1953-08-29 — Page 11

BEHIND A SHAH'S FLIGHT

From

THOMAS CLAYTON|

Cairo.

THE background, to the Shah of Persia's re- cent flight from Iraq to Italy can now partially be 'rorealed..

It was some one hundred ragged Baghdadia who speeded the Shah'a de-

parture from Baghdad to

Rome.

General Zahedi, now the Middle East's third soldier- strong-man, had smuggled message to his Shah over the mountain passes say ing: "Wait in Baghdad.".

THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 1953,

JOHN GORDON IN MOSCOW

THE FOURTH DESPATCH

A policeman on your tail-every single hour!

T

By plane and cable—uncensored.

a visitor from a free land the number of police- mon in Russia is staggering.

When you sco the enormous numbers in Moscow's streets-hundreds, if not indeed thousands,

uniform--one almost every hundred yards along

moro guarding-doorways, watching the daily lifa of the people, protecting the important, keeping a steel grip on the unfortunate, and when you consider that behind these there is a secret force in plain clothes the alze of which can never be estimated, and an

•

enormous

$

Hui Iran's ambassador to Iroq had told the Iroq Premier, ice organisation, you Gamel Midfal, that t the begin to understand what u Shah stayed on in Baghdad-a Police State means. short flight from his own capital -it would moan Persia's Royalists might risk plunging Iran into civil war in an attempt to restore the Shah throne.

10

And begin niso to be able appreciate the power that was in the hands of a man like Berla, his Every foreigner resident in itussin, diplomat, business man, ur journalist, has a uniformed policeman on duty outside his lapuriment every hour of the day.

and night.

ما

He suggested to Midfal that the Shah should be asked leave as soon As possible Europe.

"

tor

Beside the policeman 13 telephone. Whenever a resident,

the

tele

or a visitor, comes or goes, policeman picks up he The Persian ambassador'o re- phone and acporla, to some my quest was turned down. And serious cay b the watching King Felsal himself lold thepachine. Shab he had personally approved the Trag Premier's attitude in doing so.

During the lost visit to Baghdad the Shah had met in- fluential Islamic religious lead- ers, who had expressed public approval of his stand against Mossadegh.

IMAGINE IT!

Every foreign resident in Russia has a uniformed policeman on duty outside his apartment

and night.

day

traffic might do worse than send to This picture, for example, was taken, by a Western it how there will be no diplomat from his bedroom window when the guard's Jams on the streets of Moscow Moscow and And out.

But having praised Russia's back was turned. The guard, a uniformed member of like those that tie up London.

For street-making in Moscow is street-making miracles in her the M.V.D. (State Security Police) was always outside on a scale that makes the plans towns, I ought in falmess to say the flat--not far from the Kremlin....

of our roadmakers look like that half an hour's journey out! something left over from the of Moscow I mw what must be the worst roads in the world. stage-coach age,

They were pot-holed like a shell New streets twice the width of pitted battlefeld. Oxford Street, sometimes, I

How even the strong cars should think, three times the width, have been driven through Russia can use them and the city. They would take the keep their axles intact, I cannot traffic of London, or New York conceive.: and make it look no more than

trickle.

thom

It cutches then as children in

In any case Socialiam has Foreign visitors

tess in and

their earliest years, moulds their taken some of the delight out of out easily. .But Russuun minds, puts only officially cafe Russian travel by abolishing the

ISLES cannot fina

very thoughts into their heads, with, +45

distinctive life and craftsman comlorlabie provts). I suppose I must admit, the greatest of ship that gave charm to the Missia chics at ALL ALIVES su stelll, d then protects widely differing ways of life in now good and useful purpose. I can from Infection by wicked ideas the variety of lands that only hope that the rests justify to the day of their death. A book, form the Soviet Union. the cost, which must be colossal, the merest seribble of writing. All has now been, ironed to the found in the bustage of an in- same dead level of uniformity. Tight control coming traveller, is seized by the Everything must

be exactly same alike, and you can have only security police with the avidity, as

Customs men what you can get in Moscow. seize gold bars or watches." Isn't that characteristic of the bureaucratic mind and contra- The only things that interested

Esed control? aspirin in a bottle, though they them in my bag were three think they now enjoy a trecuoin novels I had bought London And Iraq's cabinet.felt the unknown to any other people, Airport to take the fedium threaf had indeed moved toare in fact, by our standards, of the journey. They spent 40 their doorstep when the Shah under pretty tight control.

They have told statesmen of the Moslem world that Moss- adegh's latest policies

were

USSIANS, who know us little

paying the way for a Commun-Rabout the outside world as an

ist take-over through the Tudch Party.

ut

the sun-scorched palm-tringed True, they can

about their country groups of Baghdadis, that was impossible

stepped out,

unannounced,

Baghdad airport.

Then,

locking.

whero armed Iragl

stood guard.

rogged and dirty, began col recently.

near the white house

now move

in a way

until very

OLT

minutes on them,

Phones tapped

EVERY foreigner's telephone ocaversations are listened to-and probably the conversa- tlons of many Ruston citizens as well. One incautious word and the connection breaks.

