Visitor
THE CHINA MAIL,
To
A FEW weeks ago, accompanied by the District Commissioner and
a police officer, I stood at the border between British Territory and Communist China. On one side of the frontier were some ten young Com- munist Chinese soldiers, smart of appearance, dour of countenance,
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1958.
Hongkong
by:
and each of them armed with a sten gun which they held in their hands Sir Beverley Baxter, M.P.
like a banjo.
Opposite them stood ten Hongkong Chinese police also completo with sten guns. Between the two lines of sentries was the middle of
a mere strip which was mutually accepted as no-man's-land; and therefore neutral territory.
the mountain road
There was stood in complete silence. A couple of Communist oneers stared at us and in re- furn we stored at them, Far be- hind we heard the shriek of a railway train's whistle. silence again:
Then
hnd
These boys in uniform
with each other. ng quarrel
the same,
Their language --svak their blood was the same. Yet, there they stood ready to kill or out of Le led if aisten spot furn
All around us were the lonely hills yet not very far back on the road there was a golf course marking the forward thrust of
But Western civilisation.
at
that frontier post a game even more grim than golf was being played. Eest may be East and West be West, yel in that rllent mountain road the twain met.
WO
collar of their dress to up to their chin, which gives a long, graceful effect of dignity.
&
from the
warring hatreds revolution and rebellion.
winner who
of
took us through 'a sod Uttle re- pertoire, There were only Ave the
or 59 other guests and waltors looked at the empty- fobles as if their world had disappeared beyond the horizon. The curfew was taking its toll. At five o'clock in the morning, wo ·were called for by a secretary of my friend Bustani and were driven to the aerodrome where he was duty Frisked" to see if he was armed, whereas we attracted no interest at all.
along the barrel of their rifles, So strict was the curfew that our credentials were studied as The Vice-President, a man of If we might be hiding secret humour and dignity, took us World in plans for a counter-revolution. around the stately grounds and novel, "Around The
As we entered the "Britannia” ki the course of our wanderings at i In fact, the next day 80 Days," but there is still a
at Busteni's be told us of a Nobel Prize we were welcomed by a young luncheon quickening of the pulse aa one's great
had visited the Indian air hostess in a gorgeous even the lovely ngination outpaces
home, the guests ta-
sarl-very calm and To compensate this, however, flying monstera of the air. cluded a young Britisher, Lord University and in the course of green
asked the Vice-Pre- Genutiful with a red spot on her they silt their skirt to an almost Our first stop was in Switzer- Norwich, son of Lady Diana the day alarming liftude. Many of land as a mere breather and Duff Cooper, the fabulous beauty aident "What do you do about forehead, probably to show her Her toe nails and Anger high
off for heeled then we took
Beirut, of the twenties. A few nights intolerance?" The reply was: caste. them weat
polished and Western shocs but for that troubled centre in the back Lord Norwich had failed "We don't do anything. We just nails were sliver
her lips were duly carmined. the most part they prefer Lebarion, We arrived shortly to halt his car when challenged live together."
To set these words down in But she was a most emcient sandals which was what nature after midnight and found to our and as a memento there was a Intended. Thus with their high pleasure that an old Lebanese rear on his head where a bullet ink does not give the depth of hostess and moved with a lively understanding that his voice gracefulness that was quite collars, the grace of their move friend of mine, Emile Bustani, had grazed him.
conveyed. There was an ageless frresistible, ments, the pleasant seat line (I had sent a car and an assiriani
★
wisdom and
thai simplicity
ssemed also
further He had
England 10 meet
£24. I am not out of my depth on
reserved JOOTS at an hotel fashion commentator) there is n
But how beautiful was the touched both the mind and the away than ever, The East was sex frankness about a well dress overlooking the harbour, As harbour 35
from the spirit. Beyond those walls there calling and the great bird in which is we drove slowly through the balcony outside our hotel sulle, had been violent death but be- which we were travelling had ed Chinese woman
the eternal truths anmpered the call. The wondera utterly modest and delightfully dimly lit, shadowed streets, the 1 was almost sorry to leave it had them
chauffeur seamed unusually when. Mr Burtant's car called prevailed, unmarked, unchanged, and squalor of Karachi would inconsistent.
