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THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1953.
ANOTHER EMPIRE JEWEL TO GO
By JOHN GORDON
PAKISTAN, one
London. of the
two great States into which the continent of India was partitioned when we made the scuttle-out in 1947, is about to follow the lead of India, Its neighbour State, and become an inde pendent republic.
It is now
a Dominion owing: alloglance to the Crown.
So falls another jewei from pur once glorious Empire, Upon whom must much of the blame be placed?
First Lord Mountbatten, last; and worst of all the pro-consuls we over sent
His to India, misjudgments destroyed us,
He too-hastily divided ʼn con- Unent of jealous races. which we had brought the blessing of peace into two bitterly hostilo Now their growlings States,
Any day they may never cease. be at each other's throats.
How many lives Lord Mount- balten cost "the continent be- cause of the hasta with which he imposed partition will probably never be known.
Some estimates put the figure as high as a million.
The future may exact an even more terrible price.
Alongside Mountbatten og the architect of tragedy Linda Sir Stafford Cripps.
Out of offier, he warned us year after year that he had
pledged himself to destroy the Empire.
In office, he applied himself relentlessly to the
of that end,
The Socialist
achlovanent
Government,
which ardently desiral the partitioning
of
India-and especially its three top leaders, Attlee, Bevin, and Morrison
also, of course, accept must heavy responsibility has happened.
for what
“Oh..well..ah.....stof sure who's in front but it's a
nice day and MD. Tophant riding, her outsider Gimme has just crowded the favourite with a dreadful push in the brisket- 1a Jan Jacob up?...Is he down?
I now return listeners to their previous
ו'
confusion ...
LOWT EXCLUSIVE COMMENTARY
REHEARSAL FOR THE GRAND NATIONAL
Wald Copricht Reberme. London Express Berater.
Laughter in the House
Mrs Braddock
An Opera Hat
By CECIL PORTER
London. tury, oranges and nuts wero PECTATORS in the freely eaten in the Chamber; at public gallery of the be a hat full of oranges on the Commona werc re- Table.
one Ume there was even said to
The SHADOW of ASTRID
THE STORY BEHIND
A NATION'S CRISIS
7ITHIN my lifetime I have
W
seen great monarchies crash and disappear in the convul. sions of two world wars and a prolonged period of revolu- tionary crisis.
But perhaps the most unlooked for royal story is what has happened to Belgium.
In that staunch and resolute democracy the monarchy has passed from a position of the greatest prestige and national affection to the unhappy and faltering plight it is in today. And all in the space of 10 years,
appalling tragedy Leopold's character
It is diMcult for younger dazed with horror at the road- people to imagine with what sids. Near hin was the car admiration-veneration, almost- sninshed against a tree. At his King Albert of the Belgians was feet loy, Astrid dead. regarded by the world in the first Did that world war.
A man of high rectitude and wreck and bedevil the whole of
wrap indomitable courage, his fall his subsequent career? Mak figure, always in uniform, topped by a tin hat, became a symbol of stirred unensily. Leopold, In
The following year Europe resistance.
After that
prestige
war
made
clear
bo
that
speech, Albert'a became, if anything, cutral in face of the growing
Belgium would
strictly higher. For in the ferment of Hiller mengce, "We must-alm
a reshaping Europe he had to
face
ace tasks just as demanding, in at being outside the quarrels of their way, as those of the war, our neighbours," he declared.
With wisdom, tact, and This policy statement was pro- courage. King Albert mot these Jection, on
the national problems; and steered Belgium his own personal behaviour arter back to prosperity and inner Astrid's death. He had shut harmony.
himself up in the royal palaces at Lacken, near Brussels, and was life.
