1959-01-17 — Page 7

THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 1959.

THE TRAFFIC IN FLESH

IN the long years that i have written in

Maclean's I have never disguised my love of Britain nor failed to realise the many advantages of living at the heart of things even though there be weeks and months when the climate tries one's loyalty to the uttermost,

even

Therefore I do not approach this London Letter with any rest for it deals with a tragic and sordid aspect of British life which was recently debated in the House of Commons.

LONDON LETTER.

by Sir Beverley Baxter, M.P.

in any great expital have I seen the monstrous regiment so open- ly on parade as in London. What of our overseas kith and kin who come to London as it It were another Meeen? No one doubt that the traffle la Acsh carns good money in New York and Paris but it is not in evidence in the central streeta us it is in London.

arc

better for man if it atona were hanged about h

were throRUN neck and if he into the tea, rather than thi he should cause one of these

little once to stumbic."

Then the Reverend M.P. and looked ol the przed

Government Frent Bench. "There is not much of a pentie, week and inltd Jesus about that dehunication," he said.

д

chorged with Д were the peorest creatures of aristed homosexual offence and duly society, very often forced into

Perhaps someone reading the very eve of his prostitution to earn sumcient to Lined on

u new play in the keep themselves alive. That is those words will accuse me of Provinces.

дта entirely different picture intolerance and lack of human opening in

from Beat which We have understanding. They will say Professionally 1 had to go to today."

that my Toronto mugnose has trans- despite the persisted

For moment he paused the first night when the piny canic to London, although 1 Then what is to be done, and plantation to England, It might again and then proclaimed: "We House would gladly have stayed away. how 13 lo be done? The be 50.

None of us is without who legislate in this You will no doubt remember that the Govern- But there was no demonstration Wolfenden Committee had re- gin but the ceranually has n should not be too timorous in John of any kind from the audience, commended that the authorities right to demand that decent supporting these recommentli- ment set up a Committee under Sir

legitimate people can walk the streets tong because publle opinion Wolfenden to study the existing laws concerning stinctively we realised that he should take every

was playing a real life tragedy chance of dissuading girls from without the blatant necesting of may be lagging behind,

and the noisy a sense we are the creators of prostitution, organised vice and homosexuality, which had nothing. In cominon adopting a life of prostitution by the prostitutes

advice and help rather than by brawl late at night when the publle opinion.” involving them in the machinery plops arrive in their cars to Many months have passed since Sir John produced with the story of the play.

Hightly or wrongly the of the law.

collect the money from the girls, audience had compassion-1 and published his report but at last the Govern- ment decided that the issue had to be brought him rightly. before Parliament for a full and frank debate, Accordingly the date was duly fixed.

Next morning the Guardsman and the Under-Secretary were charged at Row Street Polter Soon they were cun- Court, vieled.

u refer to him merely as Mr Xuch an atmosphere of tragedy It only for the sake of his wife and heartbreak. and children,

Personally I felt that in that argument Mr Butler was not being realistic, London, as the centre of the world, draws the great and the greedy to it. There is big and easy money for the monstrous regiment of women like a brigade of guards.

In

On the whole the Hottse f Commons was at its beat on this decasion There was no play- ing to the gallery nor was there argument for argument's sake, There are militons of whole- We had erased to be Tories, some,

decent prople in the Liberals and Socialists and had Island Kingdom who live and become Trustees of the people. laugh and love and work until When the Front Bench Minis- comes to its end.ter wound up the

debate he They too have their legal right spoke for all of us when he including the right of walking througs streets which are un- polluted by the sordid trame of harlotry.

their story

said:

We

"Although we live in an age of rapid material and social pro- Looking back on the debale press. of great advances in have In the House of Commons I relentine knowledge, must put on record that th: today been discussing one of the problemis known to The House bas by a Government por Opposition civilised man from bencher, but by a Socialist shown a sincere understanding by the nine of the Reverend of them without. if I may tay Williams.

so, bring either ntimental or sententious,"

According to Mr Butler the Scots have handled this problem with much more understanding and effectiveness than is the case In England.

It seems that in Now let us look in on the Scotland there are Insitutions But unlinown to any living frame-up. Yet in our hearts we

But crowded House of Commons as to care for girls who have gone tentore there was to be a pre feared that he was guilty.

the Rab Butter, In his capacity as wrong and which bring them of why" That is part

Secretary, Jude to the debate, a perlude

the back to a Christian life. opens cruel, and so trage, that the tragedy. To be arrested on such Home Strdonic Satinst himself cold a charge is to be branded guilty fateful debate, the galleries are packed to the gills and every The before the case is heard. hardly have cenerived st.

