I
THE CHINA MAIL, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1960,
THE BIG SQUEEZE
BY JAK
BRITISH CUA
“MIND YOU, SIR, WE'VE HAD TO MAKE ONE OR TWO
CHANGES."
Lundun Ezur Serviet
The singing lass who became a national symbol
A peer told her how
FOUR months before, the start of the Second
World War a woman lay ill in hospital. While she lay there the letters came in sacks, in crates -half a million letters of sympathy from all over the world.
The Queen sent a message. Lord Derby sent red roses. So did Clement Altlee, Leader of the Opposition. But the sick woman was no figure from high politics, nor was she from the Court. Indeed, she had been born above a fish-and-chip shop in a Northern town, a not very pretty girl whose father earned less than 30s. a week and whose mother had started work in a mill at the age of 10,
Who was she? Well, let us look at a cartoon by Strube which appeared at that time,
It showed Strubo's "Little Man," with bowler hut and brave muustache, gozing up at a hospital window. and holding + bunch of flowers. The cap- tion neoded only two words: "Our Gracie,"
GRACIE FIELDS - (lo you remember the ringing magic of that name then? Do you rémember her in. credible status as symbol?
Ambition
national
In the room above the fisk-and-chip shop little Gracie's mother was de- voured by two ambitions.
FIRST: "Ve're hot stop ping like this we're going don in 'world, it net downl
by QUENTIN
CREWE
But in the end it was always her mother who went. At last Gracle got a contract at £5 week. She started in a revue with a comedian. Archle Pitt..
A star...
eat
to
soup
Her rest listed
Xix werks. cheering could start, he held up The
Gracie ws war
his hand. "I have England's came. country. By determined to work Jur her Cracle Fields here. I am going HOW she was to ask her to sing the Lord's married again in Monty Banks, Prayer,“ an Italia by birth
"He led me to a small wooden
This foot was to be the cause box. I got on to it. There was ef one of the most distressing a movement as of a great seam episodes in Gracie's life. She every man-had taken off his cap. had married Monty for love. Her love and her loyalty were to be dark jumple surrounded us, but "The matted preea of the tall cruelly tested. Sh had come above our clearing the noon sun oop. Was she to be thrown wred down from the brilliant down?
sky on to 25,000 bure, bowed One day Lard Castleroase heads. Jolephoned from Ireland, "Tell Monty he must come to Eire ut
glup 'Our in Heaven free,
nuto America, Italy Father, which art was about
Because to enter the war.
of my cold i Monty would be interned,
had to sing a low key, but there sous sound except m As a compromise between her voice. The hushed thousands duly to her country and to her of men in front of me seemed husband, Gracle reed to no rien to have stopped breathing,
...
started
to
and sing for the Navy League Each note and word of the in Canada. She then took a prayer carried across the utter werk's holiday in California To stillness of the Tows of bent see her parents.
heads till it was Loxt in the
jungle behind them.
It is the most privileged and cherished moment of my life.
For nine years she worked with him, turing the country.
The consequence was shame playing for five of them is a --and tragedy. Gracie writes:- show Pitt hul written. Then she married han.
"At the end of that week the storm broku Every British "I treamire the letters from reuspaper screamed that I had the many soldiers who have deseried my own country and written to me since, telling me taken all
*LI Thoney and it was their most wonderful 100,000 worth of jewellery out moment too." of England, I was a troitor
I'd rus away.”
I made little difference. In fact they came back from their honeymoon, early to get on with the show. That was all they
really shared.
Another year and a half and they were booked for the Weal End. Overnight she was a star. Within weeks she was earning C200 a week at the music hall.
Surrender
The war over, Gracle had her rest. Her husband died and she lived on alone in her house in Capri, Finally she married again, this time a mun who had nothing to do with the stage, quiet Bessarabian whom Gracie or notleed when he came to mend her gramophone.
C100 a straight play, £300 Yet were people really so Borls Alperovici 1s at the Cafe Royal, and making hostile as that? I have been gramophone records during the looking back at the newspapers of the time. There is hardly a murmur against Gracie in any of them. Was it not perhaps &
private, personal tragedy?