anxious, Then suddenly at a next morning to take us to the As though it were part of the be followed by the humid beau- barrier, wo saw the reason, American endowed University. surdonic comedy my wife and I ties of Bangkok, the land of the There beyond its walls was a dined that night on the veran- Rodger-Hammerstein epic "The tample of learning set saldo sah of our hotel while a planist King And I
Forhips to all in the lime
iA had while cur luggage being transferred, to the launch and we are saying farowells to our host Sir Robert Black and lvis wife, it might be as well to ex- COTTO- plain that your London spondent and his wife left Eng- lund come time ago with the express purpose of going round the world.
Own
of
When our party had stopped lung enough to prove that would move only at our volition and at the moment our choosing, we re-entered the cur and turned it round. The last glimpse was of the two lines of Chinese sentries standing mo- tionless and silent but armed to ki. It was only a strip of road, yet marked the line between two worlds,
country
A couple of hours later we reached a splendid house, turned into #J country club. where I was to be the Luncheon guest of the British journalists in Hongkong. It was good to be with them again for the journalist more than other man le tuned to the aur- donte comedy. He is the jester, The contemporary historian, the man who light
ny
brief candies
and until it
and looks on yesterday 05 ancient history-the sentiment- allst who mocks his own tears,
So we ate and drank Lalked of newspapers was time for me to cross harbour to Gravernment House (1)- to collect my belongings cluding my wife) and get back to the Hongkong aerodrome for the fight to Fortnosa,
But who can leave Hongkong The without a sigh of regret? Leeming vitality of the streets, the sloping beauty of the lila, the splendid new blocks of flats which almost make one forget the airless, lightless slums where at mere hollow in a wall becomes
I memory lasts that long you may remember that I wrote of how Sl Lynn Ungoed-Thomas, the shadow Solleitor-General of the Socialist Party, was going to Fortnoen with me as my Porlin- mentary Pair. At the last ino- ment, however, the trip cancelled as he had to remain in London because of the political repercussions of the bus strike.
wee
But Generat Chiang Kai-- shek's Governmoit renewed the invitation later on, and suggest- ed that my wife should take Sir Lynn's place. This met with high approval from the lady whom I am married,
wat
10
Therefore let us switch back to the beginning of the journey when we drove from St John's the Wood to the London Airport to which begin our long journey
of to Lake us to fands legend and reality, to countries. not only threatening war but making war though on a limited What lies ahead That scale. was what we were going to try
find out There is nothing mysterious romantic about London looking Airport. The planes, 1ke winged trout, arrive from
or
The curfew was on, and arm ed sentries were peering at a
seen
A. PERSONAL CRISIS THAT FACES MANY OF MACMILLAN'S MINISTERS
Cummings
cher Majesty's Secretary of State for Supremely Important Affairs
Can Britain afford
distant lands with as little fussHEN for the first time ever Wight. the carefully camouflaged TV
as if they had been no further away than the Isle of
tt bedroom and living room in one: the laughing children, the brilliant shop windows, the fantasia of the streets. sunset undistinguished, walk down the
opening of Parliament and moonlight over the harbour, steps and become What Chere women do not like the rest of us.
recently, the faces of Her Majesty's know about the art of being But it is different when you
nothtug. go on ts almost
board a plane for thas Ministers appeared on screens in feminine Unlike the women of the Oc first hop of a journey round the millions of homes throughout eldent, they understand the world. It is true that long ago
Britain. famoils skill of concealment. Thus the Jules Verne wrole his
The passengers, hooking utterly cameras pann d around at the
earth-borne state
A British Crossword Puzzle
2
13
14
18
112
20
ACRO68
3 Inconsiderate
highway
men, one might say (4, 4). Not playing at home (4).
