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THE CHINA MAIL. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1980.
Moscow's "THE MILDEST MANNERED MAN THAT EVER CUT A THROAT”
Smiling assassin is now:-
faithful
follower The MAN OF PEACE
HE
E looks like Lenin. And that is the greatest compliment you can pay Ernest Paul Walter Ulbricht, boss of East Germany's Communist re- gime. When he dies he wants to be buried in Moscow next to the Pope of Communism,'
It would be a fitting resting place for this little man with the goatee beard and piercing eyes. He is head of the East German Communist Party,
who and east of the iron curtain the man
wields the. secretary's pen wields power. But Ulbricht's pen is guided by a hand nine hundred miles away...in Moscow.
In Berlin he sits on the de- tonator that could explogle G mclear, powder kept of ET and wait se tro thuộc 19 ly bi
it, Walter Ulbrick will apply
the match.
But the decision will be Mox- Col's.
Her Ulbricht is a puppel-
who voluntary, euger puppet dances before the strings are w?n copes pulled, the deg
Tuming
Whistles,
1155 before 1's
Whether h ke: : sube, servient ruiv
doufful, IL
certainly eng to go against the botince a Gumptiousness
لوم
that meise up the barnetvr
this diminutive man.
In dealing with equals or in- feriors he inekes sure that
the
word
19
o Waller Ulbricht heard lind-and just.
Ask him a question and he is quite likely to unlend a torrent of words, without giving on
answer.
Makes sense
What he says, etten
LEBISE,
meka
WOS
Asked whether I thought the West Berimise worth the risk of a third worki war he replied:
"There is no
international
dispute whairyer which cân bụ solved by a third world war. All questions, even the must complicated must be solved by way of negotiation."*
unes.
CAR
to
·constant embarrassment Clomisspaisan. In June, 1958, and the bloody East German revolt
saw many meet bloody dealt both in the process and in the oflermath.
cannot But if negotiaLiem bring about Ulbrichts main Dim in lif-A Gerumn. Pearc Treaty he declares that shall go it alone and conclude
peace. B
Union"
www
Bust Uibeleht survived,
Every now and then Moscow sends its slogical Storais
troopers to Fast Berlin to check Soviet up on stepected irregularities
Tensbei seis in auong Party Any opposition, in the form and Government offelals. On Western Honvoys foreing one cension. in 1953. I was their way l West Berlin, will said that Ulricht was about to be met with the full might of be sanked. Instead, he came up the Soviet Union end hi the muling-ON AN
of
States of the Socialist camp."
Why? Probably because Mus-
So speaks Ulbricht, the man of power.
may
•
rees in Herr Ulbricht a 1200001 of unswerving loyalty.
and Initiative fade against the antset when. boekground of the Kremlin,
This was apparent from the Stalin in 1927,
parly
How remarkably his, power
Is called upon him to re-organise is sald in Berlin that whenever the German Communist
11err which up- War becoming too strong and loo
independent.
it
rains
Murcow Ulbricht resele: for his brella.
Personal
In all maiters,
from party politics flown to personal habita, Moscow he no faithful followor
more:
Last year Mr Khrushchev in-
troduced the women's angle
むり
A
the Soviet leader. feit
Th faithful Ulbricht chop. ped up into cells easily run from Mosenw. From the dis- tani Russian capital, Ulbricht carried oul' many purges in the German Communist Party and doing
celebrated about-face he was quick to accism die Hitler-Stalin pact * 1930.
The result
coli-
BEHIND the scenes in Africa-poised as
J
is
it is for bloodshed and violence perhaps the most efficiently trained killer in the continent.
No man assassinated with more charm or deadliness during the war.
Once he tossûd a greunde into a German gardroom with the envaller instruction, "Here«, « enteh!"*
And before he was cuplared Ches he was responsible for destruction ካን 14 hecte ond bloody months of tre than 250 German planes.
Churchill mee quote from "The Byrm to describe him!
deal-mannered man that ever settled ship or cut a throat.“
In the Western Desert he was known simply as The Phantom Major.
Fourteen months after his private Diy was formed, Stirling was captured. He caped, bat a band of Arabs laimed him over to the Gejmans in exchange for 1115 of ten. Rommel wrote, "It was a bargain we soon cinched."
