THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY, MAY 3, 1947.
America Through
Russian Eyes
N my time I have travell- ed a good deal and have been all over Europe. I sometimes thought I had lost the ability to be amazed. Upon arriving in America I realised that there was much of which I had no con- ception. Everything there is different-the cities, the trees, and the customs.
. The summer is very hot, but the hent is not European; the air is damp as in a hothouse. The olives are larger than plums and devoid of taste. People gesticulate more often with their legs than with their arms, and in the theatres spectators who wish to show approval whistle deafeningly.
έσ
Adam And Eve”
STAYED in Beveral university towns. In America a great deal. is done to elevate know- ledge to its proper height. I
by
ILYA EHRENBURG
"Only strangers go to war," wrote the French philosopher. Hero, in this shrewd and critical article, ILYA EHRENBURG, the brilliant Soviet cammontator who challenged and nailed Cochbols, expresses his views on America, and, by his candour and wit, Introduces the sons of Uncle Sam (and John Bull) to the sons of Unclo Joo. Ilya Ehrenburg, by these opinions which were recently published in the Soviot newspaper Izvortia, does much to tear away the Iron Curtain which dividos East from West,
I
The traveller in distant lands is prone to gild what he sees with the glamour of unfamiliar things. Mr Ehrenburg is too wise and too accomplished a writer to mistake the glitter for the gold. His mind is the candid camera that socs the slums as well as the pinnacles of the skyscrapers of the brave now capitalistic world.
saw superb libraries and labora- businessmen at once rose and art crilic, after introducing a young tories; I saw scientists
sur- chorused: "Woo-woo-woo-woo." artist to me, reeled off his surname, rounded with attention. But I quailed, but they explained and then enunciating precisely, said, in Tennessee professors told me that they were imitating the "Three thousand dollars." they were not allowed the right lions' roar.
of ceremonies at a to expound the theory of evolu- tion in the schools; the Inv forbids any departure from the biblical myth of Adam and Eve,
In all American cities there are "lions" clubs. I was for tunate enough to attend a fun- cheon at such a club in one town. Respectable business- men assembled there, each one wearing a tag indicating the place and nature of his busi ness; luncheons are closely as- sociated with business.
Before those present at the
luncheon began to ent their compotes and mayonnaise and hail with raisins, the chairman banged the table with a wooden hammer and exclaimed: "Greet ings, lions The middle-aged
}
D
arc In
A master cabaret an-
Naturally, the sound-imita- nounced that eminent visitors were tions of businessmen
present an actress, a senator, and innocent affair. There are a businessman "who has tripled his Ku-Klux-Klan worse idens, A parade of the capital turnover since, the war."
recently took place in Georgia. The members with a programme much like this I attended many dinner meelings of this supposedly secret society donned fools' hoods and took an oath of loyalty to the local Fas- cist fuehrer, whom they call the Grand Dragon." They then swore to hang several Negroes and kill several freethinkers,
Cult Of The Dollar
WERYONE knows that In America
money is surrounded with res- registered, churches and sects, there peel. Apart from many hundreds of is still another cult-the dollar. An
NOT DEMOCRATIC
PROCEDURE
-By "Candidus”?
Jorm
EMOCRACY – The
Government in which
of the
sovereign power is in the hands of the people, and exercised by "them directly or indirectly; a de-
-
mocratic state; the people, pecially the unprivileged classes. A dictionary definition-and one which should not need em- phasis in these days of so-called enlightenment. Apply it to this corner of the Empire, and it at ofice becomes absurd.
one:
First, everybody quickly chówn the chicken, then orators give lengthy speeches, then a female singer ren- ders
collection
1 sentimental ballad, and, finally, a pastor takes a for charity.
He recites the names of the liberal
donors: "Mr. Smith gave five hun
dred dollars." Everyone applauds, and Mr Smith rises and bows.
