If the American government should command you [an American
pioneer in Falkland Islands]to return, as a citizen you would have no
alternative but to obey. However, if they merely advise you to leave, he does
not think you would have to follow this advice unless you wanted to. During the
present crisis in this part of the world, the American Baha'is serving here
have been advised to leave; but they have explained that they did not wish to
because of their Baha'i services; and that has been quite acceptable to the
American representatives in this country.
Wherever the friends are, they must obey the government in
all matters that do not affect the doctrines of their Faith.
- Shoghi Effendi (From a message
dated 30 November 1956 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual
believer in Falkland Islands; ‘Afire with the Vision, Messages from Shoghi
Effendi to Latin America’)
