1946-12-21 — Page 5

row that France and Britain

have

got together to

N

aliolish passport visus this might be a good moment to ask ourselves: What do we really know about each other?

I dare say the politicians know an awful lot about each other. but politicians aren't everybody.

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1946.

Madame,

You Talk?

Will

by BERNARD WICKSTEED

The climate is very much the same

know? as in England. In the north the coun- try is mainly industrial and in the south they go in more for forming. Fashions, agriculture and fishing are the chief industries.

What Td like to ask la: How much, do people like you and me After all, we're the ones who put the politicians in their place.

So what I did was to get out a list of questions and put it to an English a French girl, and from girl and

their answers I have written two little essays.

Representing our side, we have Misa Helen Maynard, who is a short- fand-typist. Sho 15 21, was educated In a convent in Sussex, and bas never been to France,

Her opposite number is Madamo Raymonde Arnoult, who is also shorthand-typist. She is 28, and went to an elementary school in the -country.

First of all, then, here is FRANCE AND THE FRENCH

as soon by Miss Maynard.

FRANCE is a country to the

cast

As a nation the French are no more enterprising than the British and no more brave. They are not so united. They're not. any more elever, but But they're richer than we are, they've got more common They're more artistic and they have beautiful manner.

sense.

I don't know whether the working people are better off there, but they get as much to eat as we do, and the housing altuation is about the same, They suffered more in the war than we did, except in Normandy, which is a rich forming district. I've heard our boys say the farmers in Nor- mandy were sorry when the war ended.

France isn't recovering from the of the British Isles on the Con- war ns quickly as we are because tinent, you know. It's blyger than things are still pretty chaotic. There Britain, but Paris, the capital, is not doesn't seem to be any system there so large as London. Three other-price controls and so on, you know. important French cities are Lille, Toulon and Boulogne.

The French don't have a king and they don't have a parliament--at icast, not exactly a parliament. They have a Chamber of comething in- stead.

I always connect French people with rolls and coffee. I don't know why. I certainly never heard that they lived on frogs and snails. Red und white wines are their favourite 'drinks.

What happens to our MONEY?

E

by JAMES CAMERON

The French

elaborately than we do. They go in people dress more for a lot of trimmings and, in opinion they overdo ti, a bit

my

The worst thing I've ever heard, about them is that they're immoral. Personally I don't believe that they're worse than any other nation. The best thing I've heard is that the women are the most charming in the world.

The British have a king who is married and has two daughters. They have a porllament that connials of an Upper Chamber and a Lower Chamber,

The climate is temperate and humid and the population is mainly rural Mining, iron and steel, ship ping and textiles are the main indus-

tries..

COMMENT By "Candidus

""

SHALL be back in five

"minutes" said. I. "Just

going over to the Post

Office."

I don't make a habit of going to the Post Office, because I'm one of those impatient souls On who hate wasting time. this particular occasion I had a docu- particularly important ment which I wished to see to His handed safely over might possibly be lost before it are Majesty's Post Office, lest it

reached the safety of Imperial custody.

As a nation the British are more more calm, more united and better dynamic than we are. They brought up. They are richer than we and they're just in brave,

1

I don't know if the working people are better off, but they get about the same

amount to eat as we do. Their houses are more comfortable thun burn. I suppose. (Oh, madame, what a cry from the heart that is!) I wouldn't mind a bit if a son or They didn't suffer so much in the daughter of mine married someone war as we did. I know they had the from France.

bombs, but they didn't love, the oc-

French in my view. It's a

11'a plty we don't ali speak much more musical language than oure,

only words

No, I don't speak it myself. The I know are in a song taught me by a French paratrooper. School history books tay that when we used to fight. cuch other we beat the French more often than bent us, but I take that with a grala they of salt.

The most important thing we have learned from France in recent years is the danger of having a Fifth Column in your midst.

cupation. However, they are not re- covering as quickly as we are.

