THE CHINA MAIL" WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 1960.
The final objection THE
THE whole idea of private property rests upon
the assumption that it cannot be confiscated. It may be taken from a convicted criminal or it may be requisitioned for purposes of defending the realm, but it should be, in general, sacrosanct.
Nor is taxation, up to a point, inconsistent with individual ownership. The income is liable to tax, but the esiale still be longs to the owner,
But with the assessment of tax at over 50 per cent and the im- position of death duties at (say) 75 per cent, ownership becomes precarious no more than tenure. The State owris all but concedes something to the in- dividual a something, moreover, which can be varied at will.
A
No one else is a penny the worse off because the Duke of Normantower's gates are gilded. Indeed, we are the better off and could admire them (if we chose) more often than does be
No one should be impoverished by the thought that the Marquess of Bath owns all the treasure of Longleat. Someone has to own them, and why not the mbr to whom they happen to belong?
In all this sort of envy there is a revolting compound of all In these circumstances, all the meanest sentiments, mixed sense of ownership has gone, and with the crudest ignorance and with it all sense of permanence. garnished with the most nauseat-
ing deceit,
Valuation
Why should we strive to create what none can inherit, or plant the trees which none will live to see!
After the death, recently, of a distinguished author, the Estate Duty Offee raised the valuation
un
Were British fiscal policy in- fluenced mainly by a desire to benefit the poor, much could he said against the sentimentality involved in such an idea. But there would be included some trace of humanitarian values, for which one could feel respect.
The fact is, however, that his house by £4,500. The fiscal policy is guided rather by executors employed an eminent the second se; of motives, by the estate agent, through whose spirit of envy. Proof of this lies efforts this valuation was re- in those final brackets of surtax duced again to something like which affect the merest handfu! the original figure.
of people.
To reduce tax at those highest The Estate Duty Office then tried to put a value on the ilim levels from 95 per cent to 15 per rights of a novel that had not cent would deprive the revenue yet been aimed: a hypothetical of only a negligible sum, would value on something which was leave no one the poorer and proved to be unsaleable.
might save some ancient castles from demolition or sale.
Defeated on this issue, their next move was to challenge the valuation of the copyrights, seaking to x a sum greater than a famous publishing house was prepared to ask.
But those last fiscal severitles were imposed and are retained, ony sound financial not for reason, not for the appreciable The expense of all this benefit of anybody, but simply negotiation, the fees u solicitors, and solely to satisfy the malice valuers and experts, could come of those whose minds have room
only out of the disputed estate. for little else.
Finally, the Estate Duty Office
claimed interest on the duly that
had not been paid because it had
not even been agreed.
The idea of private property
is all but dead, What has taken
its place? Its place has been taken by the spirit of envy.
Sentiment
I finance based on sentiment
is bad, how much worse is a
PARKINSON'S TRUE
SECOND LAW
commeat
provides the final Harking back, and significantly, to the Edwardian fashion in dress, to the last period before welfare was established, derides the present age as dull. And dull, for him, is exactly what it is.
he
The final objection to bureaucracy ts that it destroys the bureaucrat as an individual. The’man CON- demned to spend his te with filer and minute-sheels has, broadly, two allerna. Lives.
Realising the futility of his work, he can cynically deelde to make the most of It striving for the largest salary and the highest honours. avoiding mistakes and evading decisions, play- ing for safety and playing for time.
Or else, being less intelli- gent, he can convince him-
CASE
self that his work is of | national
and Importance
that the country without him would be drifting to disaster.
career
which A
thista offers, to many, the choloe between cynicism and de- lusion is not worth its hesty price in terms of publie BE- penditure.
In many a vocation -- on arallway, on a ranch, or at sea a man's character is formed by his responsiblit- ties. In other vocations--on a new paper, on the stage. at the Bar - a man's In- tegrity may be supported and upheld.
Of the routine work of administration nothing like this could be said. It is a work that undermines character, + work that destroys the soul.
OF
A
JEW
From Rome RENE MacCOLL
sends a perceptive report...
Anyone who says the Pope is
nance based on mere envy. THE plump little man
In past centuries, to deprive a
of 78, with a twink-
man of his estate was the punish-ling eye and jug ears, ment for some of the blackest had been up since four as is his wont.