Was it not her own, intense Britishness that was troubling hory
SECONDLY: she was stage-struck. She had wanted to be an actress. day. Now she was determined
But success was ONC thing that all her children The life it brought was another. should go on. The stage. A 20-room house In lainpstead with a allded it and a marble Gracia's mother plotted bathroom for every bedroom, a
mauve and goki Sho took a job "What are you building, lass- ballioom endlessly. scrubbing the stage floor of a maternity home?" asked her the Rochdale Hippodrome, father), chauffeur-driven corn, She made her husband two cooks.
move into a house opposite
a theatrical boarding house.
There she made
Gracle sing at the top- of her voice all day in the hope that one of the artists would hor.
hear
Then the war
Archle Plit loved it. Grazio hated it. Sho alung simple waya alte had
to the learned
In her childhood. The simple ways which had made hor loved.
bad
When war began she shrilled "Wish me luck you wave me goodbye." Hers,
America
A
There she lives sill. Happy. Invependent, unchanged in a way from the girl who had worked in the mill at the age of 12, whose
photograph had cumme back from
agent strawied with the
worda "Hardly autteble." Not all that different from the young woman
had droadod big dinners.
Sensible
had been the voice of patriot- ism. But now she found her- self being waved goodbye, nol on the way to the Front, but In the opposite direction..
"I went to a big dinner one. But even if most of the taunts were in her own Imagination, night, and saw the host, a Lord she answered them. Atter Somebody, breaking up his
Canada,
she bread and patting it into hits flogged herself round the battle soup. I was so astonished that fields of the world-silli singing, blurted out; "They told me still cheerod, Al length Archie and Gracie
nover to do that, but you're tlking it' the rusa parted. Gracle Fieide couldn't
She never resteg until, in the stop making money. In worked. A music hall singer he was being paid £60,000 for 12 charge took her before the 'Good Lonk, don't mind what
time depths of the jungle, the general
"Un was sensible 'tlist, cltop. hear her. Gracie's fim In Hollywood. The strain.
*If you men, stepped forward and said: they say' he told me, career bogan. Small suc of her life told. In May 1933 At last I can tell you the only like bread in your soup put the
went thing you want to know. The blanicet bread "în.". cesses, ghastly, failures. It Gracle, desperately, was for months touch and into hospital for an operation, Japs liave surrendered,"
"I put the blasted, bread in. go whether Gracie would Even when she recovered: she In the "accond's alience of It Aremed easy after that. „Pveli have to work in the mill;
was told to rest for two years. Wonderment, and before the done it ever since."
ald
Incredibly
.
ΟΝ
Does Britain have
an enemy in Nixon's
camp?
N November 8 seventy million men and women will make one of the great decisions of the century.
Each in a curtained booth will face a panel of small metal levers. Each will operate the levers as if making a selection of the wares in some new wonder vending mac-
hine.
But they will not be selecting groceries or sweets. They will be selecting the next President al the United States.
That will be a momenious. day for the world. Yet aced be an anxious day for 45
in Britain't Need there be ung
-by- ROBERT
PITMAN
apprehension that the man something essentially Brilish
selected by those levers night, bout through error or weakness, bring trouble on America's allies?
Well, look at the two candidates, Can there be any doubts about courage and ability?
for disciplining
rica's Attien
Cummings
Yet has Lodge's British man- ner inclined him towards Britain in his policies? The chief answer is: Not at all, For it is really not only Khrushchev who has their felt the edge of Lodge's brusque hauteur at the United Nations. Britain, France, and Belgium, snap the link between Britain too, have felt it painfully. One and America? commentator has written:--
Just dwarfs!
itl
Truc, among 1 Coterie ol would-be intellectuals America Itself It is fashionable to talk of them as if they were 'a pair of smooth and polished dwarfs strulting in the shadow
of the giant Piesidents of ihu pusi.
