I
THE CHINA MAIL,
TROUBLE in the Horn of Africa
By HAROLD JAMES
PREDICT. trouble in the dusty villages and desert camps of Somalia's 3,000,000 nomadic tribesmen, Trouble with a tinge of red.
For the shadow of Egypt's Nasser lengthens over the arid wastes and threatens to engulf this three-country And behind coastal strip flanking the Horn of Africa. Nasser stands Russia.
The trouble stems
Unequal purtition
strategically placed
from the this of
conintry
standards.
(Egypt's possession of it would control of both Are Nasser ends of the Red Sen)
among Britain
Smalls), (1.250,000
France rnal
Italy (1,750,000)
(50,000),
For the promized
ון
1
The claim
Brital year.
around £2,000,000
But it Brilcin gues who comes In? Leading Somalis in Itelton Somaliland Loday make no bones about it. They may: "We would like help to come from you, bul you won't play we still look
clocwhere,"
"Elsewhere" is not difficult to Imagine. Egypt with Russia in the background has a lively notion of the importance of the Horn of Africa,
Egypt once claimed sovereignty ver Semaland strengthens its ambition in this area.
THURSDAY, MAY 1, 1958.
It may be argued that Egypt- cum-Busala are welcome to there sandy wastes. But with a Nasser-Kiurushchev combination at both ends of the Red Sea luciting the Yemen 'to "have, a Aden and threatening the flank of the Porsian Gulf Britain's whole position in the Middle East would be under-, mined.
From a Somalia dominated by Egypt, anti-Deltish propaganda would move southwards-to- wards Kenya, Uganda and the sources of the Nile.
Somalia may be a gigantic barren wasteland--but in hostite hands It has a real nuisance value.
What to do?
What can Biltain do about it? It can welcome the birth of an Independent Somalia, encourage" British Somaliland to join it, and promise financial help to a Scanali nation trying to sland on is own feet. And, not least, I can ask others lo
share the
Whitaker Wright, the man at the centre of one of the biggest Stock Exchange crashes, heard a judge sentence him to.
years....calmly he walked into a waiting-room
SEVER
THE FINANCIER
PREFERRED DEATH
TO JAIL
THIRTEEN Limes the
TH
burden,
The United States is more sound of the hammer -
Italy has echoed through the Stock remotely interested. historical
and sentimental nasociations with Somalia.
as France,
So
Exchange.
The traditional
aignal
were about
But whatever is done should The fact that
be done quickly. For though that failures Ily is not due to move out of to be announced brought Hulian Somaliland for another trading to a standstill. two years, she may well decide to withdraw before then. She has nothing to gain by hanging on the end.
Sandy Wastes
On paper, and by diplomatie
was in disputable, and Mr Bevin, then legs Secretary, felt he should uphold the sanctity of
treaties, despite pressure from some of h colleaguts to tear them up. For t Wes argued and with here was & some turce-that chance to right a wrong.
Embittered by the belief that
Already Somali students are they were betrayed, the British offered scholarships to Egypilan looking universites. Egyptions teach in Sumails have bee and
grounds for Kalian territory. for other
Arabic Stern- And bere they
ture floods the bazaurs, and with complaint. compare
the daily almost hourly, Cairo radio the lot alian Somalis next door. The blures out propaganda ogalest Prime Britain,
particular, and that people with their own
the unbelievers", in general, Minister. have some Somalla
Nationalm and religion to pisings, at least, of democracy. f::- and
Africa. Above all is the United Nations gether are used to poison men's
minds against the West. To understand the problem, promise.
plainly not The Somalis are something of the Somalis the Brives and the history of their ready for self-government. They
are pulliically "Immature, with Lind must
For known.
trained
competent teclinically, the wal
and. unable, Her in Africa, they civil servler, detenerless.
which worst alt
thetr financially, to many
United Nations hit the Italian Somalis,
bave
Prime ho already Minister,
legislature ad elections, that in 1960 they shall east of allon trusteeship and become an independent nation
This promise is fanning the Ares ut nationalism In British and French Somalilands, whose inhabitants feel strongly the three parts of
united shouted dependent.
although,
Somalis
Lelong to
be
L
Arabla, from
their forbeurs
centuries ago.
lekked
They are not Negroid in upper rance, but tell. silan pre Thin-lipped, with firely moulded features. They are also devout Muslins.
Windes
a
own feet,
"Greater
quilo sted on
گی رہی
Somalia
11
|A
It wäs December 29, 1900, med 13 Arms had gone
busi Over the next three days, the hammer runs out seven times maru
Ano.her Deven Arms had falted in the great drama of Whitaker Wright, the City financièr whose crash ended in suleide in London's Lil TMV Courts three years later,
In the upheaval, companie, with capitals of £10 million were awept into this melting pot of failure.