To drive him, as an
Behind the whole philosophy trimies. distinct ideas. On the one hand at reward of reason. Today these is the notion that the taxation junishments fall on those who of the rich may directly benefit have committed no offence. More the poor, giving them the food, than that, they fall on those who shelter. warmth and medical have rendered the highest service
of taxation there lurk two outlaw, into exile might be the
care which they would otherwise to the State. Laek.
Dangers
15
The dangers in this plan are obvious, but it can still be argued that the general purpose benevolent. It can be urged that people ought not to lack these elementary needs and that, with
Britain's chief asset lies in her
slock of ability. Other countries have larger populations, richer resources, wider territories and greater power, and to retain any sort of position in the world the British must rely chiefly upon experience, integrity, enterprise. knowledge and skill.
a.m.
Now he was coming to the end of a taxing cere monial which had lasted five hours, which he had spent on his feet or on his knees.
much of
But the voice of Pope John XXIII, as it reached the murmurous congregation, many thousands in number, under the
huge Michelangelo dome of St Peter's, was strong and vibrant.
Personality
a quaver
a puppet
is
mistaken!
By COLIN LAWSON
Koeppern, near Frankfort.
HE case of the persecuted Jew and the lone German Gentile who had THE
courage to speak up for him is dragging to a grim and unhappy close. With victory for the Jew baiters. THE JEW, 37-year- old KURT SUMPF, has fled to America to seek the peace which his birthplace refused to give him. And the German, 46-year-old MAX. KAUFMANN, one-time prosperous builders' merchant and taxi owner, shrugged his, shoulders as he told me:-
"I am leaving the village. 1 can no longer battle with the unbeatable."
From this case which I have
For weeks on end, the insults neighbours refused to talk with Just Anished investigating it is clear that in spite of Dr went on. Many of the 4,000 him. Haulage contracts were Adenauer's protestations that population joined In. Once there abruptly cancelled.
And his 46-year-old wite anti-Semitism no longer exists was a fight, when chairs and or will be tolerated, the law is tables were broken,
Martha, who drove the family taxi, was sent to Coventry, Only in emergency would villagers be driven by her,
20 years ago, I refuse to drink go" For his court testimony from dirty Jewish glasses," and led to a boycott of his business. sent the beer mugs crashing. He was sneered at when hả against the wall.
entered Koeppern pubs. His
on the side of the Nazi's rocial hatreds.
Toughs
Insults
His brown hair greying from Sumpt appealed to the police. Twice they looked the other way worry Kaufmann, ibid me: "The AS a boy Kurt Sumpf fled when rowdies stormed the little police do nothing. Indeed they three times tried to Germany with his parents dur- pub, and even while the sergeant have
on trumped-up ing the Third Reich. His first in charge was talking, a small prosecute me trek ended in Israel.
group gathered outside to chant charges of driving unmaintained is my son But his birthplace called and "Dreckjud, dreckjud" Dirty lorries. Even now
waiting to appear on one charge. he returned to Germany in 1958 Jew, dirty Jew. to open a small cafe in this Sumpf took his persecu. My lawyer assured me the case farming village 20 months ago. tors to court. Eleven of will be thrown out. But how long can I continue to pay lawyers His peace lasted three months.
One day in November 1953, them sat in dock. Thirty- to beat the police?" Reinhold Kazurke, son of a three witnesses were sub- former local Nazi big-shot, led poenaed. Thirty-two sat but oven there Kaufmann says dumbly when questioned that antagonism to Jews shows
a group of toughs into the cafe, "Judensau," he spat at Sumpf. "You should have been gassed
in
end to the highly publicised scheme of "worker priests" the factories of France.
NEXT comes Marcello Car- dinal Mimmi, 77, a foremost authority on education.
THE FOURTH is Clemente Cardinal Micara, 80, 40 years a Papal diplomat and now Vicar-
General of Rome.
FINALLY there is Nicola Cardinal Canali, 85, a thought ful-eyed president of the "com- mission which administers Vatican City..
from
Allegedly aloof
the -Pentagonisti and completely the loyal to the Pope stands famous Domenico Cardinal Tardini, the Pope's Secretary of State and a wise and seasoned diplomat.
