1959-07-11 — Page 5

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THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, JULY 11, 1959.

DID IT HAPPEN? another story to set you guessing

Stalin took me for a hat-stand

THERE must be many

in

my generation

who first became con- vinced of the proposition that Russian has sup- planted French as the language of love by reading Sir Robert Bruce Lockhart's Memoirs of a British Agent. This book contains an unfor- gettable portrait of a Russian girl. But it was not until the war that a few of us were able to confirm, by per- sonal experience, that the Russian girl is in- deed just as companion- able, as lyrical and as altruistic as Sir Robert had claimed.

Naly Sovulimovna convinced me of this as early as 1942.

Andid Line

desoln-

Fjesty

Rruy Warlin Moscow.

she

got to know me by ringing up a number at dariota it the Metropole de and

to each

Kaut kan.

offering which

le dit very well.

Recognised fee

The Ambassador conducted his guests up the stair-

case, leaving me with Stalin's cap.

-by- ALARIC JACOB

One of our most experienced

War correspondents, Aloric Jacob, served in France, the Western Desert, Burmo and Russia.

He was president of Association of Angia American Correspondents The USSR until it was dis handed in 1947 when the Cold Was broke out.

the

Jacob is married to Kathleen Byron, the actress. They have two daughter-and a house in Chelsea.

effect. She turned pale and two

red spots of anger appeared on Maybe sho

her cheekbones. thought I had made a fool of myself? She was ever a stout dignity. But defender of my suddenly be held up her hand. "Enough! I don't want to hear any more

we

When 1 expostulated, she said: "You are so insensitive. really it would be better if never saw each other again."

"In the name of common sense, why?"

A keepsake

"Because you have had the chance of a lifetime, and don't even see that you've thrown it you think I know what away.

account, of me a girl of no

"She frivolous, mercenary, ・・・ waved aside my protests. "But I've never wanted your presents I have your money. All

had wanted is something that been yours, that i could keep always, after you had gone.

ог

"A souvenir sounds cheap to you, eh? To me, keepsake would be a big thing.

And tonight, what happens? You

me. "It's English soll after all, of Comrade Staun

held in your hand the cap

Four NKVD omleers

stood

I

sitting down to our Zakuski, the "Everyone except the guards." telephone rang. It was The commented Mr Churchill's In 1.is she would have British Embassy. to say that detective In a loud whisper. belonged the artistic demi Stalin was coming to dine with "Fancy having foreign troups in gronde of St Germam des Pres. Church and that if I could a British Embassy," he said to But in Money she introduced get there within half an hour 1

This you herwil talent of foreign would be in time to see him. Jan'1 12"

you feel the idea was that, as President Janguages a male

recount as a fumy story, with- its importance. that het Gayouts could never be of the Anglo-American Corre- guard on the stairs, wearing out realising the subject of barter-though gondents Association, I should white gloves and highly-polish- Why did you not take the Red would ther high, perhaps.

be a sort of sub-miracler to ed bools, with two more in the Star out of i-no one

itself. grimly offered us a contribu- my colleagues and "put them in dining-room

Three have seen you-and bring. it general cultural the picture" inter. H

Home generals of

Security back to me as a souvenir? Stalin had never before dined shutters were closed.

wandered about, seeing that the would have treasured it for the rest of my life. To me it would She was be proud as Lucifer's at a foreign embassy and none

bave been far rarer than sny wife. In the middle of the war of the correspondents had ever

jewel from your bourgeons dp inmates of a British prison seen him, except at a distance.

irinet shops. Long after you quosseskati more of the comforts This was an "occasion," BS The headlights of a big and I were dead it would have or lite tham the civilians

of Nadya Serafimovna nt once ap- Mrew. But although the baste preciated. So, leaving her amid

famally the ruins of our meal dive of Nadya and her

to tele- was black bread and tea, it was phone my colleagues one by one,

long time before she would rushed off to the Embassy. aceipt atin at bully beef.

10 J exchange

The

As for monetary help, mere uppstion of it threw her into a progin. She charged me the recognisert fee for Russion lessons, and world not lake a penny re

He looked older

Packard swept blindingly into been kept by my children and the forecourt. Everyone jumped grandchildren as an heirloom. to their places, Stalin appeared But you are a sluggish Eng- behind the glass doors, followed Jishman, with no spark of im- by Molotov and General agination or feeling, and you Antonov. He was wearing the have proveri to me you will Our Ambassador met me in grey topcoat and the red- never have any conception the hall. He explained that, it handed cap of a marshal. He how

stud just inside the door. 1 paused on the threshold and girl.:

would have a perfect view of saluted. Stalin, The Ambassador himself would treet Stalin at the foot Mir of the staircase. Mr Churchill On Cletolare 9th, 1944. Churetillew into Moscow. would stand-rather in the style I had as Natya to supper of a Londonderry House recep- two evenings later ben at half non-at the top. Everyone else post it, just as we were would be out of sight.

18

A British Crossword Puzzle

13

18

17

14

20

22

124

26

27

79

ACROSS

3 What he makes may go with

bang. (8)

7 Oriental ruler. (5)

10 Business exchange. (0)

8 Shout down? (8)

13 He's not in favour. (7)

15 Olymple up-bearer. (4)

17 Brings back-to mind? (7)

18 Cronin novel. (7).

20 Super

(4)

services at tennis.