English panarest
9 The
(3, 2, 3).
11 fe makes things up (0),
33 Scer's tongue (4).
30 One's strength? (8).
effervescence (8).
21 Coming people? (0).
110
13
14
26
DOWN
1 Not clerical (4).
A
Not a cold war to many (4), Work to product soup, per- hapa (4).
6 Way in or cut (4).
Only just on the tarifet (5) Take off an outer covering (5).
Brown beverage (5).
12 Girate-like animal (5).
How did they look, these ftlen who guide our destinies? Happy? Genial. ly smiling Brimming with confidence?
what
Certainly that is you expect. For do not the public opinion polls show steadily growing popularity for the Tories?
Is it not then a near certainty that most, if not all, of these men can look forward to con-
inued employment in a Govern- ment job for at least another five years?TM
Niggling
a cut-price Cabinet?
by BERNARD HARRIS
-£750 of
thetr
Parliamentary
com- "always
Uving
on an
of Britain's 100 largest panies is £8,872 a yêur.
Craft." But numbered among them Forty four year old Sir
part-Umers, are many
For Toby never had a new Buit those who work full time the when
member of wis, a
the average is well over £10,000 the Government, And more than double
holiday a Cabinet family never had a Minister's pay.
abroad.
Sir Toby threw in his hand And that is only part of the
Jagt year. Today, as a com salaries. Against this, 2750, part story. Unlike the Cabinet Mini-
has Pany director, his Income Is of their expenses as en M.P. can ster, the big business man
Ave or six times be charged.
an opulent expense account. All perhaps
Trade.
But this trifling concession business entertainment will be what it was at the Board of wwent no way at all to restore charged to the company,
Now Lord Mancroft follows will almost HG at in town the jobs to their pre-war status.
will Sir Toby's lead. Others When at was given, a Cabinet certainly be paid the, same way.
do the same. Yet more will Minister's pay had already fallen And the use of a chauffeur-
St financially impossible to the equivalent of £1,000 in driven limousine will not be ind
A Government job. terms of 1938 mancy.
confined strictly to business to accept
And all because of the effort heavier tuxation were Journeys. allowed for he would need to The director will be included to run this great and wealthy To many of the men who he paid around £70,000 a year in a "Top Tat pension scheme country on a shoe-string. deshed on the screen that is to be left with the same spend- which will guarentee no drop in anything but a guttering pro- ing power as his predecessors his living standards when he speet. To them it is a pro- before the war,
retires. But for
ព End with twa comparisons, speel of mure years of genteel On his baslę £5,000 a year, a one of them has said, the cb.
taxpayers of poverty, of tryed cuffs carefully senior Mintter AF11) two sence of a pension can make The cost to the
the 80 members of the Govern "old age a nightmare,
The company
director has inent is barely £350,000 a year Yet the shareholders .of security of tenure. He can ex-
thelr peet to go on to 65--and, with Turner and Newall pay
directors £24.698 hia shareholders' consent,” well
year to Into the 70's.
payz
tox
concealed, of niggling domestic. children of school age economies.
roughly 21,000 in income For this 靠垫 the simple and surtax fact - many of the KO
That leaves him with just over members of Mr Macmillan's £3,000 to spend. Government are nearing the
end of their financial tether.
More and more of them are;
'
Not a lot
ucing forced to the conclusion To many people that may that there is only one way out sound a lot of money. But it is of their personal financial crisla certainly not a lot when
#
Minister,
From time to time. the com pany director can expect to in
tho crease his caplial through Block markets. I am not must- gesting that a company, director 'nutomatically cels on "inside In
to take 21.750 a year no a Minister's obligations are taken backbench M.P. and earn money into account. And it looks eveu less attractive when compared outside Parliament,
Jook at a low key Sgures. with what he could reasonably
the The country pays
10 hope to earn in the higher ranks members of the Macmillan of private bushiess Cablet £117,500 a year.
