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CHINA MAIL – SATURDAY – DECEMBER 29, 1961.

GOURLAY

SIX weeks, 708 hours, 3,000 miles of travel in Europe. Here are some of the memorable moments and men described by Gourlay's perceptive pen

The man who said Germans hate uniforms...

THE

man who demands priority is Herr Ernst Lemmer and he is described in German as Bundesminister Fuer Gesamtdeutsche Frogen. You may read it aloud without standing to attention and translate it as Minister for All German Affairs.

The "all" is important. When

I met him in his large, well- appointed Berlin office he said through his interpreter:—

"I am Minister for German Reunification. That is my job. To join us all together again

Minister Lemmer beamed. He

is a stout Rhinelander, shaped

mething

punctured

like Zeppelin but holding large n

Asted

reserves

boyant optimism.

fraternal

He led some of it escape wisen

I asked if he had any concrete plan for reunillcation.

that could be called

"Nothing concrete. Nothing I can discuss. But I Din certain we will all be reunited in my lifetime. And I and 63 1 am at all pessimis- the I think your people and the Americans trad to estimate the Soviet power and Sittuener."

over-

We have good espionage system and I know better than Mr Kruscher what is happening in East Germany I know the people are antl-Communist,

Shame

the

"Recently I went Lt harde here in Berlin. I said to one of the Vopus the people's police-Shame on you."

"He hung his head. Next day he gave it all up and escaped to the West.

"Despite all the Russian al- tempts to stop them at least 10 or 15 escape every day by secret routes.

we

had free elections Germany would be reunited under

democratic Govern- ment."

I wald had been told that many Germans were opposed to reunification.

Herr Lemmer laughed without removing bis teeth-clenched cigar.

15 fur

זי

'Nonsense.

Everyone

Serious

a few more rubie feet of his vast reserves of buoyant optimism

There were also these other men and other moments.

Only one thing wrong

WBS

He was visiting Rome from s medical conterence as one of Spain's leading heart and lung surgeons. He told me

"I cannot discuss polities. know nothing about the subject. I can only give you one piece of medical information.

"My father-in-law is 09 and he is in excellent health. I'm over 20 years younger, but he has as much energy as I have when we hunt together at the weekends. He has many uctive years ahead of him."

Lord Home and other politi- clans, please note.

In THE MOMENT

Monte Carlo when I discovered the

any

who sat in a Roman pavement tard, and said to me;-

"To de

an actor you must remain something like a child. Sensitive like a child. With a sense of wonder. like a child. But immature like a child, And unintelligent like a child."

Mastroianni, I'd say, is the exception. You have to be more ог less intelligent to admit you're not,

Practising the art

of discretion

THE MOMENT in my Rome hotel when I found out by chance that my room was next to Rex Harrison's.

estate agent (offering "destr able apartments and villas") who has the most appropriate Dickensian name for

He is there to play Caesar in and the ill-fated "Cleopatra." member of his profession. I now know a few of his lines Printed in bold brass out- almost as well as he does, for side his office, it is! J. the hotel, though excellent, dià Pullar Phibbs.

not have soundproof walls.

Hospitality without blushes

He did not, however, spend his time rehearsing his lines, Fut relax Q Caesar, Mighty

Rex Wild charlot horses would not drag one word from me of what I overheard. And I pray you will be equally discreet about anything you might have overheard while studying your script.

THE MOMENT in Berlin--the unbelievable moment → when

who has im- after being invited to supper by THE MAN,

prosperous West German mortalised his name in West business man who talked Berlin, but in the wrong proudly about German hospi way, I'm afraid, is America's lality. I heard him tell the Vice-President Senator Lyn- waitress to make cut two bills-- one for him and the rest of the don Johnson, party, and a separate one for

THE MAN, Captain Jack Bilbo, R Jew, a painter, writer, un antique dealer, a lovable rum- bustious character but at the am A member of Dr moment one of the least popular me. Adenauer's Party, the Christian citizens of Berlin.

He then handed me my bill Democrats, but my Ministry is When he was being inter- without so much as a Teutonic backed by all parties. Since 1 viewed on the radio recently he blush. was appointed in 1949 my bud-

why ayked

he hadn't get has been passed every year become a puliticiún too. Ho without hesitation."

said. "You've got to love. the people you

you govern.

I don't love THE MAN, Guido Orlando, the Germany "

Europe's mest extraordinary He

that he agreed

me in liked prometer, who told Berlin but added; "Only one Rome about his latest ven. thing wrong. Germans live here

ture. Portable hidets for ex- too,"

port to America and Britain.

which

The budget

44,000,000 is marks or just over £4,000,000, he explained was not used to pay for esplonage. But he gave no details of how it is spent.

He looked serious when I in- troduced the subject of neo- Nazism in Germany.

doesn't exist.

was

always anti-Nazi but even those whu

weren't have learned the fatter lesson God has taught us."

น. "The

younger people growing up with an entirely

Medical

report

are on Franco

different education and outlook. THE MAN, the

Marquis de

What it

takes to be

an actor

It's even been difficult to get Villaverde, who is General THE MAN, Marcello Mastro-

them to join the army They Franco's son-in-law, who is also hate uniforms

charming good-looking and He beamed again. Expending anpolitical.

anni, of "Dolce Vita" fame, now making another controversia! film, "Divorce Italian Style,"

Since his visit when he handed out crateful of ballpoint pens they will never be called anything else by Berliners but Senators Or Lyndons Or Vices.

-(Eonden Express Service)

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Story of a self-made signalman

By Andre Ip

Thirteen-year-old Lam Kiu-po is a self-made signalman. At his young age, he has master- ed the morse codes with which he maintains liaison with United States Navy ships in port. His signalling station? His bedroom window at Kennedy-road.

All this started seven months ago, in the month of April when windows were opened to usher in Spring.

wi

It was a Saturday afternoon. Little Lam was just back from school and with a gush of enthusiasm, he pushed open his bedroom window looking down on the Hongkong harbour.

Make-shift

He saw the USS Salisbury Sound anchored in port. His interest was piqued. By means of a make-shift. signal lamp he flushed out signals towards the har bour. Oddly enough, his signals were acknowledged and back

came the friendly words "Hello, how are you The next Sunday, he was invited to a tour of the Salis- bury Sound, where the captain threw a party in hls honour

vikirer day (Lam has exchanged signals with over 75 avy ships and has been invited on board no less than 10-ahipa

Present

Here is Lam Klu-po doing a scouts sign USS Washtenaw County Photo by: China Mail, Photographer,

-purpose light, a present from the Eignalmen of the Ticonderoga, to conte Sfficers on board unul TE- ceived an

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