21 Picture show. (7)

20 First break of the year. (0)

27 Flora fascinates himi (8)

28 Rub out. (5)

· 29 Scandinavians. (0)

28

DOWN

1 Star begins with dress. (0) 2 Attire for Brst thing in

morning? (5)

3 Uncouth. (5)

4 To

be found among

lesser fry, of course. (4)

5 is the victim of fratricide

girl? Apparently! (6)

2

น

to pleasa

Russian

We had had quarrels before. As he stepped forward,

saw But this one was different. I saw that he looked older and greyer less of her from then on. And and towards the end of my time in than Churchill, The nose mouth were Anely chiselled, the Moscow, she moved to Kley, and skin olive, the moustache grey set up as an English teacher. I nad rather drooping. You felt left Moscow in 1947 and never that rolling this could ever went back. happen in this world would ever take Stalin by surprise.

Another

guy

10

As journalists will, 1 sub- merged myself in my surround- But I keep in touch. The other Ings which happened to be a day 1 met Ty Oppenheimer at hall-stand behind me-the better Sloane Square station. He had to take in my fascinating sub just returned from ten years in ject. But while I was doing this, Moscow for a New York paper Stalin came towards me with and we slipped into the bar on those pavane-like steps that the west-bound platform royalty always uses and, with a reminisce. I asked him, as I ask gracious inclination, handed me everyone froin Moscow; for news his hat. He then turned around of Nadya. And he said: "Fancy so that, could relieve him of his you knowing her! She's back in overcoat.

Moscow ΠΟΝ, working for The Ambassador, seeing me Intourist. She's been great involved in a task for which help to me-a cultured woman, protocol had not provided, now you know, by any standards.** came rapidly forward and took le looked coy, "I guess it it Stalin by the hand. He conduct- wasn't for all that alimony I ed his guests up the staircase, have to pay back home, l'á be leaving me, human hat stand, real tempted to make her Mra garlanded from crest to base Oppenheimer." with the personal impedimenta of Generalissimo Stalin.

Cup of coffee

Then his face clouded. "But you know how it is with some women-there's been another guy, way back, and it's mighty compete with lald tough having 1 folded them up and

his memory. It seems there was them on a sofa, next to Mr Churchill's Brith Warm and some foreigner she knew-years gabardine cap. Then I went up- 120-a very high-up character Intimately. stairs to be briefed by one of Who knew Stalln

OWTL,

his

the secretaries about how the This guy offered her a diamond dinner was going, and legged bracelet, and she wouldn't take as fast us 1 could back to the t. But he loved her so much, Soviet Foreign Office. Here I it seems, that he asked Stalin held a Press conference of may for the red star out of

marshal's cap, and gave it to Nadro De a souvenir. She keeps The line about suun handing it in her grandma's jewel case, me his hut gave rise to hoots of and when she showed it to me, theghter. Some of the Americans the tears just ran down her

"Led" their storles with it,

Well, I ask you, though they were at a loss to how could I give her anything understand how 1 could have she would value as much?" been so unenterprising

to I answered harshly, to con- arist salpping off a button or an ecal my own emotions: "What

the

6 Light rings, might one say?

(0)

Changed course. (0)

11 It's all my eye! (5),

12 Duty lists (6)

14 Depends confidently, (6)

15 Strands in wigs. (5)

18 Censure Mabel, maybe, -(5)

18 Rock perlloysly. (0)

18 Copy paper. (6)

22 Like porridge? (5).'

epaulette as a souvenir.

3.55

When I got back 10 the Metropole Nadyo was waiting for me with a cup of coffee. She was just as interested in the minuflac of Stalin's appearance

checks.

about the hai-band from Khrushchev's triiby?"

Mr

Oppenheimer looked at me ro- proochfully. "I guess you never knew Nadyn well. A Commie of

as the reporters had been. the good old schoul-that's her. thing you were co close to him. There'll never be anyone for her she sighed, "you could hove like Joo-except,

course, this

touched his hand! And

I've goddam guy who gave her the never set eyes on him, not even keepsake..."

on the movies.

Knowing as I did that Just DID IT REALLY HAPPEN?

23 Bearer of a great burden for before the war Nadya had

a geography class (5.).

24 Equipped (5).

25 Unrepeated (4).

Unbour.camp for associating with done six months in a correctivo

Spanish refugco who лупа thought to be a German spy, 1

YESTERDAY'S CROSSWORD Acron 1 Vassal, Ŏ was a little surprised by her Dunes, 8 Vocal, Coffer, 10 Ibsen, 11 Rinse, 12 Ouse, 13 irate, enthusiasm.

tired

the кар

10 Relets, 18 Adores, 20 Aaple, 22 Gale, 23 Bkein, 25 Revue, 20 I lingered over Teller, 27 Steer, 28 Andes, '20 Soused, Down: 1 Victorlu, 2 oploode, for it was very late and Soft soap, B, Aver, 4 Loriner, 8 Dolales, 6 Albert, 7 Elect, 14 we were both

make ber As-Soul-fs, 15 Endeared 16 Rockets, 17 Levites, 19 Disuse, thought it would

laugh. But it had the opposite 31 Sheen, 24 Netc.

YES

NO

• Put a tick against your -choice is "the space" above. (The answer je on Page 16)

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