LONDON TOPICS

Evening Star, Issue 21037, 26 February 1932, Page 12

LONDON TOPICS

[From Our Corresponeent.] January 7?. JAPAN’S SWEEP IN MANCHURIA. The ease with which Japan has swept the Chinese armies out of Manchuria has sadly confused the prophets of a great war in the Far East. It proves, moreover, that the Japanese nave a sounder knowledge of China than any other foreigners who have had dealings with her. It is most unlikely that Japan, suffering as she is from the general world crisis, would have embarked upon her Manchurian adventure had she not been certain that China would crumple without resistance. For the welfare of Manchuria and the Chinese who have taken up their abode there, it cannot be doubted that Japan’s action will prove beneficial. She will give to the country that order and peace which alone can bring prosperity. Incidentally, Japan’s bold stand for her rights should prove an object lesson to other Powers having treaty rights in China. REPARATIONS CONFERENCE. We are being told that the world’s rather shaky Future depends on the Reparations Conference, to be held in the middle of next month at The Hague. It would be nice to believe that the eminent delegates then assembled really hold our fate in their hands; but most people, with a tedious recollection of a whole series of abortive international conclaves since the war, may be disposed _ to doubt it. Statesmanship mignt, if it achieved the miracle of being unanimous, do something in mitigation of existing ills, but, even, with international rivalries and racial jealousies completely _ quiescent, can scarcely alter the iron grip of Fate. Even though everybody agreed to scrap armaments and abandon tariff walls, I wonder would the world recover its golden age again? The pills of the gods grind slowly, and international diplomats do not work the cranks. NO HEALING OF THE BREACH. I hear that the tactful overtures for a rapprochement between Socialists who recently parted political company, are falling very flat. Everything'is against success in this endeavour. The personal bitterness, inflamed by much venomous abuse at the time of the breach and subsequent elections, will take many moons to fade out. Mr MacDonald and his group, moreover, anticipate a long reign for the National Ministry, and a possible new orientation of party groups later. Besides which they appreciate the contrast of team work with politicians who are loyal colleagues and not under the thumb of any T.U.C. bosses. So the official Socialist Party looks very like shedding its only presentable leaders at one end, and its only intelligent followers, the LL.P,, at the other. L.G. From all accounts we may expect Mr Lloyd George back in London in a few days, and in the most vigorous health. One of his first cares, when he returns to town, will bo an inspection of his new Liberal staff headquarters in Thames Buildings. It is an elaborate and costly suite to maintain for what is at present, in its outward and visible manifestations, merely a family group. Yet the Celtic optimism of Mr Lloyd George believes he will rally round himself and his famous war chest a new and vigorous party following who will more than compensate for detections by Simonites and Samuelites. It is an ambitious hope, to normal vision, but Mr Lloyd George perhaps pins his faith to some national crisis that will again demand its wizard. The situation would be more convincing if he.frere twenty years younger. THE NEW PEERAGES. It is interesting to note that of the five new peers only two have an heirapparent. Sir William Mitchell-Thom-son has one son, and Colonel Walter Guinness has two; Lord Sankey is a bachelor; Mr Clifford Allen and Colonel Wilfrid Ashley have daughters only. I find that of peerages created during the -last five years twenty will expiry with the life of the present holder. The proportion is obviously too large to be accidental. It means, in effect* that a system of life peerages is growing up—a system whicn many would like to see placed on a recognised basis. Why, for instance, should a man like Mr George Barnes not be a member of the Second Chamber, merely because he has not the wealth to- endow a peerage? CASTLE FOR LORD SNOWDEN. There is a persist rumour at Walmer that Viscount Snowden is to succeed Earl .Beauchamp as Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, and that he will he taking up his residence at Walmer Castle ere long. If his lordship desires the appointment he will probably get it, as his claims to consideration are of the strongest. Socialist as he is, he has never been one of those who have been unmindful of tradition, and the traditions of Walmer ’ Castle and of the Lord Wardenship are of just the description to appeal to him.. Here it vyas that Wellington _ reigned for a time, to be succeeded in due course by Earl Granville, whose tenure left many tangible impressions that continue to the present day. Later, Lord Curzon of Kedleston held the appointment for a brief period. The castle is a picturesque residence, situated in beautiful grounds, and possessing charming marine vistas. The sea air should do much to restore Lord Snowden’s health, and the castle would provide a charming background for those social activities so dear to Lady Snowden, SPLENDID VETERAN. General Pau’s death at eighty-three robs the French army of its G.O.M. and snaps a vivid personal link between the tragedy of 1870 and the epic of 1914. This veteran, reverenced by Foreign Legion “ toughs ” when he commanded in Algeria, fought on till he was made a prisoner of war in 1870, despite losing a hand early in the campaign. Only a quarrel over staff appointments prevented Pau holding, m August, 1914, Joffre’s command on the Western _ Front. An apostle of Napoleonic attack theories, Pau commanded the army that roused false hopes at the very start of the Great War by victories in Alsace. But, instead of German forces having to be withdrawn from the main German advance to hold Pau, as intended, it was Pau’s troops who were hurried to reinforce Joffre’s threatened centre. REGIMENTAL PLATE. The loss of part of the regimental plate by the Sherwood Foresters in the fire at their mess at Shorncliffe is a serious one, for much old silver, which the different regiments possess, is irreplaceable. Some regiments have many thousands of pounds worth of silver, mostly presents from old officers and gifts from various sources. I think it was the Gloucosters who lost a most precious package of old silver on its way back from India some sixty years ago. That was never replaced, nor could it be. Probably the finest regimental plate in the Army belonged to the Royal Irish Regiment and the