Two children st boarding In 1935, when the pound was school con easily absorts £1,000.
its present In addition to keeping up value and laxatlon wes lighter, family home, he will neet the Baldwin Cabinet
flat near the House of Com- drew
mons. total of £67,000.
worth three times
Most the formation.”
honourable for that.
ATO
Difficult
Too
minc
Is it right?
men
I
men
Kn
#1
asbestos
of
that
But it be has the bad luck combine.
the alareholders And to lose hla job he will get
Chemical Industrice handsome compensation for Imperiat
thetr 23 directore feer love of offlee. Nothing Bhé pay
and salaries totaling 340,410, that comes the way of a
pension contribution Minister put out of work in Add in Cabinet reshuffle.
and you got a total bill of more than half a million pounds a year,
Wouldn't you think the
who PERS Britain
of at them fall-timers,
deserve to be paid at least As thoms who rea #much
obemical company-sump of them only part-timers? Do you think it right.
such coriy
heary But he moves in circle responsibility should be where "tips" can be sounder and the poverly be?
Tio cholce la clear. beiter-based then moet. And he
Either
continue Wo is free to act on them.
A Cabinet Minialer cannot hawk in 'Government • run
any stock market a cul-pr/po/ dants and get it engage in
›clogged un second-reters transactions.
It the position of Cabinet who cound. dolearn, £1,000 a Ministers is almeult, how much year outaki and, others who worse it is for the junior rhon- con Afford to taka low
begning -Contrast that struggle with those in the £4,000 and £2,250 salarion Tho pay for top Ministers wan
Urey have FRIDAY'É
'CROSSWORD-Across 1 Peg-top, 4 Dasle, 7 fixed at 20,000 a year as long the moneyed daso be "could ex- pay bruckols-from whom to money of their own,.
pect to enjoy 1.1 were to take morrow's top mon are recruited On se pay the right,_rate Stoppers. 8 Honda, Reseda, 11 Imprint, 13 Console, 15 C8g6 8 1037,"
penny in the Bd. bus ride. from West- On the authority, of Lady for the job' und altmet lamps, 10 Dread, 19 Mulberry, 20 B-UB.A.-n, 21 Nottic. Down: Tilere was pot a
Low, we loam, that when
Bit el
brales for what I Poker, a Topec, 3 Prevall, 4Bishop, 8 Solarium, Sunset, 10ernsea sunt July, of last year minster to the City.
of oil are As a rovent mavey hha shown, Toby Low whe A Minimber
• bý・ far tha Sunbeatas, 12 Mechlin, 13 Cablen, 14 Old man, 10 Agent, 17 when Cabinet Ministers were
family allowed
-was- Important Joke in Britain, Bly-le.
to draw In addition the average pay of the directors State their
0
7
18 Procesa
which produces
9
10 Pully opari (4).
10 Ile's blue when about
salt (B).
le
14 Moko
(4).
10
Dam'd incanuyi (0),
17 Mad offer finally (0),
21 Glyes succour (4),
.
20 Took the chole (8).
20 Dally fish (4).
27 Proparing food for dinner?
(0)..
A hash of the loot
19 Quite quick (0),
20 Only part (5).
23 Bappers in control (4).
23 Each twist gives it (4),
24. Full of life (4).
Not a penny And in 1910, when the pound was worth even more and per- inal taxation wan negligible, the Asquith Cabinet received £80,000,
That is a measure of how the living standards of senior Ministers have declined.
He will have a par provided for his official duties, but he wi need one of his own for other journeys and for his wife's use. Ile will have to pay for a Jorge amount of private entertaining
Not even a financial wizard could make £3,000 mireich that far, Unless he has privata means he will be forced to borrow,
near
to
on
flot-
after
most
Pare
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