Aach of the Debating Chamber central Agure of the tragedy was

Under

is fitted. the Tranentry

Rab Butler has first class Secretary of the Foreign Offe

mind but at heart he is a scholar who, incidentally had gone to

who would be more happy in facilitate my much trouble to

It is

I can hardly remember a day his library with his beloved tha: line Puat Lane each nigh most impressive speech was not oldest recent visa to the Orient.

in the Commons when there was books than being the Minister Lame has been published but et

responsible for law and order in No one in the Realm. But quietly and convincingly he tells of the ever stzspected Mr X of being a

for confronts the Dul

reason no hearts dilemma which humb:4'xtal

aur

What count police and the courts. If the Government will face the issue. rehet for his wife,

sollpting is no we do? Like many others in the prostitutes are driven from one The fine for

neighbourhood they will get to more than the tip which the House simply wrote him a

nother. Then he discusses the client adds to his payment. IT Tel 18te of sympathy,

cause of prostitution today as fact it is litle more than it was compared with the far off days ifty years ago. Then there is when his famous reformer kins also the argument that if we harsh nieasures we will It is imposible to discuss the woman, Josephine Butler, tried use

sex to drive vice from the streets. drive the vlee racket under abnormal history

"Today is quite diferent ground. And in the name of citing th: relationship without

The evil from what happened in those sanity why not? case of Oscar Wilde. that men do lives after them, es," he said, "when the girls save Yet Josephtue Butler uard to but so does the tragedy rome of you may remember my description a few years ago of A number of us ariching from lyde Park to Chelsea where the Mayor and Aldermen of the local, of plaque rouneti plaers) a memury on the door of the houn where Wilde had lived.

The headlines screated the news to high heaven and to hell, that shortly after the Home of Common had adjourned on the previous night Mr X was arrest- ed St James's Park and charged with

[e. A criminal Favour with a young Grenadier Guardsman.

To those of us who knew Me Xsernet so incredible that we felt it must have been a

JACOBY on BRIDGE

Simple Play is

'Uppercut'

As Jay as our small authority In It was a verdict that Wilde's gifts to literature and the dram had outlived his crimes against gocinty. But although Wilde is the classle example of genis cursed by sexual abnormality he dred two sons. One was killed

ONE of the greatest partner in the 1914-18 war and the other ships of all thne was that as alive today although he bas

of the perennially ymaithful Sid-changed his panie. ney Lenz and Pie late Commun-

der Winfeld Liggell, Jr.

el

the Part of

tragedy

the is

indis- homosexuality Their partnership starte at

putable fart that many of these continued through

contract with eth are reminely artistic an

Whist and

auction and

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inevit- gifted Therefore it wn able that as a fraternity they would play a big part in the theatre which; by its very nature is exhibitionist.

some

I have travelled much in my time in many lands but never

Dealing with the wretched ercatures who corrupt the youn he brandished a Bible, opened "f somethurs It and then said: wonder whether Jesus Christ tuas talking of this type of shocking wickedness witen He hard hits most biting condem- nation: "And he said with Fir disciples; It is impossible but that

The mists Wr

bunging lov

upon the river

d upon the parks us we made tr way home after the House b. 3 adjourned. We walked by the place where cur colleague had met iragedy, disgrace and ruin, but we did not speak of.it.

There

are

of

occasions of stumbling

moments should come--but woe unto him tragedy so deep that they can through whom they come. It only be expressed in Alence,

AMONG THE GOLDEN FEW-

THE SHY KNIGHT WHO

HIDES BEHIND A HEDGE

BY JOHN LAMBERT

GLASS of white wine, of good but

There is a good reason for the anonymity of Alec Guinness. He

is an intensely shy and In fact it

reached such a proportion some

years ago that, us the Drama not ostentatious vintage,

spective man,

"One became an

Intro-

actor

to

Critic of the London Evening was raised by the guests escape from eneself," he explains Standard, I openly discussed that a small and select in a conversational manner that matter in my coltann under the

the New Year party early ist person. it Bachelors heading Theatre."

one morning.

1:

10

tcos: was n knight, Alec Guinness. signified yet another for the Golden Set of seting.

seldem refers to himself in the

Submerged

a new And it accclade That shyness, caused him to Briksh stumble a lcl in the early stages And it remains ol his career. today-even though he is the most sought-after star in the world."

The article was cruelly franck but it had to be. Many of the Evening Standard readers were sheeked and urged that 1 should

Cuinness, There weru

once the drem be made to resign. also resentful letters from actors. class student voted least likely

to succeed, is that my

now a fully De- *tl

it may will be

all part credited member of the Golden

In one year alone-and with article played some Pass

Set. Hils companions: Sir

one film. "The Bridge On The in bringing about the ultimate

Sir

Doooped John River Kwal"--he hua enquiry under Sir John Wolfen- urence Olivier,

in Gielgud, Sir Ralph Richardsen, every top honour in the den.

industry. He won the Hollywood and Deme Peggy Ashcroft,

"Oscar." He is the top box- office

British attraction in cinemas.

fensive play being perhaps their strongest pahit.