The favourite dish of the British is bacon, and their main drinks are beer and sportingly than we do.

tea. They dress

more

ABOUT COURAGE

The worst thing I've heard about them is that the Scots are mean, and the best thing I've heard is their re- putation for courage.

I

wouldn't mind

it o son

OF

"

People write a lot of letters to the papers about the Post Office, (Perhaps I should qualify this by saying the Hongkong Post Office) Some I thought slightly unreasonable, but after Wednesday's ordeal, I admire their restraint.

The mere weighing and pur- chase of stamps took but five minutes, but the job-and job it was-of getting my package registered and securing the re- ceipt well, it simply beggars description.

For the staff, two clerks and two boys at the registration counter, I have the greatest respect and admiro- tion. They fought against almost overwhelming odds, and the fellow who took my pucknge from the dozens of outstretched hands apolo- It would be all the name togised for the fact that I should have to walt until the lad who was scribbling - scribbling - scribbling re- celpis, caught up.

daughter of mine married one

On the whole Ink it's a

Kreat plty that they turned down Mr Chur- them. chill in 1940 when he offerea to unite | me. the French and British Empires and

give us all a common citizenstrip. It's a pity they don't all speak French because then they would get to know us better. I don't speak

COMMENT

་་

WELL that's France for you by an English girl. When I first started this series. "It's Fun Find- ing Out." I said my ulm was not so much to satisfy your curio

ity as to arouse it, and for that reason I'm not going to analyse Miss. May- nard's essay.

ish myself but I would like to go to England and learn.

When we used to fight each other the British beat us more often than we beat them.

We fought side by side in the 1914 war and all through the last war.

Glanchug at the pile before him, I was amazed that he did! When I sny caught up, I mean that my pack- age ultimately came to the front, but the pile remained the same. It took twenty-five minutes for mine to reach the registering hand.

All will say is that I don't think The most important thing that It's at all bod. She has got some of her facts wrong and contradicted herself occasionally, but by and large she's not wildly out. Take a look at the questions and see what you think.

we've learned from Britain in recent NV years is how to suffer restrictions without complaining.

Termuros and dispiriting medilles like deposit persives, not caused by dyspeptic spasms | surances, and gilt-edged securities. or the imminence of Doomsday,thing-houses, furniture, fishing rods, I know one is foolish to buy any- but by the daily contemplation anything-just now, in a 100 per of that insoluble riddle: What cent. seller's market, at peak prices. happens to the change when But they are likely to remain so for you break a bank-note?

how much I save on expensive com- la

years yet. Meanwhile fe creaks and I might as well pretend to own Money has developed an extra-something while I can. ordinarily slippery quality recently, I can swim in such casulatry, but I It was never so simble; never was have not quite managed to throttle it quite so difficult to equale those the nagging whisper: Your grand- warring brethren, income and expen-father managed to save a toy-summ diture.

each year. What's the matter with you?

I know nothing of other people's money; as time goes on I seems to know less and less about my own. I have a strong feeling, however, that EVIOUSLY, i is no use regret- the attitude of the ordinary salaried worker, ke myself, to the wale rationalise It somehow-nine people ting I am not like him; one must Anancial question is anachronistie, out of ten are in the same boat, and, Money has changed its character but if one may coin a. jewelled phrase, we haven't.

there are other things than money. Or else just

go bust with a good grace. Bui, in any case, don't do as Y do, and talk about it.

A friend of mine who rations his children rigidly to a dole of a few pence werk tells me that They always use those pennies for skiing on a a pond.

They are the perfect shape, and when they are gone the children are quite satisfied, as well they be, being the only people I

might know who have discovered a truly func-

loual use for hard cash,

WE know by now-surely?—that the day when a paid employee could, by endeavour or thrift er application or even parsimony, he cumulato money out of income is Heat

Taxation has stopped that, rising prices have stopped 11, the cold, damp draught of the last few years hna stopped H.

I should say that right now it is outright impossible for anyone with a fixed earned Income and no TC- sources in his sock to do much more. than tread water.