Enigma
hanic: Colonel David Stirling, 44, dark haired, good looking, former cow-puncher and commando, who now operates relegantly as a businwonen.
Stiring Is well-dressed, charining, softly spoken and has energy. He has exhaustibl always been an tuiventurer.
He was a problem chlid to his wealthy Scottish parents with preferred gambling to study at Countridge.
Prison
He abandoned his university career after a few month; and Legom a Continental tour, during which he was a racing motorist in Italy, a journalist in France, a brewery worker in Germany mountaineer in Switzer-
and a
land.
British Prime Minister, Mr Macmillan.
From Robert Callander
proclaims human equality of all races and the belief that black and white, can live in peaceful partnership in Africa.
were
1s policies in, the begining than the more überal orthodox Right (whooo Ideas for Africa ranged from eventuză but related partnership to the re- white sottier doc- octionary trimes).
To the left of Capricorn was
prior knowledge or feeling for stark African Nationalism. The problem of a multi-racial eralment, in Africa and in- volvement in its confused, dangers poilies.
Surting, a prison, read hun
boredom bild grily to stifle his the books that captured his wild bul maturing imaghallon were about Afries,
To the Liberals ku central Africa Stirling, a Uft 4in Scots Guards officer, was a prophet. To others he was a dreamer.
Was
Gentle
The war had begun with
He was president of the String footloose and unsettled.
society for 10 years and chose as it ended with Stirling a young its crest the zebra, an animal he was mountaineering in in with a missboti.
said, which symbolised how each file American Rockles when
After he
tlischarged race was
the dependent on World Wor 11 bruke out. 1 Steling went 10 Salisbury, other, "for a builet harms the
pluts abruptly ended his
to Southern Rhodesia.
zebra, whether it enters through On the surface he was a bust the white or brown part of the climu Mt. Everest.
-Stirling joined thu Scots nesman, but underneath he was skin." Guards and was later posted a man emotionally troubled by a comatendo unit in the the pangs of African nationalism and its ultimate effect on the Middle East.
While here, he allimately continent. headed Rommel's black list and, Today he is enigmatically u man of pener, trying to guide... “tronically, it was his capture and idealistically, most say the rednement in Colditz prison destinies of Africa,
that tumed him. without any Society,
Said Rommel in his popers Thus the British lost the very able and adaptable, commander of the desert group which hnd caused us more damage any other British unit of equal Strength"
Confirming
MALTA became Bri
tish, you might al- most say, because the Crusades failed.
Within two years he was a full-time political agitator tad ander of the Capricom Africa centre group which
my doubts about chivalry
by PETER FORSTER
1
During nearly 200 years, Troun 1096
1201. eight Crusades
to were launched recupture Jerusalem an the original inspiration of the order Holy Land-this was the noble had declined into petty politick- ideal of medieval Christianity, ing
Were the knights in faet as and from it was born the idea
-venal, lecherous and treacherous of Christian chivalry.
The
the legend alleges? abandonment
Mr Cavaliero courteously Crusades was followed by the decline
unii in side-steps the dirt as if it were of chivalry, modern Umes it has grown to a nasty smell on the pavement, be equated with me giving up and suggests that it has been
their bus seats to women.
My own view is thai the age of chivalry will not dawn again Lentil women start le give
their bus seats to men.
But
what happened to
up
The
exaggerated.
SNOBBERY
But he shows how the
orders of knighthoon formed to chivalrous Ideal had ossified into Bight the Crusades?
"The sad.. fascinating story of a ono such order, the Hospitalter
a mobbish system of privileges,
"Republie of Aristocrats,”
Knights under which the Maltese found
days Napoleon swept away the society formed during two and a half centuries and replaced It with his own detailed system of taxation and administration, Malia was put in the hands of the Maltese.
But the Maltese in those days were not so ever to be put to the trouble of ruling them- selves, and when it looked as though the Russians were trying to take over the island, ap- proaches were made to the Bri- tish:
SARCASM
Mir Cavaliere adds and quite unfairly sarcastic
sort of man
Stirling is the who collects disciples. He is a inge but gentic character,
ruthless yot
And
idealistic daring.