Culture
COME Americans, glancing nl the factories, the excellent bridges of New York, the automatle restau- rants, and the electric razors, are prepared to belleve that the whole of human culture is concentrated tu America. One journalist in Jackson said to me: "Rome is a dirty and ugly city; there is nothing to look at in 1-not a single skyscraper or a good drug store. Alter Rome, Jackson seemed to me more like a capital."
The very manner in which the tax has been rushed How is one to explain to such a through, regardless of almost man that the ancient basliicas and universal protests, is one of the palaces of the Renaissance are worth most impertinent examples of the skyscrapers of Jackson; or that, stores where cigars, recorded in a British Colony. disregard for public opinion ever besides drug
and
fountain pens, chewing gum, even sausages may be bought, there
also exist the mosaics of Byzantium
Herrenvolk
To revert to the remarks of and the frescoes of Raphael?
the Chairman of the General Chamber of Commerce (as dis- tinct from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce) the following is When Sir Mark Young ar- surely astounding: "only those rived, as soon as he set step in in possession of considerable in- the 'Colony, he read a message comes or who have made large from the Home. Government profits will be called upon to which was received with univer- pay." sal gratification. Hongkong was
MET a lawyer in Nashville who spent a long time trying to per sunde me that there are "Inferior and superior races. He reiterated the theories of Rosenberg and other dealogists of the Third Reich. Then The showed me the portrait of his brother, who was killed on the
Racialism
Ye Gods! A tax which the Rhine; he was proud of his brother, at long last to be permitted to misguided sponsors have pleaded who had perished in the struggle have a voice in its own affairs, would be the fairest and most against racialists. One expected that before Hls, equitable, is one which is now i Excellency left our shores, the claimed will concern only the foundations would have been wealthy. I do not deny the laid, that the promise which he truth of this special and amus-HEN I was in Mississippl I re- conveyed would at least show ing pleading, for it is a fact membered how certain Ameri- signs of being carried out. that bachelors earning less than can journalists had been indignant $7,000 (and husbands less than when the Yugo-Slav National Front $12,000) will not come within
Even if the particular form of democratic representation the scope of the new tax. This
will remove thousands of people who could easily afford ten per- cent per annum on the figures
presents momentary difficulties, one would have thought that, in the interim, public opinion would at least be respected. stated above-
I maintain that to ignore the opinion of the majority of
A NEW and most unsatisfac- Chinese is neither diplomatic tory form of taxation has nor statesmanlike. Swash- been thrust upon the Colony in buckling methods are not ap a manner which plles ridicule preciated in things democratic. and scorn on the very word Whether the Colonial Office or democracy.
the Hongkong Government bears the blame, I cannot say, At the last moment, the but if the former, it is difficult Hongkong General Chamber of to believe that the true facts Commerce chose to support the have been, presented. London measure, but, did not indicate should not require to be tald whether it had sought the that the days of non-co-opera- opinion of the majority of tion with the people are over, traders. After all, its member- no matter what the race or ship is decidedly limited-some creed. 150 members or 80,
It is more necessary than
As did Is Excellency earlier ever to endeavour to foster. in the piece, the Chairman ad- mutual trust and friendship... mitted that there are natural the rulers with the ruled. The misgivings as to whether the Chinese themselves know full tax can be extracted from all well that the now measure who should pay. He also re- opens yet another door to ferred to the Thousands of corruption, and many of them Chinese traders with connec- would prefer to make their tions, in nearby countries-but contributions to the Colony's i did not indicate what was their revenue in a fearless, sensible A opinion."
me and aqueeze-proof manner.
W
་
Government had deprived
About
2,000,000 people wib had aided the Germans of the right to voto, These same American Journalists, consider 11 quite natural, however, that mill- llons of American Negroes' among them soldiers who took part in the war (for the freedom of America) are not allowed to, vole...
I would ask a question of the Americans: Which Is more fair- to take away the right to vote from people with black. consciences or with black ins?