There is no doubt that the Pope relies greatly on Tardini's counsel and has been unwilling now ailing Cardinal to let the relire, as he wishes to do.
all
by Sumpf's lawyers.
Cases are heard in Frankfort
itself in count irritations and hasly judgments.
"I cannot remember," they' "I let it be known that I repeated. "I recollect no insula was moving to Frankfort. directed by the defendants against Herr Sumpf. The matter
Local thugs told me: That had nothing to do with me." will do you no good. We But the thirty-third witness will search you out and was Kaufmann. He electrified make your business kaput the court when he said: "The
again." charges brought by Sumpt, are correct. I cannot lie in this court."
His evidence convicted six of the eleven. The Nazi's son was ined £12, another £2, a 59- year-old Liberal who best up Sumpt went to jail for four months and 3 20-year-old' Wehrmacht soldier got a two- day jail sentence.
The penalty
the-
Far from solving trouble the court case served only to spark of feverish anti- Jewish demonstrations, Sumpt was forced to move to Frankfort. But even here he was not safe. His persecutors followed him to insult and threaten.
Meanwhile Kaufmann paying the penalty of defending a Jew.
Wils
"I could not sit and listen to the lies," he told me. "But the case although Sumpt won he did not win peace. He has now gone to America.
"I cannot do that. But what shall I do, and where shall I-
"I have only one lorry now under contract to a Frankfort rm. It gives me a living -- but
no life."
No hatred
Has Kaufmann any bitter, feelings? What of Kazurke, who started the whole thing?
"I harbour no hatred," says Kaufmann, "Kazurke is a stupid. youngster.
"There are plenty of ex-S.S. the district, I men left in thought Germans had learned something from the history of the last 20 years. Some have --- not enough of them. but Although in fairness I must say a former 5.S. man, August Fann, who lives near decent enough to say that what I did was right. ...
me was
"But he is the only one." house, Kaufmann spread his As he moved back into his
hands in a gesture of despair. *****
"Things cannot go on like this. Where we shall go I don't know. But go we must."
-London Express Service).
Our radio
fill
'hams'
in space
probe missing links
There is no doubt that ALERT British radio "hams" are playing an un- expectedly important part in the collection of facts about space from satellites. Often, the ama- teurs are able to fill in some "missing links" which the experts have missed.
Never a quaver in that voice, These are the very assets which I reflected as I turned and walk- modern productiveness, there is the tax system tends to destroyed out into the spring sunshine no reason why they should.
In contrast with this, on the Experience is vested in families of Rome--and never other hand, is the quite different which have devoted centuries of in the Pope's personality, either. argument that the taxation of application to agriculture, com- the more prosperous reduces the merce. finance. Investment and
The Pope walked among the been alive today he raight well scope for envy. The discomforts law. Integrity is invested in of relative poverty are thus to be banks and arms and merchant
It is just a year and a half bishops so that each might kiss have chosen to be a writer for
the newspapers. since Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, his ring, but when he came to lessened by the removal of re- houses
the peasant's son who became Pintonello the Pope, who as a lative wealth.
the Pentagonisti are Humility For enterprise we look to our Patriarch of Venice, was sur- chaplain in the First World War
men of strong character By this reasoning the und- mining of established prosperity inventors, explorers, technicians prisingly elected to be the 262nd had sergeant's rank, is alleged to
and artists to
Now it may well be that all and determined views, But our men nt Pope.
have stood at attention, saluted is a good in itself, quite apart imagination, perseverance, vision
smartly and rapped out: "Sir, this side of the Pope's nature
Information is that from any use to which the money and drive. For knowledge we At first they called him the
act as the Pope's effect of his efforts and accom- they
The radio enthusiasts have mand."
Alted plishments, his plannings and Cabinet and no more. our human frailty all Popes, could be
tape recorders 16 their Thus a mystique is built, thus intentions for the future.
United States called that-but in Pope John's
It was the Pope's decision to sets to monitor
Fre- cage the phrase was used in the is on image projected.
But no man
becomes Pope extend Afro-Asian representa- and Russian "bleeps." sense that a Cabinet presumed
nowadays
unless he possesses tlon in the higher command of quently, they find they have of the space the most formidable qualifica- the Church, the decision drama-recorded pants
the official I do not for one moment flous for the task.
