1957-08-01 — Page 4

Pago 4

THE CHINA MAIL, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 1957.

Covent Garden office workers state they can handle produce during the strike "providing they are not interfered with too much.”

Commonwealth Development

THE

London.

HE British Government proposes to publish a White Paper shortly telling the world what Britain is doing to help Commonwealth development. By so doing. it hopes to placate a number of back-benchers on both sides of the House who are pressing it to lake more positive action in this matter.

In the Conservative Party, a strong pressure group has, within a few months, staged two full-dress debates on this issue and compelled the attendance of the Prime Minister and other ministers at party committees. It forced the Government to capitulate last November and accept à private motion requiring it to consult other members of the Commonwealth to see what more could be done to develop its natural

resources.

10

-

By HAROLD JAMES

d-

Britain Is Told:

THE

"START DRILLING

OR ELSE"

Trucial Const.

3.

all

Mr Frazor is the author of The Modern Wiltor and his World and editor of the contemporary anthology. Pactry Now. He is a rogular broadcaster and colitri- butor to London literary journals.

BLUNDEN

A TRULY ENGLISH POET

July 1957.

THERE is a certain quality in poetry that can be called

mere, or pure, Englishness.

Some of the very greatest English poeta, for instance Milton or Pope, hardly have it at all. One cannot read Milton without thinking of Italy, or Pope without think ing of the French ideal of classicism.

A peet like Shakespeare has

It and transcends it. He can be

him into a quite different sort of

of the English earth, carthy, cs pock.

In many of the prese comedy The Best world war also pro- Scents throughout his work, foundly affceted Mr 13lunden, and all through a play like The Merry Wives of Windsor, but he is also of all times, and all the world.

Bre

i-

never hysterical-ure some and his war poems-quiet, and the truest and most poignant.

•

C

POEMS OF MANY YEARS, by Edmund Blunden. Collins, 185.

memory (to not agains) war wer companion- horroral of ahly and to go back to find comfort again Graves had de elded that cutward nature is imbecile or hostile-in the spirit of the land.

Underlying much of his poetry there is a mocd not unlike that of a writer whom he has prob- ably never read and would. not the flory admire if he had,

nationalist, Mpurlee French

the cult of sell and Barres:

Here they went with smock and crook,

Toiled in the sun, lolled in the shade,

Here they mudded out the brook

Typically their theme is less

10 man- The ports who most obviously man's inhumanity have this more English" quality only cbliquely and subtly that

Cowper, Crabbe, Barnes, man's inhumanity to landscape, ancestry, of the carth and the But shaken by the first World dezd: Es in one of his poems, Tennyron

things lé The Northern Farmer, Hardy, War, Mr Blunden was able both cre of the great porms of this

to find mere comfort in the century, Forefathers: and Edward Thomas.

Englishness in this sense the oppostle of Londonishness. It shows itself in a feeling for country, er village, or at the most (in Crabbe) small country- townish manners, feelings, ways of speech; for country crafts und skills, wagons, ploughs, small beats, barns; for the English countryside rather in Constable'e way, shadows, nooks, corners, the land worn with use or rank with disuse the good brown earth or the weeds that pester it, charlock, bugloss, slimy mallow-rather than, say, the great picturesque vistas of IL nobleman's park.

There goes along with all this a feeling for the rhythms and Idioms of Englsh country speech, N speerit slow, patient, and exact rather than (ilke the speech of the Irish poor, of town or comtry, if one can believe the Irish dramatists and move)- ists)

And here their hatchet cleared the glade; Harvest supper woke their wit, Huntsman's moon their wooings lit....

Names are vanished, save the few

In the old brown Bible scrawled; These were men of pitch and thew,

Whom the city never called; Scarce could read or hold a quill, Built the barn, the forge, the mill....

Like the bee that now is blown

Honey-heavy on my hand. From his toppling tansy-throne

In the green tempestuous land- I'm in clover now, nor know Who made honey long ago.

: sparkling with wil and

metophor.

He is a master of the "acca- sional" poem: a cricket mates, a

Con

Comparatively few of My Blun- mains alive of the English rural There is little, either, of that den's poems have, perhaps, this tradition to grasp the tragic Celtla

nature of cur axe imaginatively, sense of mystery gathered. Intensity.