CABOT
'That, suddenly, is what seems
to have been happening during
Ap-
It may be said that as Vice- the presidential campaign. The fact is that Lodge has President he would have little parently without consulting made himself unpopular with
power; that, in the American Nixon, Lodge has promised that one American ally after an Constitution, the Vice-President a seat in Nixon's Cabinet will other. Probably o leading remains a functionless dummy be kept for a Negro. American politician is so dis-ly jerked into importance if frstated aniony America's
[ur
still
Although criticised friends as this tall, rich and the President dies ors in the
himself under endangering the campaign with case of Nixon handsome
aristocrat from Eisenhower if the President is such a blundering suggestion, Bul such view shows tule
Boston," knowledge of America's history.
crippled by -health, Neither he has repeated the promise. But, it may be sak, surety is likely to happen with Nixon
Clearly the alm of winning Thut history would have been Lodge has been merely his Gov-as President.
Afro-Asian good will glorious indeed if the calibre of ernment's mouthpiece al the presidential candidates had United Nations? Can ha never fallen below the standard honestly be blamed fur speak- of intellect and vigour set by ing and voting according to his Richard Nixon and John Ken- instructions? nedy.
Of course
121
His promise
obsesses Him.
Yel, of course,
to
appearances e not everything. It may be Yet here is the extraordinary that Richard Nixon. is playing aet about Lodge's present polities with his usuni brilliance. he could not be status
Mixon Richard
has it may be that he wishes True, Nixon is accused by his blamed-if it were just a matter already indicated that, he pro- cash in temporarily on Lodge's erities of being a devious man of following instructions. Yet poses to change the customary television reputation 35 A of ambition, Bul the
same let us look back four years to position of Vice-President Bghter; that he does not mind charge was levelled at Roosevelt the night of November 24, when Lodge's favour,
using him as bait for the Negro -and, at times, justly, Devious- the General Assembly took its ness is part of the essential art most crucial vote on the Suez minded Time magazine, he has
In the words of Republican- vele.
Perhaps, if Nixon becomes of which Roosevelt was supreme incident.
promised give Lodge "more President, Lodge will find him- master--the art of politics.
For three weeks British and powers than any Vice-President sell pushed into the background isolated instances he employed French troops had been the in history," and to make him once more. that art against Britam's in-
centre of world debate follow the director of all поп- terests. But for the most part ing their landing al Port Said. Britain and the world are still Sir Anthony Eden was in immense debt to the masterly his absence the British Goven- skill of Roosevelt.
ment decided that the
For a man with a record of FRIENDS IN BRITAIN WHEN How foolish, then, lo fear the into Suez had failed. Yet how hostility to Britain to have such, same quality in Nixon.
should Britain and France ex- vast powers could be disturbing THE VOTING LEVERS BEGIN tricate themselves? With indeed. Yet can Nixon's dignity, and with prestige still posal be taken seriously? Would TO CLICK AFTER DAWN ON infact? Or in humiliation? ho really be prepared to let his NOVEMBER 8.
The General Assembly was second-in-command make
'Defeatist
Kennedy too is subject to an accusation which concerns Britain, it is stated that his father, the former ambassadur, was defeatist and' anti-Britizli during
the
and war;
is hinted that some of the anti- Britishncas may have rubbed uff on the son.
باند
Yet this is a smear which pro- coeds simply from ignorance and misunderstanding. The plain truth is that ex-ambassa – dar Kennedy was a good friend of Britain, and that we lind his son's friendship more valuable.
mey CYRIL
Can we then. view the choice
faced with two choices:
in
An Afro-Asian resolution called for atr Anglo- French withdrawal "forth- with," without any return concessions being asked from Nosser,
A
Belgian
amendment called merely for "early" withdrawal,
In Washington the Stalc Department decided to e240 maiters for Britain and France by supporting the Belgians.
In London the American
of one
leaders
military aspects of the cold war THAT CERTAINLY MUST
mic, and propagandistic,"
political, diplomatic, econo- BE THE HOPE OF AMERICA'S
running?
pro-
the
-(London Express Service,},
UNO finds 47 clues
to Congo's
ghost
train
Loopoldville.
on November 8 with equani Ambassador, Winthrop Aldrien, mity? Can we be content that, pussed on the good news and, whatever the reult may be, it in the words
account, will present Britain with a firm "he and the British friend and the West with able went to bed rejuicing."