Up to the present, the British Government has shown of realising the signs zo
of the malter, But urgency now back-bench M.P.x un both sides of the House of Commons
it
into may begin to press
Two members, Bernarda action.
Tories and Braine for the Austen Albu for Labour, have just returned from the Horn of Before long. Whitehall Is, likely to hear from then.
MILLION OF
TEENAGERS
LONDON DRAMAS
by
ALEXANDER THOMSON
Ray In
He stored to light a cigar.
named Lake View the "bears" won, and he lost heavily.
His lossos
from
The shares nose-dived £29 to £9, and in the sub- sequent recovery got back 10 unly £14..
The blow fell at a lime when mining Wright's companies were
also
Tociny Throgmorton Street is two fortunes ងង still much the same as it was engineer and Anöncier, The Brst tied up in other deals, and in all those years ago.
while he was still a very young Bruncing the Baker Street and It is A narrow gas-fit man. The second before he Waterlou tube. thoroughfare with the Stock was 30. Exchange along one side and dingy alllers down the outer. Birect ong
To many it is still the street of might-have-brens, The street that might have been paved with gold.
But to Whitaker Wright, from Macelesileki, Cheshire, it seemed the tho
there for gold was asking.
Already, during a few years alay in America, he had made
AND THE MEN THEY WORSHIP
FAN-FAN in
gaol
By GARETH BOWEN
To prevent serious trouble on And walking up this narrow the Stock Exchanges, a City
Ju 1884, he syndicate day
Whitaker 'helped accided he could easily strike Wright meet his loses on Lake il rich again.
View shares
mid- in the He had just formed a new December Account, concern which he called the
But as soon as this difficulty West Australian Exploration had been overcome, he started and Finance Co.
It was not long before his buying Lake View shares agai
He hoped to snutch victory hoper seemed fully justilled. cut of defeat by furcing the The £1 shares of his company price to £25 and squeezing the were selling for £120 a time.
"cars" all the way up. flotations Its big profits ca
For a moment, it seemed as I and large-scale speculations had he might succeed. On December caught the fancy of slock 27, the shares were o strong
market gambits.
market at £19 17s, ód. But the The following year Whitaker next day, it began lo be Wright set up second com- whispered that Whitaker Wright
London und pany, the
Globe was in n bad way. Corporation, whose shores also That
frenzied night, in bounded ahead,
"street" market outside the Stock Exchange, the shtres fell to £7 108. The crash had come. The City of London-and
their
Boar-baitor
Ruin
Two years later he merged them on terms that brought indeed the whole of London- £10,000 of Deferred was rocked by the news. shares £760,000 of shares in the faced a lot of people, new company,
Whitaker Wright, however, Was in a fighting mood. He said the syndiente had let him down. A great lawsuit followed.
Twenty-three courses, Includ-
Even today both British and Iulian
heavily Governments
21-YEAR-OLD telephonist sits in Holloway Being nomads, they far and freely even but the subsidise the annual budgels of
Gaol, and maybe she dreams of a dimple, a low-bing part of Southern their respective territories.
Usles Sumalia is to relapse tantalising smile and a voice like melted marzipan, "Fon-worship' is a form of devoted way. The 350 members Ethiopia and the breiten cruntry
And Whitaker Wright, aged to a elum, some nation, r
muss hypnotism," the mind- of London's 88 Club (why "80"? | 61, had achieved his third of Kye's northern frontier.
Cute 10 her the million-dollar props of Liberace.
expert adds. "And it's not fair think of the 88 kuys on that | fortune. Egypt once-elaimed the whole actions, musi
and dream Somill east.
to say that only the less well- plano) eat, sleep But ia the 1880's salstarice in 1980.
Money-making seemed all 100 Nevertheless, despite the
The telephonist, Pat Jen-
educated child is prone to it. their beloved Liberace. Dritzia signed rerties with the
ahead, the British
Many easy.. He had evolved a tech- ing 10 KCs, appeared for the booked 188. 8d.nique which he thought couldt Rufus Issues (later, Lord-Headz,
two sides. Mr Asquith und Mr kins, president of the 5,000- to a club. Through the post she You can pee it at concerts when of them have chiefs'
Uemselves breakers who t
certainly presu 10
university
front stall seats for every per-hardly go wrong. under British protection, and in Sempik will
strong Liberace Fan Club, gets regular news-letters, auto- young brothers in
ing) were among them. the subsequent serumiste For Join this Afries, Italy and Fierce carved-Somaliland when the day of was gnoled for three months graphed pictures and evitations scream with delight at the end formance of hit season out sections of the tribal lands ticpredence dawns, for there for stealing £5 from her meet the star when he plays of a symphony.
is pradually growing among the landlady _______£5_, to buy for themselves.
whole settered Somali rage a
high-heeled shoes sense of nationalism.