The Job, though, is to take that ne a working rule.

My own income, now, is some- where between that of a Mudri coolie and that of Mr Henry Ford; within that handsome margin it has fluctuated, at times quite vintently, without in the least affecting the general rule; the more one makes the easter it is to find oneself down to.

it has really come to them at last, what money is for.

I don't think it would have been a good thing for us to have accepted

And now for the other side. Here Mr Churchill's offer of common citi

BRITAIN AND THE BRITISH

zenship. Our qualities are too dif ferent. But I do think an alliance between us is necessary.

COMMENT

volt, the

DRITAIN is

as seen by Mmc. Arnoult

an Island tu north-west of France. It is Д smaller country than ours and Lon- don, the expital. is smaller then Paris. Three other important cities are Manchester, Brighton and Birining ham..

ITASIENINI CIELLA ANTARCT)

THANK

Raymonde, for

and if you should ever visit London telling us what you think of us, people will be delighted to put

on their most sporting clothes and show -you-how-well brought up we are.---

ÇANARIJUANATIOman

THESE WERE THE QUESTIONS

WHERE

France. (or England)? Is it a larger or smaller country than ours? What is *he capital? Nome three other important cltics. Is there a king, and do they have a parliament? What's the cll- male like? What are the main Industries?

Are they a more enterprising

nation, richer, more united, more brave, more elever, more artistic, better mannered?

Are the working people better off? Have they got better houses? Do they get more eat than we do? Did they suffer more in the war? Aro they recovering more quilekly?

What do they eat and drink? Do they dress differently? What's the worst thing you've heard about them? What's the best?

Would you mind if a son or daughter of yours was married to one of them?

Do you think it's a pity they don't speak our language? Do you speak theirs? When we used to fight cach other did we heat them mere often than they Sent us?

What is the most important lesson we've learned from them in recent years? Would it have been a good thing or a bad if Mr Churchill's offer in 1040 had been accepted?

WILLIA M HICKEY

MIGHTIER

WAR history to be prepared

.

PENS

+

an

•

JEVER in my life have I seen such inadequacy of staff.

lack of organisation-such utter Never again will I scold my office boy for being away from the office for half-an-hour when I have sent him to register a letter.

stand for hours on end, working at I marvel that human beings can

suul-destroying speed against odds which must seriously affect their benith:

Apart from the aspect of the com tort or otherwise of the staff, there

dalous that such inefficiency should is, of course, the point of view of the public. It is nothing short of scan-

exist in one of Britain's greatest public services. Elsewhere in the Empire, we have the greatest adrain. tion for our postmen and post ofßres generally-but not so in Hongkong.

The thought occurs after such an experience: "What sort of a service does the Post Office provide in Hong- kong? It must be remembered that we have a population nearing the two rollion mark. Are there sulli- elent sub-post offices? Are there suf- Aclent pillar boxes? Is there suin- slent staff? Is there up-to-date or- Gonisation? Can people buy stamps casily throughout the Colony without | having to swoll the squirming crowds who congest the General Post Omce?

II His Majesty's Government is so niggardly that it cannot afford ade- quale staff to cope with the public demand, then surely somebody might at least plead for the necessary funds to erect barriers in order at least to preserve public dignity and comfort,

COMPULSORY queueing would re- lleve members of the pubile from finding themselve: jammed in a pusk- ing and squirming crowd, when and where the thoughts of every concei- vable germ become uppermost. Yes! Turnstiles might control the unplea- A^nt crowding which at present turns His Majesty's General Po

Omce (Hongkong) into an exceptionally chattering example of Bellam.