The Northerners know that Ne- groes in the South are deprived of political rights, but they cannot Imagine the fearful lile of Southern Negroes: When Sam Grafton, one of New York's brilliant journalists, saw the hovel in which two or three, Negro families made their home, he lost his self-control.. "Is this really
possible?" he gasped. Uncle Sam had
met Uncle Tom.
Symphonies-And Sausages
IF you switch on the radio you will Inevitably hear on advertisement for tinned goods, medicines or tles
in the middle of symphony music
POCKET CARTOON
by OSBERT LANCASTER
LIDAL BOU! FALS..
"In the next number of our magazine, I shall feel myself to be in a position to say exactly what I think about Mrs. Willowbrald and the Church Bazaar.”
BRITAIN
ON SHOW
BRITISH private enterprise,
backed by Д £100,000 Government gräht, has invested more than £500,000 in the British Industries Fair, which opens in London and Birming- ham on Monday.
More than 3,100 exhibitors will how the products of British in- dustry.
No fewer than 20,000 copies of monster catalogue were sent
overseas
or radio remedies. In many Ameri-abroad for free distribution to Bri- can cities I saw the following ish commercial diplomatic onkers, advertisement: "500,000,000 people firms who intend to send buyers to
trade commissioners and are starving. Be economical. Heinz the exhibition. -57 Varieties." Although I have
Here been able to acquaint myself with visitors will see:- certain peculiarities of this country,
some of the things the
An electric clock
that auto-
I have still been amazed as to whymatically switches on a radio set for
human solidarity is preached not by the Government, but by n firm mak- ing sausages and fifty-seven nowned varieties.,
TC-
1 volted my feeling to a chairman of a Chamber of Commerce. I was surprised to find I didn't understand such an elementary fact.
"If such an appeal were signed by the Government," he explained, "Americans would not belleve It, But everyone belleves Heinz, be- eause it is a really reliable firm."
Atom Bombs
a given progranime.
Furniture of aluminium
to wood.
Donded
A gl be shaped radlo sei which you tune
in by turning the globe. A light indicator shows when you | are "on"
Children's pyjamas with painted nursery patterns which light up.
Necklets
in gold and precious stones; the motifs may be detached to form brooches and clips.
An electric organ the size of un office desk with the range and tone of a 50,000-cubic-foot churen organ. Safe bathing
A child's rocking horse which runs and banters.
A camera fish bulb which can
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Offering You
JOSEPH GUY
Electrically it navigation bunys AM convinced that the American controlled on photo-electric prin- render is usually more intelligen:ciples. than the newspaper which he reads be used 10.000 times. but involuntarily he yields to a lot of nonsense. The day before yea terday he was frightened to death the atom bomb tests. Yesterday, by disillusioned, he was saying that "Gilda" (the nickname for bomb) had made a laughing-stock of herself.
In lateble-bathing costumes that JONATY make bathing safe.
the
Today he is struck with emotion by the death of the gonts and pigs which perished in the tests, since the paper told him in detail that a memorial would be erected in honour
of the dead animals.
He does not even think that perhaps his children are threatened with death from sonic sort "Gilda."
of
Red Stars & Stripes
I
selence.
for two in
A double-switch electric blanket
a bed:
Truc-tone violin strings, the gut being woven in with layers of silk and coated with silver or aluminium. Glass Abre wicks for cigarette lighters.
CYCLING IS POPULAR
A boom in adult bicycling in America has grown out of the war.
Servicemen picked up the habit in Europe, and back home thousands of men and women turned to pedal- Hing when gasoline was rationed,
Before the war, of 1,500,000 bikes in America, 00
in
GU
COGNAC
THE
CHOICE OF CONNOISSEURS
Produced by the Famous
VIEILLE CURE' DE CENON
FRANCE
This GENUINE COGNAC,
which is unrivalled for Bouquet, Mellowness and Satisfaction is
now offered to the Hongkong
Public by
JOHN MANNERS & Co., Ltd.
