Watts's opinion of Mr. Mukerji"s book. It is. hardly reasonable of Mr. Mukerji to call upon us to reprint a long review of his book. We think it fair, however, to say that the anonymous English writer of the review which Mr. Mukerji sends is obviously a man of taste and experience. He finds My Brother's Face a beautiful piece of writing ; he recognizes that Mr. Mukerji has laid restraint upon himself in expressing his political ideas ; and he has formed the opinion that no better picture of the essential Indian mind has been drawn since Mr. Kipling wrote Kim.— ED. Spectator.]
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