The Treaty
Some of
Hella
Europeans. Boundaries were only guy que loita Unlled Somalia energes 1000 Js. Britain then defined
1 going to give up its interests in In 18977, the frontier known as the Hound was heated the een of Africa?
Ethiopia without over to knowledge of the trial leather: But this strip was and is-the territory
1
K1
car.
to wear
at the local theatre.
bulter.
Fan-manship
Fan Boom
students
1
"He's
↓
At the
swoon
Other
The syndicate, Wright said, had not only agreed to lend him £440,000 to most the rich December Account on the Stock Exchange, but had promised a further £1,000,000 as well.
Extradition
The case was the talk of the town. The syndicate denied that 1 had promized this additional He would wait until, perhaps, help. And after an eight-day
hearing, it won
Hore the drama of Whitcker Wright began to take а того sinsler turn.
Inevitably, the hearing of this lawsuit brought to light unsus pected facts about the conduct of his companies
of
By steady buying, his com~ . London Palladium Organfaer pony would run up the price of Mrs Bec Dexter says she herself the shares of one of its mining "The rock-'n'-roller with
has spent at least £15 on seats, flotations to unjustified levels. guitar the great conductor
Stock Exchange with a baton ...they both
"But, my, wasn't it worth it! The British Government is at a ten-party with Liber-
mass boy-friend. He's a lovely man
...always Kamblers would start to sell, as belleved not ze oppose, the idea ace at a smart Landon hotel. The star enjoys and accepts become the
they did not jan't doing his best for everybody. I "bears," shares
own on the view that the price of a United Somalia. Indeed, "a""
The case of this London girl this unflinching oxulation. And consider that this
Parents' managed to hold his hand for a The cure? would be professional suicide it healthy.
was bound to fall. Somalia" under some puts a sharp spotlight o Fessel "Greater
children's second at the Savoy Hotel re- should develop their he turned away from the teen-
Whitaker Wright would loy form of interrational protection world's millions of teenage La the
own individuality-by remem- ception. didn't difficulties date back
wer the solution which Ernest fans, the kids whose miss-
ogers who supply his bread and hphazard way in which the
bering their own, and not just but many of my members would with them as a cat plays with
They sitting down to television every have.
came early agreements were drified. Bovin zdynoated in 1994. It was worship of their idols is now
running mouse, afterwards The fan is always right. Even night"
ond asked if they At that time the hindet ad was Huraia who torpedoed il
is the big ocknowledged part of shinw 1 nch untraversed
out pictures, she's puzzling 1 times. business. They cut 13%
"These girls could be She
doing could kiss the hand that bad they had sold more shares than
varie neld cutside his group. collect recards, sques from head fer locks of hair, match-
1 del them. much worse," say many parents. touched Liberace!
Then he would move in and A more useful argument of course. Why should I get all theatre-galleries, wilt in the boxes, ivarette-entis, old socks.
force the "bears" to start buy rain af singe-doors Walling. She will wall, without feed out might be: "They could be doing the fuck?"
ing at exorbitant prices in always waiting. The fan pur-sitle a theatre all day for a shy so much better!”.
The 88 CIDG 15 mainly "Mums-order-to-deliver the shares they Al test sight, it would seem
sues a dream as substantial as
prep 41 the Master. She will he Britis interest fo
her own shadow. If she's lucky, paper her bedroom with HIS
and young marrieds." But mon had sold. eer out. For British Somall-she gets a quick glimpse of The pictures.
are members, too. They are led And the only sellers who
Mr Waters, Gni accountant, is tike lond
drain on BriUsh which contains
idol ns police escort him to his
"de- Johnnie Ray was once
But Big Business
by Mrs Dexter's husband, Al. could provide ghores in sufficient welcomes
at the end TL costs Briin grounds of remaureos.
keen." said quantities were Whitaker Wrigh: had said that Or a handkerchietur bagged" by a horde of girls in the
terrifically fone. The fan tras
September he had prepared a Mrs Dexter. "I suspect that he and his compantes. £500.00 a year in grunts for
an autograph.
Sydney. Frank Sinatra used to 'boomed the record industry to
balance - sheet for well us
and the other men wish recent expenses, s
to wear detachable bow lies to
In one operation, shares were rough Pat Jenkins got Liberace
fontartle heights. Colonial in rearly £2,000,000
Out of her £5 prevent souvenir-grabbing fons -
forced as high as £25 only to Whitaker Wright's main Show business today is based looked the Liberace, with his welfare sign her album. ta administer the Haud. But Development And
to from throttling him,
on the gimmick and the micro lovely crinkly hair and dimples fall back to 10s, afterwards.
