THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 15, 1989
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"WE STILL HAVE OUR FREEDOM" SAYS THE U.S. AMBASSADOR
FAITH AND LOVE
Mr. Joseph P. Kennedy, the ence, to be the most suitable for American Ambassador, on receiv- us." ing the freedom of the City of Ed- inburgh, urged his hearers in the present troublous times to take stock of their blessings.
"It may be that we have talked too much about international re- lationships," he said. "It seems that every time I meet somebody now we spend all our time discussing the terrible state of the world and the disaster hanging over our heads.
"Nevertheless, I sometimes won- der if, in our concern over the pos- sibility of war, we have not lost sight of some of the blessings which we still enjoy. It might be a good idea, at this time, if we were to take stock of those blessings."
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We still had peace-technically at least, though open warfare raged in one country at least and covert warfare burned fitfully beneath the surface of international relation- ships. Trade was slowly being strangled, and ill-will, which it would take generations to eradi- cate, was being recklessly engender-
ed.
WAR NOT INEVITABLE Without minimising the tragedy of it all, the fatal step leading to a general war had thus far been avoided, Perhaps never in history had nations been so long a time without coming to open conflict. That, it seemed to him, was the most hopeful aspect of the whole situation. War was the work of men, and, being the work of men, was not inevitable.
We still had faith. The blacker the road the more we should need it. The tragedies of 2,000 years had not dimmed the desire of man for a better way of life. Cynies might say that man had not found a bet- ter way of life.
"I find consolation in the fact that we are still trying to find it,' he said.
We still had love. A thousand years of disaster could not destr that price attribute of the human soul. The future of our loved ones might be beset with uncertainties and danger. That of course meant only that we should love them the
more.
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We still had compassion-the priceless gift of human sympathy which found expression in inumer- able act of kindness and helpful- ness all the world over. We still had friendship-loyalty to jobs and em- ployers and associates, loyalty to country. We still had hospitality. We still had ambition-that whic' urged each of us to make the most
of his life..
We still had ability. There was no limit to the things that could flow from the creative will of man, to the enrichment of life that our scientists, engineers, and workers in every line could provide. We still had knowledge, and were the inheritors of the wisdom of the
ages.
akilled
COURAGE EVERYWHERE We still had courage. "Every- where," Mr. Kennedy said, "I en- counter people going forward with vigour and determination to the completion of their appointed tasks. The calm courage with which peo- ple are going about their business is, to me, one of the most hopeful aspects of the present situation.”
"There is plenty of evidence to show that those on whom the final decision rests are fully alive to the consequences that would devolve, not only upon those who did the actual fighting, but upon the civil
Finally, we still had the will to population, and, in the final analy-
serve. He instanced Lister's fight sis, upon the foundations of civill-for the acceptance of antisepsis sation itself.
against ignorance, prejudice and inertia.
"Therefore, I repeat, the fact that we have been able to escape war thus far should encourage us to hope that, somehow, we shall be able to win through to a just and durable peace,”
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"The present, like the past,” Mr. Kennedy concluded, “la a picture of many colours. It behoves us not to understimate the dangers with which we are confronted. At the
yet."
We still had our freedom. We same time let us not lose sight of could still read our newspaper, lishe enternal verities, timeless and ten to the radio programmes we indestructible, which are with us enjoyed, say what we liked, wor- ship as we pleased, assemble ́and petition the Government for re- dress of our grievance. Workers had the right to quit work.
"These are important things in the life of a free country,” Mr. Kennedy declared. "The people of
Before he went to the Usher Hall to receive the freedom, the degree of Doctor of Laws of Edin- burgh University was conferred upon the Ambassador.
other lands may see fit to yield LONDON BOMB their liberties. We should be grate- ful that we are still able to retain the way of life which we
have
found, after centuries of experi-
"NIKS
Gutarread Cue
A For Hong Kong Epor
T
EXPLOSIONS
London, To-day.
on
Three more bomb explosions are reported to have occurred Saturday evening in public lava- the tories at the Marble Arch. in
Edgware Road and at Hammer smith. A
of certain amount
material damage was done, but no
one was hurt.
The police e found no traces of the perpetrators, but believe Irish extremists?
responsible.
The R/M:S. “Empress of Asia” at Hong Kong on Wednes-
,00 am.. and leaves...
for
QUEENS & ALHAMBRA
HONG KONG
AT 2:30-515 7-20-930PM
KOWLOON
AT 230 520-720 & 9:30 PM. .
SHOWING TO-DAY
SENSATIONALLY DIFFERENT from any Astaire-Rogers show
ever produced before!
DRAMA taken from life!.. The romance of the gifted boy and golden girl who swept the world with dancing. Told to the strains of memory's most haunting hit malodies!
...
THE STORY OF
VERNON AND
IRENE CASTLE
FRED
GINGER -
ASTAIRE ROGERS
ЯКО RADIO Pleturg
A glittering
cavalcade of the dance!
NEXT CHANGE At the QUEEN'S
"AMBUSH"
Gladys Swarthout-Lloyd Nolan
& SHOWS DAILY 2.30 -5 20 720-930
with
EDNA MAY
OLIVER WALTER BRENNAN Lew Fields Etienne Girardot. Janet Beecher
TO-MORROW
At The ALHAMBRA “SQUADRON OF HONOUR” Don Terry-Mary Russell
MAJESTIC
THEATRE
NATHAN ROAD
| KOWLOON TEL 57222
MATINEES 20c - 30‹ ° EVENINGS 20, 30%-50c:70.)
FINAL SHOWINGS TO-DAY NOTE SPECIAL TIMES: At 2.30, 5:10; 7:20 & 9.40 p.m. THE BEST PICTURE OF THE YEAR!!!
Thanks the Academy for 51 1938
FRANK CAPRAS
YOU CAN'T YAME
JAK
ARTHUR BARRYMORE-STEW
TO-MORROW AND WEDNESDAY
Love, Laughter and Youth in a Modern Romance! Maureen O'Sullivan and Lew Ayres in
SPRING MADNESS”
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture
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