GETTING BACK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 19 September 1936, Page 4

GETTING BACK

JOHORE HAS NO NATIONAL DEBT (By Air Mail—From Cur Own Correspondent.) LONDON, 17th August. There is a legend that, when the Sultan of Johore met President Roosevelt in Washington a year ago, the autocrat of the White House was tactless enough to admit complete ignorance as to the precise map location of Johore. This sounds quite unlike Mr Roosevelt’s usual aplomb with distinguished visitors, and rather weakens one’s belief in the story that the Sultan neatly countered by remarking that, though ruler of only a small State, it was one with a balanced budget and no national debt. One likes, however, to believe in these neat mots when possible. The Sultan’s State Army, though also small, is beautifully equipped. In fact his troops wear the service kit elaborated by our best military experts after ten years of hard test, which will ultimately be regulation for our own Mr Atkins. Our Army has to wear out its old stuff before the new is issued, but we have a national debt, and cannot afford such gestures as Johore’s £500,000 gift to the Singapore Base.