They

題 can go to allway policemen station and buy

a ticket for almost anywhere, an experience which thrills them,no end.

Bir every Russian dtizen hat * do carry a passport. If he o

No letter O" telegram goci They began to demonstrate, in which they are not registered censorship. And sometimes very she opends a night in a 10 abroad without the strictest shouting: "Long live Mossadegh; residents, the police have to be silly that can be. Get the Shah out; Let him join talk. Farouk; Down with all tyrants,"

The

ΟΝΣ

Enter The Car

a

R

Some remarkable engineering feats have been accomplished to make these wide roads possible. Gorky Street, the principal shop ping street of Moscow, is rather like Regent Street, but twice as wide. It rises up a gentle slope and turns slightly to the right.

At the top stands a large, Ane, NE thing is really bringing

great changes to Russia the old, mellowed, red building, the the Moscow Soviet, motor-car. And it is raising office of problems very perplexing to the which has the functions of bureatemthe mind.

**** town council. Not long ago) it reduced the width of the street Any Russian can now buy A

DAYTON motor-car. The State-which is where it stood to a

So the Rossions of course the sole malor of cart bottle-neck. -produces them

in four sizes. lifted it bodily and moved All excellent,

back ** foot, The job was done Three of them can be bought in 40 minutes. by anyone with money to spare, A short distance further - On

third just a shode one of high horse-power, second of medium size, and the old building. H, too, was lifted the was an eye hospital, also a fine,

feet! our bodily and moved back 20 baby car class.

into another stroel. Not only Shah-could-bear-the-Even 1-had-to-have-a-Russian behind the

When describing my entry The fourth car, biggest, steck that, but it was turned round 20 shouts, and saw Iraq's political passport as well as my

Iron Curtain at est, and best of all, is not for degrees. And the job took little Own Prague, I wrote that it seemed sale, It is produced exclusively more than an hour to do, police arresting their leaders, Immediately I arrived in Mas- cerke, after the emiling Czech for the top boys, though some are Yet we moon that we can't

He was told by the Iraqis that cow 1 wis sent to be photo crew of the aeroplane, that once exported to Scandinavia.

widen Our trafic blocked it was an organised demonstra- graphed for it. If I wished to you entered the airport building tion; the leaders had almost go anywhere I had to get my all smiles vanished from faces, smallest costs 9,000 roubles, and Imagination

The cats are expensive. The city streets, 'What is it we lack?

or enterprise? Wel cartainly been bribed.

Russian passport and my own the censor's pencil erased that All day the Shah debated: back from the police, which comment.

the medium ong 15,000. They always seemed a long and

cannot be bought on the in- When no

message had come ledipus business.

When J wrote. with some stalment system, and there are from

General Zahed! by the

that an Interpreter, no second-hand exchanges time dawn fingered Baghdad's

inost who bought me a drink in the less you can make one yourself. minareited skyline, he decided gravely, when I said I wished to airport restaurant

Minsk Once you put in your order you leave Russia, that it would would not allow me to sit in the may have a long wait, for the

ten require

to days

get restaurant and drink it among demand is high and production permission to go,

the Russians 1 wished to do, still far from adequate do cope but insisted on my going behin with it although increasing The iron curtain round the a curtain, out came that too.

rapidly, Russia

When I sald that Russia was

"Shall I quit Baghdad?"

to move on. For he did not want | to cause King Feisal trouble.

Whither? Syria, Egypt

and the

Lebanon were ruled out. They

And 1 WAS warned

The mout

DITHIBOMEN,

at

are republies, two with soldier mind in dictators, So he decided to catch terrifying thing of all The the fret al line bound for a Government, decides absolutely making remarkable progress "In European capital. It was the what its citizens will say 0700 for Rome.

think,

MONEY? THEY GIVE IT AWAY

By James Bartlett

HERE are 110,000 places

and spite of her great difficulties." the progress stayed in, but out went the difficulties.

From the London office of the

And finally, when in the week of the Beria crisis I filed what seemed to me to be a very in- nocuous telegram to the Sunday Express, it simply did the Indian rope trick, and vanished without trace. I have not heard of it since.

Travel Is Freer

above

Petrol Is Cheap

THE cheapness of petrol,

un-

Russian product, makes rum- ning oosts reasonably low, Round Moscow it runs at about Is. 6d. a gallon, and In the south is rather cheaper,

The really difficult business about ear-owning is garage ac- cotramodation. The apartment blocks in which most lown re- sidents live do not provide gar- ages. Neither does the State nor the town soviets, Therefore cars

irritations there is undoubt- in the severe Russian winter is,

BUT in spite of all these little must be left out all night, which where money can be picked Public Trustte in Kingsway edly, a liberalisation in progress I should guess, a trouble-making up as a gift. More than £200 million is waiting to be handed money is handed out from such which should help the outside affair.

the 1912 world to a better understanding But sea disaster funds as

But

In countries like ours such a

could bo solved with 'a' litilo ingenuity, but not so in Russia.

