Being on the point of starting for Russia, may I be allowed to say just a few words in reference to “Delta’s” letter in the last Observer headed “Bad Europeans.”

If I alluded, as he says, only incidentally to the “ties of religion and tradition uniting the Russians to the Greeks,” that was simply because anybody who is aware of these ties may easily cure himself of his ignorance by referring to any trustworthy history of this century.

I do not quite understand the “vagueness” of which I am accused. I find neither time nor necessity for repeating that two and two make four, and certain facts are just as obvious as that simple arithmetical formula.

The Greek “volunteer of twenty,” if he had visited any elementary school, ought to have sufficiently studied the modern history of his country to know the terrible difficulties under which she laboured for her existence, and which she conquered chiefly by the aid of Russia.

Youth may be an excuse for ignorance, but only when united with modesty and reserve. Arrogance is unbecoming, and should not be encouraged.

If, for argument’s sake, hatred for Russia were really professed not only by ignorant youths, but by grown up Greeks, that might to a great extent, I am afraid, paralyse Russia’s kind intentions in the future towards poor little Greece.

OLGA NOVIKOFF (“O.K.”).

4, Portman-mansions, W.,

April 20.