Lically exemplified by the conse- messages which But this "Interim Pope--and suggest that the Pope is in any
today has in 18 swift suggest is that he is invariably published authorised biography of them coloured, here in Rome Railio Research Station, Slough
the Unluckily, these losses are months set his stamp upon
in character-he is well aware of the Pope yet another story is
A bishop's hat on a black face If there is insumcient salmon invisible. Who can measure a Papacy, projected his personal- that in the second half of the told, to the effect that when in and grense for everybody, there decline in integrity? Who canity and propounded a new policy twentieth century his particular Ankara during the last war he is a symbol of Rome's receptive- should be nome for anybody. If enumerate the inventions that to a truly extraordinary extent. character is highly acceptable to received a cable informing him ness to change. champagne is not available for have not been made, the books
the 520 million Roman Catholics that he had been appointed
may be pul. Of this argument look to our scholars, scientists "Interirn Pope"-due to normal. Sergeant Roncalll at your com- may have tended to obscure the my
it can be said that it panders and authors, for skill to to some of the least creditable motives of which the human vigalors, engineers and crafts-
mind is capable,
The envy felt by those who are not in want is not only odious but 'stupid. As it is im-
men.
Losses
to be shortlived is termed Caretaker Government,
But these are the very people
A
Friends:
possible for everyone to own we peralize, Persecute" not many people still call him sense acting a part. What I do And although in a recently cration of 14 new bishops, most. British tracking team at the
Rolls-Royce, the factory should drive overseas. be closed and' the existing cars sold for scrap.
that
all, it should be drunk by none, that have not been written, the
But this is absurd. There can enterprises which have never 1
Contrast
be no sense in pouring wine take place, the careers not even "In the beginning it was the down the sink merely because begun? there is not enough of it. And
what is absurd when applied to
applied to architecture.
obe
sheer force of contrast with his
There was about him an aura
in the world, and for that mat- ter to many non-Catholics.
recently.
His ideas
get
Like a book 1 take that one with a grain
Humility, is doubtless a Chris-
The World of Science
by Puter
Fairtey
several ob-
has not picked up.
High value is placed on the amateurs work, They now detailed predictions of each where satellites will be day. In
"ham return, the band over their recordings. Papai Nuncio to newly liberated France, whereat he is said to
The "bleeps" can be traDIS have ejaculated "But they must
The creation of 23 new Car-lated into a visual pattern of out of their minds dinals, thus bringing the total blobs and lines,
on photo- Just as once it may have have gone
number to 78, or 18 more than | graphic, Am.
The other is a collection of In times past the poor family predecessor. Pius XII was the appeared seemly to the devout back in Rome."
prescribed by Canon Law, was that the Pope should always
maps of the Moon's surface, wine-becomes-lunatic when could work towards some reason-very embodiment of asceticism have his meals in loneliness, the or two of salt..
the Pope's decision.
I have just seen it done, compiled by American Army. does not able goal: to own their own farm, of mysticism, of cool aloofness fact that Pope John
Strict new rules for the All the scientist must first engineers for hopeful astro- to buy their own shop, to place He had magnificent presence like to eat his rice, high and tan virtue of great merit; but no, conduct of the clergy even down know is the nature of the ex- nauts. It is based on photo-
son in the priesthood or
inside a satellite, graphs taken by one girl to school. But and knew how to make good game alone, but nearly always man of outstanding ability, oh to such details as the style in periments
has in a friend or two to join viously capped for preferment, which they should wear their Then, by noting changes in the sérvatorics. him-often to the consternation ever underrates himself or
pattern of blobs, he can "read"
It is a fortunate coincidence... Rosa, since the invitations are to be at fault in their fudgment. The issuance of an edict for-boolt.
For anyone wanting to go to frequently extended at the last
'1 am convinced that Pope bidding Roman Catholles to vote Thousands of feet of tape, the Moon, probably Down to earth, jolly, gregar- moment seems perfecily udder- John is, a man of rigid deter- for political candidates of and miles of Blm strip have brain tested: shopkeeper poorer than the ious, he is always, it seems, the standable today."
mination:
parties which supported
been collected at Slough in plumber's male. To be a teacher parish priest exalted to the
favoured Communists. This too the last two years. Much of is nothing and to be a clergy-heights by some quirk of history. Because be has hitherto
The five
Was the Pope's idea.
