THE CHINA MAIL
FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 1958.
R
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
ONCE SIR HORACE WILSON FLEW WITH CHAMBERLAIN TO SEE HITLER.
The forgotten man of Munich keeps silent
EGULARLY around 11 o'clock the old man comes out of No, 24 Penrith Road for his little morning constitutional to the Boscombe
shops.
A
The neighbours know him well by sight. slightly stooping figure, often in tweeds, with a pale lined face, a fleshy nose and a shuffling busy step.
Few friends
But there is hardly a neighbour who can tell you the old man's name. He has few friends. He keeps out of the local limelight. When. astonishingly, he did emerge on a public platform last February to take the chair for Mr Nigel Nicolson, East Bournemouth's Tory MP, many of the audience were mystified.
"Who can he be?" they askeıl.
Who is Sir Horace Wils?"
ing
by
#t
It was a merellessly revcal-
question. In its way
At the last cruel word on a fant slic career.
Yet Sir Horace, at 75, ean warm himself with this reflec- tion as he potters through the twilight of his life on a £1,800- a-year pension, diaegarded, obscare and forgotten.
For two years before the war he exerted more intence on Erikh polley than any other elvil servant in this century.
Nobody can take those two tremendou years away him
from
Look back to a late summer
DOUGLAS
CLARK
cere and conscientious-chimed exactly. Together they would the techniques of kuus- apply
10 foreign trial negotiation affairs. They would treat Hitler as a kind of Teutonic Erufe Bevin.
Four trips
day in 1938 to September 16. MUCH was the background to Central Europe was lurching
towards erists. Prompted
Sir Horace's leng into the
Hitler, the Sudeten Germans headlines on September 15, 1938.
by
He slayed
had been clamouring for months
for home rule inside Czecho- crisis ended.
15
slovakin. On September Helein, their leader, anounced that this solution would longer satisfy them,
The
Sudetenland must restored to the Reich.
in them till the
To and fro he went, making no four trips in all; a sober, civi- lised, baffled bureaucrat strug- gling to take a tiger by the tail. bo He had ten with Hitler at Berchtesgaden on the 15th; met him again with Chamberlain at Godesberg on the 23rd; went to see him--alone this ime-in Berlin
on the 26th-27th; and Aruly attended the Munich Con ference on the 29th-30th,
This was the day when Neville Chamberlain flew to Germany for the first of his crisis meet Ings with the Fuchrer. And tho day when the 1me of Sle Horren Wilson blazed suddenly,
the world' unexpectedly, in
berdlines.
For it was revealed that
had gone, too,
W
A 'shadow'
he
result And the
of it all? Chamberlain and Sir Horace certainly saved the peace for a while. But Hitler got the
Sudetenland and the green light rest of Czecho- grab the slovakin. The tiger had refused
to
to behave like the TUC.
There were, there always will be, two opinions about the wisdom of the appeasement himself, policy. Chamberlain,
Y had the Premier taken Sir Horace with him? The British public had scarcely heard of him. About all it knew was that he was
Chief Industrial
Rever was red from the view Adviser to the Government, and that since 1935 he ind been that Munich was worthwhile; "seconded to the Treasury for and Str Hurice got a promotion service
with the Prime Minis out of it. In 1939 he became
Head of the Civil Service.
ter."
What the public did not But that was the and of his realise was that he was one of road. the supreme architects of the appensemon policy. That in
He retired from the posi
in
utter secrecy he had become a 1942. In the 18 years since then,
Secretary.
kind of "shadow" Foreign
deadly and pitiless oblivion has descended on the name of Sir
Is
Today,
Penrith Ford, Boscombe,
Boscombe, Sir Horace Wilson. Horace Ives in a comfortably. ugly suburban-type villa with breezily situated. It leads in to pebbled willa, a modest garden, a cliff top; and Sir Horace need a pair of wrought iron gates. In take only a tiny stroll. trum the eppessemerit
perlod
his
No. 24 to enjoy a fine view of address was more impressive. the rolling English Channel. He worked at No. 10 Downing
Sireet,
Suppose..
how
And itere, in the year before the Czech crisis, he had been constantly nt Chamberlain's S the old man leans on his elbow, seeing him more fre- A atlck and watches the waves, quently than any Cabinet does he ever, I wonder, think of Sup- Tuinister, reading and advising what might have been? him on all important diplomatie poso Hitler had turned out to be papers.
Just another union boss, What advice did he give? Sir different everything might have Horace himself has always been these past 18 years for Sir remalcod silent. He is the only Horace! What an cadices chs- surviving main actor
in the cade of tributes and titles he events of 1938 who stit has could have expected from nothing to say about them. But can anybody doubt the
FC: Do grateful country
As it is, nothing whatever has why Chamberlain placed auch faith in him?
come his way. Not barony. And meanwhile ali biz prodigious labour in the years of appeasement have been com- pletely wiped out by subsequent
The Prime Minister longed for peace, Sir Horace, for 20 years, had been an assiduous and skil
that
even
a man who
ful peacemaker. First as perma events. Dent heat of the Ministry
It is Labour and later as the Govern-
seldom ment's industrit adviser, be had his mado such an impact on a proved he could charm the station's policles leaves as 110m toughest union bosses off a behind to show for it.
strike threat. Time and agala In that single respect this "and - honourable be had mediated successfully in high-minded
ble industrial disputes,
tran
Sir Horace Wilson- stroll avery morning at 11.
