Aga Khan Appears on Television, Discusses Place in Moslem World

"Each Ismaili person must decide for himself on questions of Communism and Arabism" declared His Highness the Aga Kahn to a panel of newsmen on the CBS program "Face The Nation" at 5:30 p.m. yesterday. "I have final authority in religious matters," explained the Leverett House senior, "but in secular matters, I lead, and do not have absolute authority."

The Aga explained that Ismailis, wherever they are located in the Middle East, must live harmoniously with other sects and with other peoples. "The Ismaili community operates its own banks, schools, and hospitals, but does not restrict its services to members of the sect," he declared. It is the Aga's task to seal together the various communities contained within the religion. "A Muslim leader, unlike a Western religious leader, cannot be stationary and withdrawn."

Dividing his time between courses and administrative work, the Aga spends as much as ten hours or as little as one hour daily running the religious affairs of twenty million Ismailis. He refused to name a definite headquarters for his operations after he leaves the College, but declared, "It would be impossible for me to stay in this country."

The Age also declared that he would make no further public appearances this year. He cited the work pressures of College as the main reason for this decision. At present, he is writing his Honors thesis in Oriental History.