19 MARCH 1983, Page 5

Notebook

t was quite a good joke by the Russians, if

it was they, to land on the uninhabited island of Thule, one of the Falkland Islands Dependencies, take down the Union Jack (why do some papers, and the BBC, have to call it the Union Flag?), and raise the Ar gentinian flag instead. So rarely is the island visited by anyone that the Argenti- nian flag may have been flying there for as long as five months last year, after the war had ended. The Union Jack was not remov- ed from the island, but left folded under a nearby rock. It might be enjoyable to pur- sue this sort of practical joke, to the an- noyance of other countries with small islands whose sovereignty is disputed. However, Russia would not show the same restraint were a British ship, by way of

flag for Thule, to hoist the Japanese "a8 on one of four islands off the north of Japan. These were taken by Russia from Japan at the very end of the second world hostilities Japan still wants them back and nostilities between the two countries have never been formally ended.

If a taxi driver, or the driver of a hired car,

is not obliged by law to wear a seat belt

because he might be attacked by a Passenger — what about the private motorist who gives a lift to a stranger, or to someone he knows but does not trust? F°110wing the curious logic of the legislators, it would surely be right for any driver not to fasten his seat belt if he had reasonable cause to fear that he might be assaulted while in control of his vehicle. Or Would the law seek to distinguish — using the legal jargon — between a person driving in the course of his employment and one Who was 'on a frolic of his own?' I think we might have an interesting test case here.

From a booklet with the appealing title `Bring Back the Trains', I was surprised to learn that over 70 stations have been opened or reopened since 1965 — though the total number of stations in the 25 years following nationalisation in 1948 was cut by two thirds. The Railway Development Society bravely puts forward the case for expanding the rail network in many country areas, at a time when the Serpell report Points to the need to make more and more reductions in the service. Clearly there are Persuasive reasons for re-establishing Passenger services on lines which are still being used for freight; but not, I think, Where the track has been removed. My own memories of pre-Beeching lines are confin- ed mainly to north Cornwall, where the old London "don and South Western Railway started ad. service in the mid-19th century, with bout 20 halts between Okehampton and

Wadebridge. The last link, between Wadebridge and Padstow, was opened in 1899. This was one of Sir John Betjeman's favourite railway lines — he is a vice- president of the society — and I am glad to note from its booklet that no recommenda- tions are made for bringing back any trains in Cornwall. The greatest legacy of these disused lines, where the tracks have been pulled up, is the opportunity afforded for walking through unspoilt countryside, un- touched by the farmers' insecticides. The number and variety of butterflies and wild flowers is a wonder to behold. And now that the old railway bridge over the Little Petherick inlet has been made safe again, it is possible to walk the whole of the beautiful Wadebridge-Padstow stretch, along the Camel estuary where Betjeman spent much of his youth.

Rare plants and butterflies are also to be found on Greenham Common, accor- ding to Sanctuary, a paper issued recently by the Ministry of Defence. But it is doubt- ful whether the 'peace women' would be much impressed by this special interest in conservation evinced by the Ministry. I passed by the main entrance to the Greenham air base last weekend, having been asked to call on a friend of a friend who has taken up residence there. It was an early spring morning, the gorse along the perimeter fence was in flower, and I half ex- pected to find that some of the women had changed their winter trousers for more seasonal, and feminine, skirts. But no: the masculine impression still predominates, and a large sign on the roadside announces: `I am woman, inflicted with the burden of bearing mankind.' Another sign advertises `Common Hairdos', reminding me of the question asked by a schoolboy in a letter to the Newbury Weekly News: 'Why do they call themselves green and common women?' The woman I was looking for had left after the court cases last week, but she was expected back. Several women were just there for the weekend — 'my husband wants me back to cook his supper'; 'I'll bring my child when the weather gets warmer'. It is hard to see how the Newbury Council can win: the eviction orders are ef- fective only against the women named in the applications, and there is a seemingly unlimited number of women willing to take their place. It is quite mistaken of the coun- cil to imagine that it can end the protest by 'getting the ringleaders'. The encampment has already been moved a few yards on to land which belongs not to the council but to the Ministry of Transport, and there is no obstruction of the road or the pavement. Earlier this year the council dumped a heap of rubble and soil in an attempt to stop the women pitching their tents. On one of the banks, with some more soil added, they have planted daffodils to form the sign of the CND; in about two weeks' time it will look rather striking.

It must be of great concern to many people who go to church that their diocese or parish is associated with the unilateralist peace movement. Such a church is St James's, Piccadilly, in London, where the Revd Donald Reeves seems to have established a sort of community workshop for non-violence. This is all very well, and some may think it right to bring politics into the church — but what sort of politics? Mr Reeves would say that he provides a balanc- ed forum for debate on the issues of church and state: Professor Michael Howard and Mr Teddy Taylor MP have been among those to have given lectures there recently. However, a series of talks was held earlier this year on 'Karl Marx and the Beatitudes', by the secretary of the religious affairs ad- visory committee of the Communist Party. And next week there is to he a lecture from the chairman of the 'Peace Tax Campaign'. Undoubtedly this church has an enterpris- ing set-up: it describes itself as a Christian healing centre, there is a Wren coffee house, and there are concerts. But the ir- resistible inference to be drawn from a visit to St James's is of a 'progressive', left-wing, ministry — and that, almost inevitably, means the use of the Alternative Service Book. While I am a 1662 man myself, there are of course very many people who prefer the alternative form of service and, at the' same time, take a more realistic view about nuclear defence. But, unhappily for them, the peace movement and the modern service — incorporating The Peace — appear to- day to go hand in hand.

The Observer, the 'Newspaper of the Year', as the television commercials, keep reminding us, has been presented with a wonderful opportunity to become yet, more famous. Conor Cruise O'Brien is, sadly, no longer to continue writing his col- umn every week; Joshua Nkomo, old friend of the newspaper's perceptive proprietor, Tiny Rowlands of Lonrho, is in London. What could be more appropriate than for Mr Nkomo to become the Observer's new star columnist?

Simon Courtauld