One man connected with him, both in war and peace, wrote that Stirling "was the Lawrence of the last war, who one day may become the Rhodes of the future."
His friends arc found in grouse moors and African mud huts.
He has relations sprinkled powerfully through the peer- oge, Parliament and the Colonial Service, and he is intimate enough with Harold Macmillan to have spont several hours ex- changing views before the Prime Minister's "whid of change" tour of Africa.
Charm
"We shoot together," Stirling explains.
"Bernard" (the Duke of Nor- folk) is a relation, so boo is Lord Lovat, the commando leader.
Stirling
has been
a house guest with the Queen.
Yet, for all his links with the traditional soutrees of power Stirling m Africa remains an absolute political outsider,
Sir Winston Churchill
David Stirling-the Phantom Major,
locations and the white man's homesteads.
For Southern Rhodesia, ho Eces a future of bloodshed before
achieves In Africa there are few men the African As the injor and most who will not listen to him, for dence.
fanatical spokesman for Capri- he has a commanding prestige "Its damned difficult
indepen
to 500 on his corn, which refuses to consider that is based not only the interests of the races in incredible desert war against how it can be avoided," says
Stirling.. isolation from cach other, Rommel.
Yet, since it was formed in
"Welensky (the Prime. Minis-
Ond on the island the British of St. John and themselves ruled by alien poliif- commnders declined, ignored Stirling has been accused of Malia, is told In The Last of the clans, who had been put down or resisted all attempts to dis-selling out" white settler In 1940, Stirling's society has little
terests. Russian politics by taking his Then, as the nome Stalin be- Crusaders by Roderick Cavaliero for the order at birth, as for a lodge them, and despite many
to show, apart from full-time ter) denies his personal ilbera
Hism when it comes to the became (Hollis and Carter, 30.). It special club.
complications, Malta
But ironically, too, many wife on his tour of the United carne a diriy word in Commun
of staffs in London, Salisbury and Almost all were German ism, no one was more Slates.
noblemen, part of the British Empire on the extremic Africans The East
might have been called "When
suspect Nairobi, two "citizen colleges African question,
*Do you know he has===EMTY OF the Crusading Had To Stop," In templuous in his obuse that
with splendid names like Com May 30, 1814. leader's
him of Kubricating a smokescreen where blacks and whites mingle reaction
met one Nationalist Formed in the early twelfth munder Dieudonne Sylvain, former bootlicker Vibricht,
brief for the rearguard. mediate. He rarely made
for adult education, and a hostel never century, the Knights of St John Tancred de Gratet de Dolomieu.
Nevertheless, it is testimony to club for Commonwealth students leader for political talks in
Salisbury, or anywhere ofm?” public appearance without Frau
of Jerusalem were an exclusive Most were French or Spanish, mention of the way in which, his divarming charm that M 10 in London. spotlight. Ulbricht sharing the
Although Stirling adinite band of soldier-doctors, kuy- But with the French Revolt later just century, an English years agitation over the length
African nationalism is too strong Previously her place had bee
brothers vowed like monks to tion, the deaths-knell sounded chapter of the order founded the and breadth of Africa, "not once
to hold he believes his decade. In the Ulbricht home,
chastity, poverty, and obedience. for the power of the knights, S: Jolin Ambulance Service, for have I been spat on or stoned.
long night against both implacable | After the last Crusade they For, in 1708, tho young which so many have so much A man once dedicated to
extremes has not been in vain. settled in Rhodes, then in 1530 Napoleon landed at Vaitettu, cause to be grateful. Also he violence. Stirling sometow In British political circles t "I have absolute faith in the moved to Malta, where they set and took with care e fortress might have noted that during escapes, provoking violence.
is usually described us being Africans' integrity," he says. up a sovereign State.
made Impregnable by the fore- the list war the white cross oi His political beliefs do not nearly defunct, nici with *They aro now our hope. But by the eighteenth century bears of knights.now too fat the Knights of Mallo was tinge his personal relationships negligible influence over events After independence there will be (with which Mr Cavaliero's and cowardly to defend It proudly joined
in the islands with bitterness, for his friends in Africa.
