Letter From Sir A. Conan Doyle (22 july 1912)

From The Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia

This letter was written by Arthur Conan Doyle from Princes Hotel, Brighton, and published in the Evening Standard on 22 july 1912.


Letter From Sir A. Conan Doyle

Evening Standard (22 july 1912, p. 5)

(To the Editor of the "Evening Standard and St. James's Gazette.")

Sir, — I do not know who "H.A.S." may be, and I am not surprised that he does not sign his name to his letter in your columns. His spirit is that of the Little Englander, and he has broaden it before he can call himself an Imperialist.

If the Americans, who have the colour feeling more than we, can find places in their team for Red Indians, Negroes, and a Hawaian, why should we exclude the pick of 300,000,000 of our fellow subjects? Could anyone conceive a meaner position than to say that the Sikh, the Ghoorka, or the Rajpooot may fight for the Empire in war, but may not play for it in peace?

The Empire would soon be at an end if many Englishmen had the narrow outlook of "H.A.S."

Arthur Conan Doyle
Princes Hotel, Brighton.