But for Mr Blunden, as he Matthew Arnold, at least,

remarks In his preface. "poetry Thought' that the mysterious

is a part of the universe 19 clement in English poetry came frem our Celilc inheritance national calamity, raying good-

rcurcation, bye to his students in Japan, re- mathematics and phystes. It is that ore Anda in ports different, otherwise, as Vaug-

reading some of his old favourite not a clever device pre-romantle poels, the Wartons unless the Eternel is clever.... The method of language for con- or Cullins-all such things han and Hopkins and Yeats and Dylan Thomes (or in Walter de

prevoke verse, which is always veying some perception of grace a Mare, though I do not know whether he had any Welsh or

scholarly and charming the s beyond the fuels is open to all; acatum rather like that of his for me the essence of the bless- given in spine fryrurite prosessityists. Leigh is often Irish bleed). There is rather an earthiness, a brooding over the Hunt or Lamb) but which only melody and sidelight by an un- the Important poct where I find the vecasionally accumulates pleties of the earth.

Of this mere, or pure; Eag-

great ones marching on another traditional, lish

Mr Edmund highest pressure.

objcet after all." Melodies and Ils puems, in spite of the sidelights, in even Mr Blunden's The Americans are ready

Any reminder of what bep-Blunden-though he has spent

do al- many years cf his adult life moving and terrible sadness of most occasional verses, pened at Abadan and a sugges-abroad, teaching for two con-

come of the war poems, are the ways seek some "grace beyond move into these oil lands there is already a report

on that a Mossades could one siderable periods in Japan, and poems of a man whose nature in the facts." He is probably much the Japanese have been given a

by more readers. has esnetssion by King Sau3 long day opptar la Kuwait is mct for some time past in Hong- naturally happy (as, say, the more loved,

with confident British laugh.

contemporary than many contemporaries In Laun

the Irag Petro-kong-is the most distinguished nature of

Mr Robert. Robert Graves wes not); and his of grinder and starker am- Icum Campany Gaid: "There living exponent,

It is "Start drilling for THE oil sheiks on the now or 1 end the concession."

The company, a subsidiary of Trucial Coast section of

the Brilish-controlled reg the Persian Gulf are rest- Petroleum Company, has given loss.

way to the demand,

The shells charge Britain with dan-slow palley in finding new oil sturees because Kuwait and Qatar mé al present (uling ail British demands.

·

If the British oil men de not get moving they may foreign interests infiltrating into their domain.

in

and that

remind

A major saggestion pull four- ward from time to tim By inembers of Parliament is that Cominenwealth Bank shotild be established which: 11 Commonwealth countries would subscribe and on the directorule all would be repre- of which

vesinnt b the Commonwealth, explion in favour of the Com- sented. To this, the reaction Indeed, the whole basis of their monwealth.

But if the White Paper makes Commonwealth Governments reply, and of subsequent

Although was- negative.

emong Commonwealth this clear, it wil also they lets

was that it the world what Britain sympathised with the motives Prime Ministers,

done. For Britain's would not be difficult to set up

Dail which inspired the suggestion,

development the financing overseas i only fry pointed out that Britain the marinery

is under-estimated. True, it falls only was the

Conmocwealth money were forthcoming.

recent The country which was

Commonwealth down on the standards which, net - vestor. Thus Commonwealth Conference gave a lot of time at the time of the Common- Development Bank would not in to the subject because every wealth Conference of 1953, IL itself inereuse the avpil- Commonwealth country is in the was hoped to attain. Neverthe- ability [[]]

Australia Jess, Britain has done her bit, capital for in quote Lese money,

want: expital for the Snowy United Kingdom investment, Mountains hydro-electric pro- publle and private, throughout ject, New Zealand wants a large the sterling Commonwealth is loan, and Canada hopes for running at about £150m.

izable British investiments to year, with anther £30m. in- offset the recent enormous ju vested in Canada, Britain is, in flow of United States capital. fact, doing better than any other But India is the biggest com- country in terms of the propor- pelilor for any cash that is go tion of her national Income de- ing. Her needs in foreign cur- vated to investment in under-

countries. said to be £000m. developed

And, in rency are

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in the next few years. At home, spite of increasing American In- she faces great difculties. Her vestment,

remains by population is increasing at the far the most important source of rate of 3.000,000 a year, and external expital for the Com- India must ask herself. What nonwealth, providing about are these people going to eat!" per cent of the total. The fact is that Indio must

کی

develop invigation and

expand

her agriculture, or see part her population starve.