Captivating boy
living an almost hermit-like
resistance
crushed was
and
Some MPs have only to re-
If Astrid had lived-would vert to their pet subjects to
Belgium have been guided along arouse budinage. Hundreds of TNTO this times Mr Boothby has extolled there entered a new
pleasing picture the sombre paths sho took? and The year 1940 showed the the virtues of the Scottish charming personality, Albert's dreadful fallacy of neutrality. cently astonished to Again, there is a rule that herring. Each time he finds cldest son, Leopold. Leopold in a few agonising days Belginn
The sailles of True- was hailed, in his teens, by a see Mra Bessie Braddock, gs should not be brought into response.
the House. This in And the Tories of today's the bulky Member.
for after
because, Blue Sir Waldron Smithers, who contemporary British writery as Leopold surrendered. His doci- Government must carry
tempers had risen dan-
vets Bolship under every bed, "not cily Europe's handsomest slow, and subsequent wartime their Liverpool's Exchange Divi- gerously high during the.ex- inovitably evoke
Socialls royal boy, but precocious in the behaviour, aroused furious-con- of the blame.
best sense of the word."
troversy, and in spite
WIF For
exercise of her most
Lion,
there was a fear, that some
The youth, Elon-educated, had historians down the years. urgent pleadings, we have con- and, without rising, address sistently, oven to this day, given the House as Pakistan
Sharm
Is It surprising that she now says she has had enough of us?
And yet rumour says that Earl Mountbatten may become duke ot the Coronation!
a
to
ber.
He
might smuggle
1
Her
tho
Second wife
autumn
of 1945
earned practically nothing but profound con- demnation among Belgians
all classes and parties. The Countess de she was
of
by R. M. MacCOLL by Leopold
was vivacious
But Sho
sparkling. But she
among the
They remembered and Belgium And there were whispers that intense. Soon the Court was too the babies-Crown
sion, don a man's opera hat plosivo-Irish Horne Rule agita- e House loves witty rean engaging touch of dimdence
Members Irish MPs were in weapons. Exhibits, however. Parice, although Its Implications about him. It looked as it he
ver may be obscure to outsiders. the impression that traversing the Chamber for are still admitted with discre- Old Members recall with relish would follow his father's foot- we favour India against her.
We even left her to turs
a division,
tion. Recently a Socialist Mem- the retort mude to Mr Llow steps rzeproachably, and the to
ber, complaining about pur- Japan for the tools, for her
She was following an ancient chase tax, carried a selection of George when he said of the Belgians, Inspecting him with n the penetrating eye, were captivated development,
present Lord Stansgate (then by their price. As the last life his marriage to a com THE next event in Leopold's tradition. For MP's can only women's clothes into the Cham-
MI Wedgwood Benn); "He touch of perfection, Leopold raise a "point of order" during
reminds me of a pocket Moses made a completely story-book maner, Marie-Lilliane Baels, in a division by remaining seated Eggs, fish and fruit, however, dancing Infront of the Ark." mariage. and wearing a hat, so distin- are frowned on. Not long ago Back fashed: "At least I never gulshing them.
Speaker reminded Members
In 1926 he married The opera hot, there possibilities of mischief worshipped the Golden Calf,"
Princess Sweden's kept hondy in the Chamber, is
Astrid. It WAS a comparatively recent innova- In exhibits such as eggs."
A MASTER clearly કો love- tion. Previously, substitutes Before the bag ban, en in-
match-and no man had done duty as head cover-cident
Grose in 1878. Mr
Ai 78,-Mr-Churchill is-sül!' could – blame – him, Ings.
Delahunty, the MP for Water-
for Astrid a master of repartee. One day,
ይሇልይ WHAT a cookeyed affair life become since
One evening,
ford, had his travelling as Leader of the Opposition, he ravishing. She had a few years 1ve lost our grand old quality of com go, Miss Jennie Lee's beret beside him as he rose to speak.
was urging national economy eyes had a gentle,
great beauty. was tossed hastily from hand to the bag but, alas, they were the shouted:
fished Some notes out of mon sense.
B Soctalist Member charming, expression, and her made few friends Here we have Mr Frank Mull, hand as several Labour Meme wrong ones. Surprised Mem- Winston repiled: "I could sellbind of friendliness and grace. Astrid, even if the king did not.