SOME RESOLUTIONS THAT HAVE ALREADY FAILED by Cummings
1 will resolve to take a
more optimistic view of ure
SPORED
wit give modern paychology methods a real abance in the home.
1 will get up half an hour
resembles someone elso.
earlier for early morning;
, exercises to preserve my
The minds and temportments. Hitler malf-London Ex- of the two ma--both ahle, sine press'Bervíde,
* will take a philosophilest
attitude towards the time
il takes my wife to dress for an evening function.
MEXIL
WINER
I will pay more aftention
to serious polities. Uneses, the Colombo Plan, good works,
And upliit general
Lo
· 2 with he'kinder with ́jig
, because politicians are after all, buman-anë are doublies doing thate':
A royal night out-with jazz on a juke-box
THERE were a dozen rumours about the part the Duke had played in the junketing. Every- one wanted to know the truth,
THE DARING DUKE OF KENT:
by
Robert Glenton
And in many little ways the matched only by the curiosity
Duke fosters tho aimflarity.
So did Mr George Thomson, Socialist M.P. for tinguished in Dundee East.
#
One that created Bothe talk was when he appeared at wedding looking remarkably dis
Glen Urquhart trousers and morning coat.
The Duke is too young to have Ho went further. He got up in the House of Com- equalled his father's reputation for elegance in dress. Ho has mona and demanded to know what action was taken by had many of lils suits made at the Thames River Police.
He asked: "Is the Under- Secretary aware that this is one of the episodes of hooliganism which is becoming increasingly characteristic of the silly young men and women of London society and that if a working- club class football supporters' hired a steamer and behaved in this way, they would all end up in the cells?"
The cheers from the Opposi- tion benches were loud.
Duke
Rapidly after this the carmed a distinction which out
of the whole Royal Family he
was to share with his Princess Margaret,
An
cousin
was
oficial statement made about their personal lives, In the Duke's it referred to his party-going.
STATEMENT
From Duchess
ataflor's suburdan Uxbridge.
of the other,
And
the Prince, who holds firmly that military service ta life, must an important part of any man's be gratified by the Duke's success in the Army.
'Almost as happy as he will,
be if Prince Charles, at his now schoots cradle at the Navy finds the spark that will take him off to 303.
The Duke's shooting brake (arrowed) after his worst accident. The Impset slewed his vehicla
completely round.... A phone call sent the Duchess of Kent harrying to hospital.
He has been heard 'to criticise the fact that members of our royalty may not go into busi-
ness.
might well For a career he have chosen would have been that of
Otton Palace an announce
the first of June from Ken- gropher.
ment was Issued. It said:→→
От
"It has been stated in certain sections of the Press that the evening of May 24 the Duke of Kent was involved in incidents which are alleged to have occurred on board the motor vessel Royal Princess" and at a private house later on the same evening.
"The private secretary to the Duchess of Kent is authorised to say that although His High ne was prezent for about an hour at the first of these parties and for about two hours at the second party, he was in no way involved in, nor indeed a wi- ness of the actions attributed to hizz.**
The Duke was more blunt. "I wasn't He said afterwards; even darn well there."
professional
photo-
Not one of those recorders of high society with tabulous studios and fees to match. He would like to be a news photo- repber... a candid camera- man.
The
Duke has a handsome collection of cameras and d
dark room at Coppins.
And when he was a schoolboy In Switzerland he entered * photograph__competition spon-
ASTONISHED
At the comment
CO he was astonished at
the
comment. A he had done was to copy the late Duke's fashion as he had seen in an old photograph.
They have been flying. together.
The Prince took the Duke to visht King Haakon of Norway and to the Helsinki Olympic Games.
They have had many hours of the Duke's conversation and
for hig cousin's admiration husband is boundless.
It is hard to conceive that the young when the Duke leaves the dwindling Army, as one day he must that he will do be Edvised on his future by Prince Philip.
And not only is Duke loved by his family."
He is happy in the affection of the rest of the Royal Family.
is aunt the Queen Mother is expecially fond of him. He has been to alay with her at Birkhall in Scotland. At that time she kadn't a guest-room so he slept in a caravan in her garden.
Princess Margaret and the pored British magazine. He Duke ehave so many of the same signed his entry to "Edward tastes that there is bound to be Keni," Unfortunately he was a close bond between them. discovered. NeverthelesI,
The Queen likes his compeny won his £t.
PRINTS
And records
he
at her family gatherings.
TH Kensington Palace. 1 con-
TT
What will that advice be?