It, like the 76 miles of micro- man is less.
But the major objective The anecdotes concerning Pope broken so many Vatican tradi- John bave assumed torrential tions in his term of office, be-
And I reject the theory, ecumenical Council, when
Pope John -remains For many families all sense of
cause he has proved so mobile, purpose has been lost, but with proportions.
and because he has already left today very widespread in has called for next year. OF HOW he visited the car the Vatican on more than 40 Rome, that he is a sort of The main task of that meeting mains to clutter pentry shop in the Vatican and occasions those nicknames, of puppet which goes through will be to undertake a search laboratory space. remarked: "That looks like some affectionate
typical.
POCKET CARTOON
by OSHERT LANCASTER
darling
рове
send much of what is attainable has now become worthless,
The farmer may be less pros- perous than the mechanic, the
results more observable in the children than in the parents..
for It is against this purposeless
life that the younger folk are tending to rebel.
use of it.
John could scarcely be more
unlike all that,
of his cooks. Sisters Paola and thinks those who promote him hair-was the Pope's ruling. wrat it has found
out, like a
wants his
'Death' pins
for
of fimed facts about the logo- A "kliler pin-cushion" the spherty Коев Into official flies is one of the latest Bri-,..
he records in the World Data fish Inventions getting backing Office there. But much re- from the National Research up precious Development Corporation. It is the idea of Dr P. S. Howlett of Other nations seem to have the Agricultural Research thirsty work," ordered red wine which "Johnnie Walker is the motions of authority for unity among the various Christian sects, especially
at all round.
while all the time the real perhaps between Rome and the the same problem, When the Council's pest laboratory
firat satellites vent tax all Slough, Theirs is not a background of
When you meet him you are power resides in the hands Eastern Orthodox Church. OF HOW when visiting a
rations agreed to keep every It consists of a flexible, rod, illiteracy, unemployment, sweated labour, and want. TheyRoman prison-the first such at once struck by Kis utterly of the five-man cabal,
Could Pope John achieve scrap of original knowledge from which dozens of pins pro- for 10 years. But at the last trade, The whole thing can be are children who, by comparison visit in nearly a century-he re- unforced simplicity. He has the
these supposedly this dream or even make a meeting of the international doped in insecticide, and each with earlier generations, have marked: "Since you could not common touch all right, and su been given everything except a come to see me, I came to dee immense kindliness and genial-
"Pentagonist" as they are bonent start towards Council for Space Research, pin retains & blob, Flies appar- ils eventual accomplish the rule was waived an eatly like to settle on them. purpose in life, The world they you" adding for good measure ity..
Because they get a strong dose that one of his relativés. "had are offered is unbearably tedious.
I was received in audience
NO. 1 is 69-year-old Alfredo menty then the son of the animously.
from the blób, mich - wesker once served a brief fall seh together with the other hewa Cardinal Ottaviani, Secretary of peasant share-cropper from Having no struggle for survival tence for poaching
killer quids can be used who Ukes to paper correspondents who were the Holy Office-a powerful post Bergamo,
Two new types of ails are Will The Britian housewife and being thoroughly bored or How he received a coup accompanying President, Eisen- indeed almost blind. In both
tional booke marked shortly--a-real-problem för ber; --De- invent a world of their own, and of Italian bishops, which, howes on his eleven country air eyel, but an culgaken contra think of himself a good cely to be on the Intekna benet? Unlikely, 14 are not
Wordie Shepherd, will leave a very repulsive it included Arrigo Pintonello, who,
dash just before last Christmas. versialisti VES
Op that occasion the Pope No Gluseppe Cardinal splendid mondinent to the One is a survey of the human Hewlett says. But they cre Upon the Welfare State, upon as chief chaplain of the Italian
produced by Russian tainly are, for har Latin, pleased and indeed flattered us Pizzaria, aged who li ofden Hintern Primer?raeli, doctors. It conta the whole idea of the tax Army, wore the insignia of
20388- Alffcán, counterhert. supported-- Utople, the teddy-Boy" Peneral."
by remarking that had. Et Paul credited with having keybght Da49 49Landon, Rafreks (Bernice), tailed ethil mapa
their surroundings, the young
HOW
a
Who are xinister five?
known
.
brain.
Brain map