"Sell your horse!" demeanour was a rarely sern people. a corn merchont in the little bere sought to raise points of bers then saw him dump on the
order. Norfolk village of Freethorpe, tritics, rakishly-worn bowlers, comb, a bottle of hairwash and trying to rise above the profit there were
And shapeless "demob"
today for considerably more In both Sweden bench a solled collur, a brush, a
than I gave for him-but I am enthusiasm was TEL. 35056 being undered peremptorily
take
alock on the front folded Order Papers, have been extracted the right notes.
handkerchiefs and a single stocking, before down a
and cven
he
motive." of his premises because. It is
Price Baudouin, bis elder sister the occupying Gendly with used until the collapsible opera 12ft. Bins. above the
Still, eccentricities
When Mr Hugh Galtskell, and younger ground.
were ex-netw
The war ended and now came bat was
brother. Nothing, The "planners" bave deelded
adopted in the in- pected of Irish Members; one of advocating fuel economy, made it seemed, could mar the hap the prolonged and embarrassing that 12ft.
terests of decorum.' is the limit they wil
then once hung his umbrella on all incoullous "don't bath too piness of this handsome, youth wrangle between the king, in permit
There was no scramble 50 the Mace while taking the oath. eflen" reference, Mr Churchill | ful pair.
Switzerland, and his people. The cracked: "No wonder he's in Just imagine how much and more years ago when MPs
Then, abruptly, the shadows problem: Was he to be allowed money is being taken from wore toppers in the Chamber. LIGHT RELIEF
bad odour."
|began to lengthen. To escape to go home or not? our pockets every
lo Members on hot days would
When Dr Edilli Summerskill, occasionally from the affairs of At last the matter was patched keep planner-rabbits
sometimes place their hats on No incident passes without Minister of National Insurance Stute, King Albert loved to go up. Leopold went back, sbdi- the benches. There was "loud provoking on answering sally. in the last Socialist Governo
mountain climbing (he was an eated, and his elder son, pate, laughter," it is recalled, when During all-night sittings, many ment, visited Egypt, a Tory they were accidentally sat upon. Members sit dozing and some Member wondered whether it
expert
toli- bespectacled Baudouin, ascended accompanied by tary alde). in those days, Party orators, lie at full length on the benches would be one of the great land-
One day in February 1934, Things were never quite the sweeping Britain clear of her beyond the Bar, Often some marks in British relations with the high Ardennes, the news Belgium. People spoke wistfuny
from
a small police station in same. An uneasiness clutched enemies, succeeded, on occadon, one exhausted from a 24-hour Churchill drily: "The Pyramids flashed to the world that the of the old days: of Albert and
East. Observed TOW terrible are the things of MPs in front of them. Hthe Welfare State does
only in sweeping off the toppers wo
Д working day emits Instantly un opponent will will last longer!"
king was dead-fallen from a always of Astrid. Ah, if only doubt the Hon. There is always laughter at a precipice.
she had lived! How often one Member's constituents will be mixed metaphor, although there When a few days later, the heard the words from Belgian interested to hear how he is are fewer of them now that 33-year-old Leopold knelt in the friends, Viers, England's oldest married laughter when Gladstone
In 1885 there was prolonged attending to his Parliamentary most of the Irish Members have old Cathedral Church of Sainto
duties," couple.
Once Mr Quintin Hogg gone. One came from an Irish Gudule, in Brussels, at his that Baudouin, who lacks tho feeling rew Married 75 years, too old la caught topperless during a divi- (now Lord Hailsham) advised Member
early in the century father's funeral service, he looks and glamour of als father He had to borrow look after each other, they are
slan.
