1935-05-08 — Page 3

I

MAXIM LITVINOFF AT HOME

INTIMATE GLIMPSE OF RUSSIAN DIPLOMAT

*

BY CATHERINE CARSWELL.

HAVE before me as I write a recent snapshot of Maxim Litvinov and Salvador de Madariaga engaged in animated conversation at Genova, The Basque, with his characteristic smile, gay and disarming, is emphasis ing his remarks by a prodding forefinger on the Russian's chest,

The Russian, who hates nothing more than to be touched by anybody, is smiling too, but with a reserved amusement which is equally characteristic. I smile also as I recall how these two men, both married to old and intimate friends of mine, and both living at the time in Hampstead, first met one another in my house.

It was about 18 years ago, and M. Laval and Mr. Eden may pos therefore long before any of us sibly be invited this week, na one could possibly have foreseen the of its purposes la to enable the very different circumstances in Foreign Minister to do hla less which they would later approach formal and more intimate official each other. Thinking. that, ARentertaining.

Entertainment on Continentals and keen students of the grand scale takes place, of politics, they might be interested course, in the Kremlin, and official lo meet, I asked their wives to talks are held in "the Big House" bring them along for an evening's for Narkomindel. talk.

Last November I stayed with the Litvinovs at their country re- treat that is half an hour's run from Moscow by car. It is called the "datcha" (or cottage) bul, like so many English "coltages," is a fairly commodious villa, to which

These young women have helped maka Oberammergau farmous. They are members of the Passion Play CRIT."

Miss Shleis MacDonald kus bean studying "juvenils crime and correc tion in Los Angeles.

In the "dutcha" with its Hovere furniture and high, pale-washed walls (Litvinoy always disliked the low Hampstead, ceilings) the People's Commissar sits working - in a huge club chair before a huge table, while at his elbow a huge amplifier blares out dance tunes. or whatever may be the wireless item of the moment, into his un-) istening ear, to the affliction of his family whose notions of what aids concentration are different.

Whatever may be the anxieties of a political career in Russin, there is the respect in which the lot of a Soviet Minister la enviable, So far as the State can see to it he is removed as far from private worries as from private property.

5300 A YEAR

He need not think about money, His so-called salary-a matter of £300 or so a year-is no more than an allowance for ready cash. Any- thing in reason for his own use. or the hospitality devolving upon him he can have on scale of modest comfort, and of a kind in accordance with his own tastes.

And who would not rather "have the use of a motor-car than own one? 1 havo little doubt that this admirable arrangement has been an important factor in the admit- ted success of Soviet foreign policy during recent years. The Com- missar for Foreign Affairs in able to give undivided attention to his job.

The Litvinova town homo la typical of the best that Russia bas to offer to its leading citizens. It is merely part of a converted house, consisting of a long, narrow- passage, with light but not large rooms off it all along one side one room, that Is, for each of the family in which to work and sleep, and one little room where they all meet for meals or, at other times, retire singly to play the piano.

In addition there are a tiny kitchen and a bathroom. With the exception of the dining-room, each apartment has a desk and a bed. (Wherever you visit in Mos- cow there fa always somebody sound asleep on one of those day and-night couches.) "Papa's" room is so near the front door that people entering are apt to pass it without notleing it, which is precisely what is intended.

SHOWS TASTE

In Mrs. Litvinov's room there are Bokhara hangings (the cheap. jor the cheerfuller) and one or two well-chosen pictures on the light

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 1935.

blue walls. She is out most of and mingled wood of dark troon the day teaching basle English to against which the groups of white young soldiers and pensants. Russian birches show up, as Mr. When sho la at home, she is pre-Bullitt, the American Ambassador, paring for her classes or getting once said, "like a herd of giraffes." herself ready for a lesson in har- I remembered, walking so once mony, at which she works with by fieldpatha in Bucks, when enthusiasm, де does her son, Litvinov taught us a number of Misha, in the intervale of learn-edible fungi not usually recognis- ing about the construction of nero-ed as such this country, and planes and the behaviour

CHINESE RAILWAYS

BRITISH ADVISORY MISSION

STARTS WORK

Nanking, May 7. Brigadier General F. D. Ham- of demonstrated his muscular skillmond and the four railway experts

by throwing my unsuspecting hus-who are vialitng China, at tho| His sister, Tania, who lu a band into the air with a deft twist Invitation of the Ministry couple of yearn younger-now 16, of the leg in a sort of Russian Railwaya, left for Nanking is studying philology, and to this ju-jitsu.

gliders.

of

by

train at 11 p.m. to-night accom-

During

end she is reading Latin and In this Bussing walk we passed panied by Mr. Cheng Pao-chao, Greek, which, after being for some

a cabbage-shredding maching In Assistant Managing Director of years regarded as unnecessary subjects, have recently been read one of the collectiva farms, which the Peiping-Linoning Railway. mitted into the Soviet curriculum was surrounded by shavings of the I imagine that, of all European vegetable that is the Russian's

I two day stay in statesmen, Litvinov is the most staple food. I felt I knew my host

Mr. Tseng realistic. He detests functions well enough to pick up and nibble Shanghai they met and avolds personal publicity, be- ja scrap of it. He smiled and his Chung-ming, the vice-Minister of ing chiefly concerned to get things small eyes twinkled. "Take care," Railways and Dr. II. H. Kung. done and, for this purpose, to he said, "you know you can be shot

Upon arrival at the capital, to. match his hard and clear wits for that in Russia. Don't you

morrow morning they will conter. against those of other men. Of a read your own newspapers 7"

Our walk over, we returned with man his highest commendation is

leading officials of the to say that he le "cloar-minded", home to play at a corner of the Ministries of Railways and Fin- of a woman that she is "practient.", huge work table, which is also the

dining-room table, n childish ance and the National Economic BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY card game in which the convention Council with rogard to the itiner la that "Papa always chenis" and¦ary `of their work in China.- At the "datcha" when he was half the fun is to catch him at it.Renter. not at work he went walking with This is by no means easy, his wife, his daughter and myself Long residence in prison and in one of the loveliest country- exile had, he told me, perfected

idea. I know. It resembles a him in the art of seeing other tricks. Perhaps no better train. Lilliputian Switzerland, having people's hands, and oven annexing ing could be devised for states- steep little hills, swift little rivers, now and then the other man's men.

Spring comes to Japan with the Cherry Blossom Festival.

These big fellows followed the recant "pigistle king" competition In India for the Kadir Cap.

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