a period of total African, domnkná- story is mainly concerned) the During six amazing galvanic Jeneurs by the George Cross. still come from both African
All the evidence points to the tiơn, which can be short, but fact that Surling's inspired nevertheless historically on re- dream has fizzled, that despite cord.
and
Herr Ulbricht may not relish
The result is that the tailor's every Rapeet of kuch subtar- vience, but any damage to his who hegan life as a cabinet- maker has survived to lead a pride is compensated by major life of austere comfort in the advantage-atch a preserving Beriln suburb of Pankow. his position af power
He neither drinks nor smokes saving his life.
fin deference to a liver com- Out of all the faceta that plaint) End follows a careful make up Communist thinking diet, mainly of raw vegetables. Leninism, Stallnim and the He enjoys muualai climbing, Utricht haa ski-ing and water sports. Al rest Walter evolved his own--Survivalism, 57, he took my wi tennis.
He has pursued It with But the role of the anxious- fanatical zval. In a politieal repleure puppet is not always career punctuated regularly by casy to play." fallures, he has survived them all. More, ie has thrived them.
on
His first big job and nest big fallure, came in 1923. He
party was
secretary Thuringia which was to become the focal point for a big Com munist putsch. It faller und the recriminations that followed were endless,
The only one to escape all blame was the bustling tic party secretary. He got re- warded by being sent to the Moscow Comintern for three years higher education.
help
Earlier this year he launched collectivisation programme of all farming land and, instead of bringing gushing pralsc, his Kremlin corta evoked stany Flience.
Was it because the unpopular ensure resulted in more East Gorman farmers facing to
West Germany? Or was Mr Khrushchev merely rebulling an ambitious Ulbricht who was anging for a leading role in Fast-West negotiation over Cermany.
The farming polley raised enly one response. In the Com- munist blog. In Yugoslavia, This higher education did not the Frees derided the Ulbricht the cause of German gillet which blamed the East Communism against Hitler. The German Minister of Agriculture Party, which had a voting strength of six million, collape for having applied "g inistaken ed completely before Nazism, eology in the artincial In- With Hitler in power, Corn cemination of sows." munist underground résistance falled abysmally. Its director Was Walter Ulbricht,
After the war it was the sim? atcary East Germany's record production of refugees Jaak
Simon
Kavanaugh
"I will think fretwork, would have bren
more "suitable hobby, dear”.
WINDOW
CLEANER
SERVICE
Vision
L
all ha lecturing, lobbying and "The African must have that picading the tide and bitterness period psychologically to prove of nationalism in Atrien is too himself capable of exiting by strong now to offer much hope himself.
for multi-racial peace in the "Thon, we believe they will future,
remember the Leachings of What went wrong? Stirling's Capricorn. The Europeans will vision of post-colonial Africa cease to be a political creature, asked for nothing worse than the of course, but he can contribute integration of all moon in one in a thousand ways to a multi- soctely.
racist partnership."
Stirling rooontly resimed, as It seams that Burling, like president of the society, but most prophets, was way ahead of business and his still stroga his time.
polttical acKvities frequently
Ho. demanded a period of take him to Africa.
"I went to the Congo to watch ̈ confdont partnership before in dependence at a time when the handover thero,...got out Bellali Governments and local with the women and children administzniors were unwilling to when it blew up, My God--the bend: He
equality Belgians boobed," he says, that preached against a background of practis- Burlingha now trying to ed' apartheid.
make some money": Recently in the comfortablo "I was broke at the end of plushness of: St. James Club, ha my 10-your stint as president of told me, "There was a time-up the society but never hungry. 10 1957, even 1988-when the I have some very kid and un- principles of Capricom could deralending relatives," he enki! have succeeded, it only, the right He is "involved" in a television pooplo had listened,
company and another exciting, The present Colonial, Omeo but highly socrot,. venture in administration lá brüllant. Un- Atrica. fortunately the new broom bo- Bet; most of all, Atletika Bajo wwwp too late. Now we involved in the weeTis inady Can only ride with the figer and fruitless' business of bringin Hver posse, to the centimetri kurį lovg
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