Mr Leslie Hale (Lab. Oldham who said of the Irish Labourers' looked shocked and saddened, neighbour's hat. dumped into a Slate Hospital, sizes too small.
to "nhale rather thun Bit "If this Bill passes I see It was several West) and for the first time since their dignity almost forsook him, as
His famous exhale."
before the irish Inbourera Lives were joined,
Much ruthlessly he balanced it on his massive
future from which they have discussion at Wheat- been for too many years kept separated.
dome.
miacter though, turning on obscure points of law, is tedious out."
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İSSİ'MAZO DE MIRAY BÓNAIED BY THE MARAĞIKINY OF THOSE WAPEN
year
lopping up and down the country on crazy nonsense like that.
our namel For example,
In
that
pathetic, shaming-final chapter
in the lives of Mr and Mrs
TOPPERLESS
a
say,
NO
the
Astrid's death
that little
18. be
the throne.
Gradually tho
ond
grandfather, was not exactly his own master-was.be- ing fold what to do by bis father, Or by his stepmother? For un- doubtedly the Countess de Rethy has great influence in the Palace
He les in a men's ward, long- There is also levity, too, when and dull So MPs Invariably ing for the wife who was always some unwritten Commons tobon welcome light relief-even about MP who said: "Is this Govern
Then there was the Cornish NOBODY, could havo, guessed of Lacken, beside him. She lles in als broken. One day in 1847 mothers-in-law, kippers, Wigan ment to be put into the melling-moting there
more than women's ward, forbidden to see Socialist Member
he would took out an him except at regulation visit orange and began to peel it. Me and Gusagus.
pot that we may see who is to kneeling there again, in similar ing hours.
Kobert Boothby at once asked Loud laughter greeted this take hold of the handle of the circumstances, overwhelmed by Finally, he dies without the If thia
was in order. Tho query put to a former Food
Ship of State?"
a truly monstrous stroke of fate, comfort and consolation of her speaker replied that, as it was Minister by Mr Harry Crook- The Comish MP may have But in August *1035, Leopold presence in his inst hours.
Present crisis
AST year came the distreanng Bumbledora is complacently est chocolate in the House, it-House: "How much milk powder aroused amongst the Members, holiday in Switzerland, the king satisfied that such happenings was certainly out of ortior to can be put into a sausage before but at least the rest of the at the wheel. One afternoon, not not go to London for, King are inevitable. But do you feel consumo an orange. Neverthe- it ceases to be a sausage and House found the tension of de- far from Lucerne, passing George' VI's funeral service.
less, in the late eighteenth cen-
There bate relieved. as happy about it?
motorist found the king standing becomes a cream, bun?"
out of order to chew gum and shank, now Leader of the been surprised at the mirth and Astrid went on motoring episode when Baudouin, did
JOHNNY HAZARD
LORD BREWIS, ARE YOU TRYING
TO TELL US THAT THE CHILD GVID FROM EXECUTION FOR WITCH. CRAFT IN THE YEAR IBOZ ven
AND THE BEAUTIFUL WOMAN YOU MET IN THUS YEAR OF 1958, "ARRONE Y AND THE BANET-
I'M NOT TRYING TO TELL YOU WHAT TO BELIEVE/BUT I. KNOW MY DOOM DIT IS SEALED/
By Frank Robbins
MASTER, THE CAR OH... YES...
19 WAITING FOR YOU?) COMING SALON!
fiat cars
Model 1400
Shoring “Prona › Butipabalon
were того whispers. Leopold, it was said, was oursing recentment over British crilician of his role during the
Now comes what appears to be the disastrously crowning Collot of. Baudoum's on-pala, off-again royal tour of Belgium's ficoded areas, while pictures are. shown in the Belgian newspapers at the Countess de Tietly
having ¤ · wonderful · time. in Riviera sunshine.
+
The provent crisis perious
bato
and unhappy businessORTIO thing which friends of Belgium
to see. It le made the more melancho- ly by the haunting thought:
If on that sunny afternoon
1. 1935 Leopold had not takers ha eye off the road, for a morientary. glance at his map, would all Abo subsequent trignay): harkbüch avoided?