The next morning, however, and devoted leadership?
There is, believe, only
in the newspapers one they read (thing which could make any that the uncompromising Afro-
resolution one hestate for even a moment Aslan
had been over the answer, I refer to the Passed with Henry Cabot Lodge name which will appear imme- voting in favour.
PSST! Anyone bought any good trains lately? That hoary wartime joke about the spiva is Whatever had happened? diately under Nixon's by the levers in, the polling booths-the Hai Lodge not received his being asked in dead earnest by United Nations name of HENRY CABOT Etructions from the State De-
investigators in darkest Congo, LODGE, the Repubilean candi- partment? date for Vice-President.
He had received them all
with inquiries about For after a month's frullles med For almost eight years Lodge's right. But he refused to accept search the first tangible elus to it. But it had vanished handsome, firm-lined face has them. He pointed out thal
Inle of the Lulusbourg merely as If the cannibals had dominated American television President Eisenhower had given Ghost Train has turned up in eaten it screens whenever the Security him Cabinet ratt (Lodge o
Then a United Nations piflcer Council has been in session. Jed the campalin to draft the shape of 47 brand-new
for the presidency Jeeps heading a victory parade at Kamina tuned in by chance to a broadcast from Elisabeth- the United Nations his every when he was st just a in Katanga.
I frat stumbled on the story viile, the capital of Thombo's word and gesture have been general). As a member of the
breakaway State of Katanga. followed with the admiration Cabinet, Loxige argued, he of the train that vanished when
The commentatormentioned accorded 10 the jabs of a would take Instructions only flew to Lalumbourg Just over the highly interesting fact that favourile heavy-weighi de from the President.
in month ago,
1947 Joops were leading the Railwaymen told me how the parade. train thind set out for Kamina......... and had vanished Inic thin air-
driver, fireman,
As America's Ambassador ut Eisenhower
fonding a title for his country.
He is tall, athletic.' Ile looks
far younger than his, 40 years.
New friends
The
He is a devoled family” man, So Lodge phoned the Pres-complete with
·with eight ́grandichlidren- dent. He Was answered by and guard. throo of them conveniently Shorman Adams, the President's Roman Catholics to balance la alde. Adams told. own Episcopalianism."
"Tha 'matter is not important Belgian base
Negotiations
24
The ofcer Aew, to Elisabeth........ ville. Sure enough, there were his Jeeps. What had happened He has six senators among enough to justify bothering the
was that some black hon had Prezident, Make up your mind It was hauling a load of 47 changed, the signalo on the long his ancestors.
Even his descent from two of for yourself.”
the haul to Kamių, M Jeeper and supplies for Thus Cabot Lodge made up United Nations troops stationed
Neither Mr Tehombo, nor his Boston's most notable familles,
and the Lodges hle mind. To win favour mount the great, ex-Belgian base Ministere know who could have the Cabots though rated an electoral dis- the Afro-Asians he humiliated Cepot there
dong such
thing. They has advantage among some. Ameri- Britains France. He
It should have come back thought the Jeeps were a pre- 1 can electors-ought 10.com-afnce aid: "The hard action
we had to take with respect in with tons of badly needed cont, Rent. They still have therm
Inntend it disappeared some». For it is kaki, that Henry our closest friends earned UA Cabol Lodge has Inherited in credit throughout Africa
and where among the banana trees
and palm clumps of the Knoi somewhat distant andlordly Aala “ Inannar from his tong line. or ¦ Could Lodge ever repeat that atangs border, important incestors,
Įportotenation if he came to Planes kept an eye open Phat aristocratic quality. It power with Richard Nixon? in for it. Patrols sought new
thought in Amerida," has la crisis ́ could be 0100 moralot Telephone linee; "ham-
mend him to the Brillah.
I
Negotiations are in progresg of now to get them handed back to their rightful owners. Lut the traing An. That to 'mains' elriette! the Lulusbourg Chost Train. And no ope can toy what happened to the crew,"
-(London Kayven Nutvice),