SOLE AGENTS
QUEEN MARY
KUOMINTANG
WILL BE 80 STUDENTS THIS MONTH
PROTESTED
LEFT many sincere friends in
produced annually America not only personal percent were sold to the juvenile friends, but friends of the Soviet market. This year manufacturers people, friends of thought and coh-plan to make a record total of 2,000,- directness. I stated frankly what I will be sold for adult use.
Americans are fond of 000 of which a far larger percentago liked and did not like In America. The Bicycle Institute of America Only the sick and impotent should sold 12,000,000 bicycles are in use have their feelings spared. Ameri- today compared with 5,000,000 cans have a superabundance of youth | 1935. and health.
Bicycle rental agencies are spring-
Whenever a well-known old- ing up in all parts of the country; fashioned red Daimler car is
the A timely Injunction from European flatterers, eager for loans, service
Besides, they
have many At least one offers a vacation rental driven through the streets of averted a student strike
Kuomintang authorities in Nanking handling the details of
at the trousers and canned goods,
checking a rental blise through from London there is a stir of oxcite-National Academy of Political And the Americans themselves point of departure to a resort spot ment among the citizens, and Kuomintang members, threatened to
Sciences, whose students,
mostly love to judge to judge and con- and back.
walic
their class-rooms as a Cycle outings are gaining favour they wave and cheer. For they out of doma. I know that they will receive in all age brackets. American Youth recognise the dignified, white-protest against the appointment of my words as the words of a fend. Hostels, Inc., said its membership haired elderly woman inside It Chiang Kai-shek, na vice-chancellor
Chiang Ching-kdo, elder This great people has great strength of which 35 percent pre bicyclists, and great will. Its history must be rose from 6,500 in 1938 to 15,000 as Queen Mary.·
of the institute, reports Associated worthy of R.
last year. Associated Press.
Press.
now
Drai this new production drive-encouraging absenteeism, that's what it's doing"
On May 20 this year, Queen Mary will celebrate her 80th birthday.
son
of
Operating directly under thé She was born in Queen Victoria's supervision of the Kuomintang
for childhood home, Kensington. Polace, the past 20 years, the Academy was Fifty years ago, as the lovely golden-recently placed under the jurisdic haired, blue-eyed Duchess of York, tion of the Ministry of Education she symbolised the young mothers and was given the same status as the of Britain.
other national universities. Chiang In World
Kai-shek remains its chancellor. Wor I, like other mothers, she worried secretly about A poll showed that over 50 percent. her sons at the front. Today she is er the 1,100 students who voted dis- representative of the nation's grand-approved of the appointment of mothers.
Chlong Ching-kuo as vice-chancellor. But Queen Mary is more than a Soven hundred abstained. symbol. She is also a definite per-
sonality and tireless worker. .In The students objection.to Chiang her girlhood in Italy she required Ching-kuo won -that- he was several languages and an Interest "scholastically unfit for the position, in and knowledge of art. She im- which calls for a man of high acade- bibed much knowledge of the every- mie "standing.".
day 1ves of her people from her mother, the Duchess of Teck, re-
| powned for her philanthropic works.j.)
As the wife of King George V, sheShe visited factories, chopped wood fulAllex public engagements at face during a local fuel shortage, made Lories, hospitals, children's nursery it a point to give lifts in her ent schools, trade.exhibitions
to any soldier'or Service girl soén trudging along the roads.
Reluctantly Loft London
But it was with delight that she returned to her beloved London
A grent London lover, she left, London in World War II with re when the war was over, Now onco
again her car is seen
act art luctance, conscious that her presence would add to the, worries of those galleries and antique shops
also seen in the little streets of East responsible for the city's safety.
In the West Country, she organised London, where she goes to study the salvage drives, and knitting parties agress of the rebuilding and to
discuss. domestic problems - with the' he personally midde 408 scarves women of the district. She attends for the troops. She arranged for a theatres and films weekly cinema show, for, the local
soldiers in the great ball of her re- She still deals with her own cor- sidence, paying the expenses here" | respondence-beginning work at 9.30.
In the morning,
Bell,