One man who had bought

over to the right people. not until now anybody Titanic Relief Fund (£414,000 of Russsia and the tremendous peramal problem

bax thought it worth while to bring all left) and the 1915 Lusitanio Progress she is making. out n guidebook to this wealth. Relief Fund (£23,078 still left).Foreign journalists and diplo

|mats can now travel with a fair Two spare time enthusiasts, Other trustees in Landon have amount of roedom almost any car found an old shed close to Guy Keeling and Thomas money to help musically talented where in Russia, except in Landau, have started on the job children;

his apartment block. He thought in which, no doubl for those areas, to buy medals

wwith little

4 with a list that signposts the blacksmiths, give life pensions

effort I could good and proper security. firai 1,000 treasure chests.

for seamen, even provide dowries reasons, free travel is forbidden. make a garage out of that," He

sought doubt very much soviet, and got it.

permission from the local They start in Brighton, where for hard-up brides

whether the ordinary citizens "Dut" for nearly 50 years the Abbey Brigden and Burrows Fund has charity among the Scots.

tera are signs of generous of other countries can hope to also got the you must

tour Russia with any real degrče

the given away 10s. Christmas boxes

Example: they have a fund in of freedom in anything like large to poor local residents,

Edinburgh for "the reflet of mambers for marry a long day typically functionary dialks of The two guides end in Lerwick indigent gentlewomen." How Or andea, if they would enjoy new problems, was not so engky (Shetland Islands), where the much in the kilty? Three-the experience very much. Zelland Educational Trust hands quarters of- million pounds.

Outside Moscow, a tow other "What do you want a car fix?" he asicod You don't need it for out a 250 ybarly bursary to the

larga towre, and stich popular bustafsh I don't" Brightest local pupil, and sends

zizpiled £15 of clothing to youngsters on Burra Isle..

..

police."

consent of the bend

That functionary, with

*

the

Against this kind of charity Russian holiday place as the Caucasus and the Crimea, which the Manchester, fund that has a are well provided with hotels mat, "but the law allorane man to yearly income of 18s, to help art and hostels, the food, dificulties buy a car and I have bought it.“ students hardly Beema worth ara considerablo, and the accom-

"But what set of probian do Eetween the two ends of this mentioning.

modation rather tough to face you think we bould be facing. It A-Z af philanthropy the money

| _The_|_Rumland are wurm averyobe bought a che?? Eaton tad trickles along hundreds of varied But Mr.Kooling,” and Mr hearted and hospitable the police chief, "We ut have

Landau ar gay, kabo million people, sad within the You'

"their, you mango tutt'

STRUITAR AND · FOUNDATIONE, Ibu Keritag, and

anda at Bowra and Bower, 429),

For most of today's

in claritable trustalarów, from best to unite vijakari dombocomobra.7%. And this{{ the shillings of people with warm weet jobpy, butthole ways are ....... When, Bunadă, comer to the hearts,

| noù diwagu, our Way,

fago...; as fully as Brilaiza fer fra

-

This is

GORDONS

the Gin

DRY GIN

BY APPOINTMENT GIN DISTILLERS TO THE LATE KINO GEORGE VË

Tanqueray, Garden & Co. LIG

Quality Incomparable

Gordon's

Stands Supreme.

Distributors:-

DODWELL CO., LTD.

14.2 hp HK$8.750.

Volkswagenwerk GmbH

Sole Agents

JEBSEN & CO.

Sales and Service:

The Hongkong Garage Ltd.

Next arrival 2nd September, 1953, per s.5. "Conseulles” Ample supplies of all spare parts in stock. Half a million Volkswagen buyers can't be wrong.

FOR HAIRLINE ACCURACY

6070

HERMES 2000

The writing is clear

and alignment perfect

See it at :

Spalingers

ACCURATE TYPING

Even Spacing between characters

Clean-cut and Uniform

impressions, the Marks of a

Finely Built Typewriter.

"OFFICE EQUIPMENT DEFT. 20, Stanley St. Tel. 32785

CHOSEN BY FAMOUS PEOPLE ALL

THE WORLD OVER

【HEREVER fashionable people gather, you will find

W that their smart laste rules out all other pens in

favour of the New Parker "S]”./..

The New Parker “51” Pen is docades ahead in design. It is the only pen with the Aero-metric Ink System, which brings such remarkable case both to 'filling and writing. With each effortless filling there are many hours of smooth, flawless writing.

For yourself or for others select the superb New Parker "51" Pen, available now at all good dealers

CONSIDER THESE OUTSTANDING FEATURES E INÍCFLOW GOVERNOR «*PELGLASS 'RESERVOIR.

[992;VISIBLE İNK SUPPLY

For best reials in this did all other:

new

Parker "51"

WORLD'S MOST WANTED PENI

Priem: GOLD CAP TEN HENGO

Sale Bohu, SHAIRO (CHINA) LIMITED, Nation, Building. Duddati dirbor

3. PRN REPAIR SKÄVIZE A 1, NORTH AKADE, ALEXANDRA HOUSE!