Stonewalling

"Salient" was cordially greeted by the High Commissioner, who made some polite conversation while offering him cigarette and a seat. When this was over. "Salient" opened fire with a question about how the outside world regards our social experiments.

"O dear." said Sir Harry. "I'm afraid I couldn't possibly answer that; would you please read the rest of your questions?"

"Salient" reeled off a few of the less pertinent ones he had in mind but each was greeted with a shake of the head.

"No, I could not answer any question of a political nature." he said. "You see. I am a civil servant, and cannot make any public statement on any political subject."

This knocked "Salient" back a bit for all the questions he had intended to ask were of a decidedly political nature. But Sir Harry came nobly to the rescue with the following statement.