It had shown a less of £100,- after the war Ethiopia demand- money. A subsidy to a United weekly wage she saved up
wonderful while spend £20 on Train-Alantic Debbie Reynolds was SO phore. "It's Just stunt (especially the dimples)."
one Somalia would probably
Many
when 000. Yet when the balance-sheet- disastroas ed full soverignty over it.
gil members of the Ipsied. culis to
In her scared when fans converged on Hollywood.
after another," a fan-club or-
was published in December, it room at Kensal Rise, London, her and husband Eddie Fisher ganiser told me frankly. "These 88 Club sleep with Liberace's things began to go wrong.
announced 1 profit of He a fluffy iny kitten
at the London Paltadium, that spontaneous' welcomes are or picture under their pillow. Ar And it was such a disaster had black bow lie gilts from she was reported to have ganked down to the fast squeal" keen as any young woman is u that brought Whitaker Wright £463,000,
shouted: "GO AWAY, YOU
Busy in the background are 65-year-old. Or Lee Librace tumbling down-oud 20 Slöck
An inquiry Was Sad relics, very much in the CHIMPANZEES!"
the "publicists." In their she says: "Daring Lee maker Exchange firms with him-in be used.
started. mind today of a young girl la Fans are steadfast creatures, sophisticated quick thinking me feel so happy."
Suddenly, in February 1903, an old Guaj.
Says a psychiatrist: "They way, they are the bavicurs of Why do they go to such ex- He had tried his technique of Whitaker Wright left for Paris. Consider the fan.. because search for the mass boy-friend, show business, They are sup- tremes? In cell today Anancial "bear baiting" once The following month, he hurried she (they're usually girls) obandoning thelr own in plying what the fans want, young London leiephonist may too often, might be YOUR daughter. It dividuality to obtain primitive Even without professional be looking inside herself and
In a series of battles in the of to the USA, only to be
arrested on
New amivel in costs her ille enough to belong satisfaction with the herd. publicists, the fons follow their asking that very same question. shares of a mining company York.
Once more London was on tiptoe as extradition proceedings were started, which Whitzker Wright fought right up to the American-Supreme Court.
wet-resson grozing
the British Somalis
For me it did not matter.
because Ethiopia never trearizleri
Although the work of the Hong Kong Anti-Tuberculosis Association is planned to meet the needs of this particular community. It is also part of the universal effort to eradicate tuberculosis. Scientists, doctors and others specialising in the treatment of tuberculosis throughout the world have made great, discoveries during the last few years- and the fruits of their labours are being made available to sufferers of this disease here in Hong Kong by the Hong Kong Anti- Tuberculosis Association.
The future development and extension of the work of the Association depends very largely upon the Annual Appeal for funds and it is good to remember that every. donation represents an Investment in health protection for our children and for ourselves.
Cheques should be crossed and addremed:-
The Hong Kong Anti-Tuberculdals Association and forwarded either to
olo Lewe, Bingham & Afatthews,
Alexandra House
or sent of Bouth China Morning Post, Ltd,
cost
Liberace.
and
BRUSSELS UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL
EXHIBITION
U.S.S.R. PAVILJON
58
they
a
U.S.A. PAVILION
| ANTANG THIS CAUSÉNG LAN DEMETRIK.
It was
But
December 1900,
"Well, the Russians gave us a vodka, so the Americans gave us two, rýo whiskios, so the Russians gave us four vodkas, so
the Americans gave us six rye whiskies, so the Russians gave us sight vodkas, so the.
pany,
com-
So other questions began to
But he was brought back to.. England and put on trial in London on January 11, 1904.
He was charged with making... circulating and publishing cer- Lain false statements about his companies, and with making." false entries in their books,
Mr Rufus Isaacs led for tho. prosecution and unfolded a tale of francial jugglery Usat amazed the business world.
The trial lasted 12 days, and ofter an absence of 60 minutes, the jury returned a verdict of guilty. Sentence of seven "years"-- penal servitude, was gossed..
But there was still one more... scene to be played.
Calmly, Whitaker Wright moved to the front of the dock rnd addressed the court as if it were a shareholders' meeting, saying:
All I can say la-that I am innocent of any intention to deceive anyone,”
He turned and walked out to a near-by waiting-room with a show of complete unconcern...
Friends and legal advisem¦ gathered round and began diew cussing an appeal. Whitaker Wright, Bill unruffled, asked for a glass of water. Then to a cigar.
He started to light the_clgar, and dropped to the door. Thirty. minutes later he was dead.
A tablet of cyanide of poltz- alami had finally rung down the curtain on The drama of, Whitaker Wright.
10-(landon Kiprem geroler),