Pakistan, toe, needs irrigation and power.

Then there is Ghana, which mins her faith on the Volta pre- jeet, now estimated

Co-

Cum. It was said that Dr Nkrumah's

ably

future calleck

4.1.

the Commonwealth would prob

be determined by his uccess, or otherwise. In raising This Sun in Loudon.

Ch

70

TO

Bts

a

the Saudi coast on the gulf.

The atitude of the sheiks is

by an ultimatum Les been

60-sow en Graves, his almost exact con- who is too rooted in what re- bition. summed up that Shek

bin Sultan, Sagr

our part. We always planned temporary, began as a poet of ruler of Sharjah, has given

the same sort, a poet of the to to drill at Sharjah and shall do

"rural arcadia": shell-shock and the British oil company which so."

an intensely compileated and holds a concessioni in his king From Colin Lawson passionate private lite turna

dom.

0,45.

By G. S. Fraser

And that's how I caught

my first shark

excited

LOOE (Cornwall), Saturday.

I carefully explain- ed. My only shing experience so far had been to intimidate a minule trout.

I emphasised. I get seasick at the cinema.

1 EnderBowd. I musta't p home minus o limb.

A black in breaks the surface; a fishing reel clatters; the sea curdles into foam as the hook bites in those are the

high.. lights in

the fight with 藕

shark.

of

the

the

away again. That is the moment to strike. The line lightened and tip of the rod stubbed against the sun as hook went home, The sea

curdled into

foam, and a violent tall savaged the waves.

The bost thudded with hammer blows as the shining, Gleaming body lashed the side,

THE proud, white boats come into harbour over a sen purpled THE This is goud: and much better than people think. But It is not by sunset and evening. From their musts the yellow pen- If Beltain's connants fly, Each represents a battle and a victory. Each repre- good enough. tribulion towards the develop-sents another dead shark.

They usually spit ment of the Commonwealth is to

And the harbour walls of Looc them cut. increase, it must come in the are crowded with the, mzia Fem individual efforts families of Britain's big-game chark expedition in a I started on my 14 short, from a resumption of stern...the sun blistered harbour-side puts call- the savings habil. Unfortunately. Britons have got out of the habit fugitives from briefcase and the ed the Jolly Salior. I of saving.

was here I met my On the quay the shark will be crew, Jack Dingle and For all this we must find our weighed, photographs will be Jack Symons own remedy. Not only must we taken, and a few dezeu fathers Cornish fishermen

A greater volume will have the odd experience of from way back. no doubt he has since realised Save more.

being heroes to their offspring. that there are other claimants of sayings must be diverted to And here the Commonwealth. In the Commonwealth for Bri-

EXPERTS? NO Lish money. If Gharn scoped the Commonwealth suffers from

the investing They will be the centre of al- the capital pool, what would the effects

and Suez.tention at the dinner table. India, Pakistan, and Canada do? public of Abadan

With these examples before

This is the high exeittinent to them, investors are inclined to be found a few hours by car or keep their money at home. The hain from any British city; It was the inevilability that n goud, unfortunately, suffer with You don't have to be a fisher-

for the of competition would the bad,

stockbroker man or a sailor. Your Arst spirit

ង does not distinguish between emerge from the creation of

action to the word "shark" may Commonwealth Bank- that in stable government In Melays be a vivid mental image of the

They wolte themselves up and fluenced the Commonwealth and a less stable government In mun who sold you that last, enr. Governments In turning it down. foreign country like Indonesia. It matters not. But here on the sakk: "Don't be late tomorrow No word of comfort. morning." Clearly, since there would be in- As a result it is possible, for quay at Looe, where the lobster No nothing. Just that I must breeze. suitelent, cash for all, a system example, to obtain dividends of pots are a pungent

We weren't losing. First we entirely masculine. There were Catching a shork is embracing or prioriiles would have to be 20 per cent from plantation in-and the seagulls shrick with miss the tide.

when the bright-eyed greed around the The quay was golden at sun- put over the established. The practical dif- vestment in Malaya

side the rubby shark-hunting wives and shark- a frenzy, cuity of allocating such priorities break-up value of the shares is pilchard boats, adventure is only rise.