As a matter of fact the attitude of the courts and of publie opinion has altered noticeably

All shy

SELF-PORTRAITS

Guinness, as he looks down on himself as he is in his dual roles of English school- master and dissolute French count in his latest dim "The Boapezout."

Success has made him quietly determined to preserve his own interesta. And the biggest of. tatse professional Interests his integrity as an actor.

to

is

Money, for the sake of means nothing him now. That is why he has gambled on the highbrow, humour of "The Horse's Mouth." That is why he risked his own money, again In having a hand in the produc- tin et "The Scapegoat."

And that is why he is not acting at the moment, although there tre a dozen big money riters he could

from trke up Hollywood.

Scorn

He prefers to wait to do the Graham Greene story "Our Man in Havana." He says: "I want to do it beccuse it is human, well as funny."

as

*

And he hopes to star In Bin biography of Gandhi, a character most film stars would Mr Lonz shing West was since the era when Wilde was

run away from playing, because open his singleton sentenced to Reading Gaol. This

Allm *"The tempted to

And his next Together they are the top, chose the change was seeu five years ago

has Mouth," damond, but wisely

I do not think that his knight- "He was a great man, and play- been king of clubs. The Commander when a famous knighted actor and led, nap-hand of acting Horse's

theatre was tulent anywhere in the world. chasen for the next Royal Film hood will make n jot of dif- ing him would be a challenge."

ference to Alec Guinness. Suc-

That determined seeking for overlook with the ace and re- of the London

But Guinness, the member most Performance.

cess has already moulded his ch:Benge, and scorn of easy turned the sult.

gilded with achievement now,

Yet when I have mentioned character.

money for acting talent, is one the moat unknown.

cach of these achievements to He made lot of other people of the big maxims for member-

always tugged at happy with the films he made ship of the Golden Set. All the Golden Set ehun any him he has spotlight on their private lives. his collar and said things like: before "The Bridge On The But Guinness is the most suc- 1 was sure Charles Laughton River Kwai" But he, himself, cessful at it. lis friends call would have got that Hollywood was happy with very few

the best-kept secret of award," or "Goodness, you sur- them. modern times, a sort of one-man prise ine. Am I really the

Sidney won South's jack with

the queen and carefully ted the the

nine spot. It was up to

Commander to rutt and he did

ruff with the queen.

This play constituted the so-

The called "Uppercut."

queen

WAS no use in Lig's hand. Played on that trick it effective- South ly doamed the contract. over-ruffed, but this made Sid- ney's ten-spot a sure Trump trick and South also

CROSSWORD

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had to

10

lose the diamond finesse.

22

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you scr

23

how it is done.

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Kost North

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Pass PAKS

You, South, hold:

South Vent 2

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What do you do?

A-Bid two no-trump. Your partner has opened the bidding and oven though his band must 'be a minimten you want to try for game and no-trump looks Uke your best bet.

TODAY'S QUESTION Again your partner has opened one club and East has overcalled with one heart. You, South, hold: MA74 42 +KQ85 493984

What do you do?

Answer on Monday

10.

Aeroas (01 U. Measure (4)

11. Aphorisms. 18 12. Muacia. r) 13. Morn dit 18 Camp Ore musta. 14-51 18. fieadgear. (B)

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JOHALIONAS

Tibel.

And Guinness himself says: "I rejoice in being the most frowned-at man in Britain. The

English are too paille to shout at

en actor if they recognise hum its

star?"

top

Too real

poto cr en autograph book across

Ancedates It has been Eug- Aloc Quinners.

the For

simple reason that his real. self is in the submerged

public, co they usually send a Rested do not happen to

to him.

"I get nway more lightly than always that, because the public are only character he is currently play-

used to seeing me in character ing. make-up.

dio was recently, at first, re- "So they see me as a vaguely

London's filar face they can't quite fused admission to recognise, end frown at me. Savoy Hotel because the door- That is the way I prefer it to man thought he was the tramp be."

like character he plays in "Tho Horse's Mouth."

Anonymous

C

He once, while we were hav- ing dinner, impersonated budgerigar, The hotel cat, pass- ing through the dining room, arched his back and hlased at

Like Perty Ashcroft, his private life is almost thai of a recluse. Hij trim, modest home 43. In Petersfield, Hampshire, is well off the public path. And it ha

He is

also one of the most

10 acres inside" ila hedges to privately kind men in s profes-

project his privacy. N

-alon more noted for publicized

in Sports Car COINTABLES Most evenings there seb spent generosity. At the finishing of 17. Proprister VOKURORIJIYA playing cards with his write, a film I have known him to NORMANCE) Merula. And only very close brow a party for the small- Sabha DHABITSSES triends like director Peter part players and then 'đầ

Clervfile or sitron Kay Walsh appens when they started to sing are unuelly invited to diassen. "For He's a Jolly Clood Fellow."

(4)

It is why Sir Alec Gulaners

of deserves to be among them.

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