Royal Dublin Fusiliers, both of which are now disbanded. The Munster Fusiliers also had a wonderful collection,* and, like the Dublins, gathered a good deal of it in India. The Royal Irish plate is, I understand, being used by the Irish Guards, but with the distinct proviso that, if ever the regiment is reconstituted, the plate is to be returned. The Guards, I need not add, are happy to be trustees of such fine silver. The H.A.C. have some magnificent old plate given them by the City of London. MEMORIES. Sir John Lushcombo, who at eightythree is retiring from Lloyd’s and relinquishing his proud title of “ Father ” of that world-famous corporation, has some interesting memories. He started in the approved fashion by sailing round the world in his father’s ships. This was after ho had played in England’s Rugger serum against Scotland when that classic battle was first staged. He attended the fiftieth anniversary dinner in 1921. When he joined Lloyd’s the entrance fee was only 50gns and tho minimum deposit £5,000. It costs much more nowadays. He recalls conditions that seem fantastic to the post-war generation. Toppers, whiskers, and hansoms were the vogue when Sir John first knew the city, and not a solitary flapper was employed in any capacity at all east of Temple Bar, AMUNDSEN. The late Captain Amundsen, the famous Norwegian explorer and Beaman of Eskimo descent, made a very gallant end. ; So public opinion, which regarded his sudden dash to the South Pole in anticipation of our Scott expedition as “not cricket,’’ may approve the gesture of the R.G.S. in restoring his name to its honours roll. It was knocked off when Amundsen talked of us as “ bad losers.” The truth is that Amundsen, who experienced no particular hardship on his ski journey to the South Pole, never understood our sentimental reelings about the Scott tragedy. And there is no question his plan for getting there was infinitely more sensible and efficient than ours. But he was a ski expert, and much less susceptible than our people to extreme cold and hardship. KIPLING AT SIXTY-SIX. Mr Rudyard Kipling celebrated his sixty-sixth birthday last week. He did so in better health and strength than might have been expected when he fell so seriously ill in Canada just after the Boer War, It is a grief to many admirers of his ballads and poems, estimated oy some critics above oven his prose works, that Mr Kipling has not worn the Poet Laureate’s bays. It is probable tffat Kipling’s imperialism and strong-meat armyism did not make great appeal to such Ministerial advisors of the Crown as Lord Balfour and Lord Oxford. The Prince of Wales, however, is a keen admirer of Kipling’s literary style, and his works figure most prominently on his bookshelves, FRENCH ART EXHIBITION. The private view of tho French Art F hibition, which opened to the public on Monday, drew an ultra-smart crowd to Burlington House. I spent some hours there on i.ie occasion of the Press view, and heard more French, German, and American than spoken. Press view conventions differ across the Channel. Distinguished Anglo-Saxon' art critics in old tweed shits rubbed shoulders with elegant Continental confreres in immaculate salon attire. Art criticism in Paris, too, demands a smartly harbored Captain Kettle beard. X found the pictures most interesting, but not so thrilling as some of the Royal Academy’s earlier foreign shows. This may be for the reason that, owing to an old 1 nglo-French art entente, there is not quite the same element of unaccustomed treatment and outlook, SPLENDID WORKS. So arranged .that the visitor walks from century to century as he passes, these splendid ’ works illustrate how like medieval Fi’ench art was to English, and how, after an excursion into other modes, it finally returned in the last century to ours again. Our moderns are, I think, better than the French, but the French masters, whose names gleam like historic jewels from their medieval canvasses, beat ours Beautiful landscapes filled with romance, superb portraits full of life and elan, and characteristic Gallic nudes adorn the walls. No canvas is too small to be worth study. I like the Parisian gallant of the sixteenth century, having his boots painted by a street shoeblack, who offers money to a passing haughty beauty. A fine portrait of Dumas’s Cardinal Richelieu lent by the King, is one of the gems! It is artistically endorsed by a wonderful bust. A most attractive show, but not sensational. But what heaven-sent sitters those old nobles and fine gentlemen were. REAL BRIDGE. Card players who take international contract bridge seriously are much relieved that Crockford’s Club is sending a representative British team to America next spring. It will be chosen by ,a committee of well-known experts, and probably captained by Colonel Beasley, secretary of Crockford’s, who is leading our side in the triangular duel with Holland and Germany. He was captain of our team that beat the Viennese, who proved too strong for even’ the Culbertsons. Contract is now assuming such importance in popular interest that it would be absurd to leave the selection of British teams to irresponsible unofficial caprice. We can “ table ” a far stronger side than the Americans defeated at Almack’s some time ago. ARMY CARD EXPERTS. It is interesting to note, apropos Colonel Beasley, how retired army men seem to shine at the card table. Perhaps contract bridge has a certain resemblance to military tactics, and calls for the same mathematical genius,, plus the ability to make accurate deductions. Von Moltke, the German commander of the 1870 War, was a famous whist player, and most of tho 1914 German war lords were bridge experts. Curiously enough navy officers do not usually make good card players. During the war it used to be a standing joke that naval bridge was a scream. A naval bridge party was generally composed of one man who could play a little, one who thought he could, one who knew he could not, and a fourth victim commandeered to make up the table.