+

It is about time that 'Hongkong

The Air Ministry will rely on GIVEN ability to spot an oppor by Cambridge. historian GEORGE SAUNDERS, the House of still make the Jobs.

ebullient HILARY AIDEN ST. tunity and get in quick, the times awakened to the fact that Victoria is wn study of the higher. JAMES RAMSAY MONTAGU Lords librarian. His. Battle of

a very important city, and that in ia rather erratic and BUTLER, will be a fully docu-Britain, which was first of the

Because servants LT1-

are short,

common with, the rest of the world, always binsed; nevertheless, I am but mented and multi-volumed re-,000,000 copies.

official histories. sold more than enterprising young

Post Office facilities must be pro- woman too familiar with that inexorable ference book which nobody is

MARY WHITEHEAD Iɛ

called vided along modern lines. sending coonomie law that sends one's cover likely to read through.

cheerful letters to tenants of swank I now feel myself to be one of those penses up always two jumps ahead of

WAR MINISTER was asked by pare, cook and cerve

London flats offering to shop, pro who from me one's salary.

It will probably be about ten years WLleut. Commander

to time complain meals. She shout the fantastically unbelievable The trouble is that we are paddling before the first part is published, and HUTCHISON to derequisition an too.

CLARK promises to go easy on the rations, discomfort which in to buble furiously between, two worlds. We when it will be filed is anybody's hotel near Edinburgh to accommo-

perienced. I would urge Honourable. are only a few years past the genern guess. The last four volumes of the date visitors to forthcoming interna Not knowing what else to do.. pro- Executive

Members of our Legislative and tion when a man was able to put history of World War I are still tonal drama. festival.

Councils to visit the something by.

awaited-if not impatiently.

vincial visitors are apt to sit around Colony's G. P. O. for the purpose

of We are only a few.

In the meanwhile,

Hotel belongs to Captain THOMAS in their hotel lounges at night experiencing the ordeal of registering years ahead

vio three of a generation which, I do believe Service departments are preparing under a nieco of Strauss and chris- promptly started a personal look-nce studied music FILANK BLAKE noticed that and

a package. and hope, will count its solvency in preliminary official lustories

and, terms of money well spent rather fudging by the writer selected, in tened his oldest daughter DIELDA, service. He calls it VUP-for Very than well boarded.

tend them to be readable.

after the music-teacher,

Unimportant People. Tat at the moment we approve of The Admiralty havo Dicked

But aho is ANNE CRAWFORD to A happy-washing service is doing the future, while the past conditions ATTUR, DRYANT, a master of, Almgoers. our reflexes.

Blogen, Rock-a-dry- well-chosen words.

baby." the War Office need six to do Jus-DOWN OR DOUG Conta OKRIL tleo to the Army, LAN HAY will EUSTACE DOUGLAS-FENNANT, 'aescribe the growth and organisation who will

ground-floor SNI have a

.

CRAWFORD, who

fino with the

NIPPED

I AM In spite of my pretentious of the Army; ERIC LINKLATER, the office as commandant of the new Joint NEWS-WERK:

ARE YOU SURE?

· ANSWERS

Questions on Page Four- 1. General Stilwell. 2. Yen. A tax was levied on bachelors--from 12 10. for a duko to is, for a "terramon person bolween 1695 and 1706.3. Hindu sacred tree. 4. Sec- ffon of a cat's tongue. 6. Bismarck.

from the

American

talk, frequently haunted by the Italian campaign: JOIN NORTHI, Services staff college.

The Irish have a phrase for nearly reflection that no malter what I Western Europe: EVAN JOIN, tho. His lost job included a desk on the everything and they have one for * make I cannot 'save a bean.. s'i

I know List I spend too much on Burn campalms; FRANK OWEN, ninth floor, and when the lift broke migration of wealthy Britons to vir- and For East, and down, which was not unusual, this fully unretioned, non-Socialist Fire, certain: things-cigarettes, drink, CHRISTOPHER BUCKLEY, the cam long-winded rear-admiral was the Thoy call it "The Retreat from Mosa. Verailler, bayoneted. 7. Thackeray. ronding, railway trains but I can palona in Norway, Greece, Syria, only senior officer able to take 272 cowbo reasonably offset that by considering Madagascar,

stairs non-stop.

To Eire is human.

8. Marcel Cerdan, a French middle-

weight boxer,

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