PREPARING
For the future
is the belief at Court that the Duke will go out into the Empire. He has heard its Draises sung many
times by Prince Philip. Praise for the for the open
freedom
spaces.
and
Generally A member
of
But it is Prince Philly whọ has the greatest influence on the royally stays on a Service active
Duke.
Jist for eight to 10 years. Then
onerous
The Prince it is who almost he is expected to go on half-pay THE Duke has his own suite at undoubtedly will have a deal to and take up more
Gay in answer to that question pubile duties." BU many people are asking.... of bed-sitting-room, what are we going to do with dresing-room,
bathroom. the Duke?..
's He It is very plain. Dark blug
military the colour theme and prints occupy the walls.
His dislike for the public gaze sigts was never stronger.
And so it has remained.
has gone to earth!
A TASTE
For white wine
Now if he wants to have a dashing evening he follows Princess Margaret's example and goes to an exclusive club, which is celebrated for its discretion. If he wants to relax then he can do so without the whole world knowing.
Not that he has descried alto- gether his happy youthful way
4
and
Here he keeps many
of his to describe Jazz records, and
A PARODY
Of cricket
It la lukely the Duke will serve as AD.C. to
governor- general oversens, especially if his new master is a member of the Royal Family or near to the Throme.
This way he will prepare Elm- seif for becoming 3 governoT= first general himself and so taking
Tommy Steele, that Bermond THESE two young men
he
met at Coppins. The Prince over the task that the war pre-
fair-haired
angular Duke was
А
sey teenage rock 'n' roller, uses one of his favourite express was alons "He is great, great but schoolboy and the
litle more than a baby. great.”
The Duke is also a fan of The Duke Louis Armstrong.
a sharp little cat but not so hep as Princess Diargaret,”. saya Armstrong.
A favourite tune
is "You're
vented his father from fulffling.
Be has been brought up democratically. He has, much
They played a parody of energy. He should do well,
It would be a monstrota cricket together.
shame if events were to con Since then the Duke has been spire to tie him for ever to the much under Prince Philip's froth and frolle of the social wing.
seens and endow him with traditional and inflated muni fa an Army which will soon have more time for scientists than for Princes,
They have much in common
of life. He likes quiet restaurants driving me crazy." He has sung....even their road accidents. In Soho and Knightsbridge and the blues with Rudy Margalls
a little place in Chelsea where
he eats toasted sandwiches late in a Kensington club. And like at night.
Checkered
tablecloths
They have that, deep interest
a number of socially acceptable in the mechanical things of 6c. subalterns before him, the Duke The inquiring mind of one is and has gravitated towards Tommy Kinsmart is Jazz-playing juke boxes charm Kinsman's drum him.
the debutantes favourite band- leader. Many a hand that will He usually drinks a light one day sign "the book"
in
white wine... alcohol has not palace and embassy hus scrawl- all that attraction for him. And ed a signature on the big drum. sometimes just orange juice and soda. He has
laste for
The Duchek refused to let But avocado pears, potato soups, and Princess Alexanden sign. cold meals.
the Duke said. “I can't be hang- ed for doing it anyway," and so made one musical instrument an even more valuable social record.
The Duke la rarely recag- Alsed, lle makes a joke of the
fact that he gets attention only when he is with his sister, The Princess is readily recognised. "And," the Duke boa remarked, "people say: 'I suppose that's her brother with her?"
It is a pleasing aspect of his character that it is almost un- heard of for him to murmur his name to a head waiter of usher.
un
He prefers the queues to the fuss.
A FAMILY Tightly knit
the portrait of a THIS is
young man. A happy one brought up in a home that has known much laughter and Is warmed by deep affection.
ם
The Duke and, his "sister inseparable. Together they take almost a parental interest in Of
20 Courne, as SOOD
ho their brother Prince Michael. cheque Binding them together in happi bis crested produces book then the panle starts. news is the Duchem of Kent. Haughty waiters who had made young Thike wait in favour client of some moru favoured have been distressed
hear ham say to his companiona: "Let's leave here ond And somewhere more peaceful"
!.
to
.
It is a very tightly knit family. Far from forgotten in the hus- band and father-the late Duke,
His photographs are in pro- minent display at Coppine. "His But he does not depart until personal treasures remain undia- turbed. Even the plano 'which ho and the Duchess used to play on many delightful evenings hos
he has totted up his bijl
Never an extravagant spender,
the Duko eta ani example to all, not been 'moved, who think it below their dignity to query a waiter's Arithmetic, m
-He has saved money over the
| years by this precaution,;"
In
hig
speculative moments the, Duke, thinks of ble magney.
Fie might still de in the house, And he is never far from the thoughts of his elder MO who adored him.
The greatest pleasures you can give the Duko is to tell him how moncha be in like his mother,
THE END
Keep your sugar dry!
NEVEN IN THE [DAMPEST, WEATHER
Fine granulated sugar is now
available in
new 5 lb.
plastic bags
TAIKOO SUGAR
REFINED SINCE 1884
а