Only the Cornish catching daughters. A small boy dubby bags. book handful of tranquil sea miles that en the gea bed I could see for a port of string shopping bag shade.

so clear could think of a name like that of four was sleeping in the was very present in the minds several times more than of the Commonwealth Prime value.

cway for anybody

an elderly crab tottering off which holds crushed plichard. Ministers; so, also, was tho As might be expected, a Con-

MY CREW

home. possibility of the jealousies it servative Government kely The ungat clatter of a Ash-

Around us the engles of the Sharles are a bit hoggish about would engender.

40 pin its faith in private asing reel is the sun. The turmoil The Government's Waite against publie Investment The of the water. A wild, black another shark boats were clearing pilchard. They will follow its

their waking throsis.

salty flavour for miles. Paper is likely

Life was as drowsy as a cow 10 promise Socialists, on the other hand, breaking the surface. The

The scarlet burgees, with the Then wo bailed the hook of in a buttercup meadow, anything new. The fact is that would plump for public develop glimpse of a writhlog, pale belly emblazoned while shark were my rod. Coinmonwealth development ment. "Privalo enterprise" anys end a curve of teeth sharp as a hoisted, and past the sleeping must stand in the queue unless Labour's "Colonial Polley", "ans needle, teeth sharing at death. hotels wo alied. On over the

That is what it is like to have horizon. the Government is prepared to called to do the job."

sweetness

Both Jacks listened with ilgi glassy interest of men who have heard this tale before.

There was nothing but blue sky, blue water

drifted with the

sea and the

Down flashed the huge steel

like a wild 'cri'a gaft, arched back, malleious as gossip itself. Brown arms tightened cod the And drifted. And drifled. tall was dragged from the blo

there Round us

WITC other sea over the side of the boat. boats. The crews Wero not

LIKE A MEADOW

As it tumbles Into the boat it is like being a bullring with an extremely gouty bull.

There has not been a case yet of a shark gelting the better" of a Asherman. Though they are clined to laugh their hands of down at the Jolly Sailor over

There is nothing effeminate in The burr of a Comish, volco... the bostman who last, the beat

The rod is about as sharking.

a shadow dancing in the corner of his trousers this zOERIE, ON B me a telegraph post. The sleep was nearer than way shark snapped its last sup. reel would wind in a life-boat. shark. Was 117 Suddenly my

THE LAST BLOW long with a huge piece of corks

book is about five inches barge pole of a rod danced. as a float.

Out shrilled the line. And the mackerel which is the bait would make a meal for two. Out Went the lko obout 15 And wo yards of it and we drifted.

give a special priorNy prior- But whether the money comes a manhunter cu the cod of your We cruised for nearly two ity over, for example, the from public or priveto sources, Jino. modernisation of Britain's mines there is general agreement In

I say mrahunter. Brigadier curs. The Eddystone Light- and rallways; over the construc- Britain that

a supreme effort Caunter, who founded the Sharic house towered up out of a daley chain of foam, whiter then any tion of badly-needed trunk should be made to develop the Bogling Club of Great Britain, detergent maker ever know. of Commonwealth. Only in that and who has a bout down hiero, reads; over the expansion

DUBBY BAGS. that sharks i -British industry, generally. way can standards of living in told me sternly

The Then there was, slicnce. The Chancellor of the Exche- the Commonwealth. be In these parts don't eat people.

engines were stilled. They don't like 'the taste, quer is unlikely to make an ex- proved,

.

One Jack yelled: "Leavo® |{ A blunt instrument whirled the well of the boat; My alone," The other told me why, down A shark runs away with the bail, fish was dead. All saver feat. pauses, swallows, and charges All Talk, of Blue Shark,