Skinflint's City Diary
The story was related a year or two ago that three clerics once dined together: a Protestant clergyman, a Catholic priest, and a Rabbi.
"Tell me, Mr Smith," asked Father O'Brien, "What do you do with your plate collection?"
" I divide it into equal parts," replied Mr Smith. " One I give to the poor, one to the church, and one I keep myself. What about you?" "I toss the whole collection upwards," commented the Rabbi, "and say a prayer: '0 Lord, take what You need and leave the rest to me.' " Recent events in the Middle East have changed the order of priorities. There has been a story circulating in the City during the past few days that Israel's Prime Minister Golda Meir personally telephoned Rothchilds and that they, with the delightful Luisa Abrahams, wife of Aquascutum's deputy chairman Sir Charles Abrahams, have been the organising force behind an appeal raising £39 million for Israel's war chest from loyal British Zionists. Much of this money was raised within hours of the appeal. Selim Zilka of the Mothercare chain, who dipping deep into his pocket, gave £1 million personally is an example among many.
The Treasury, for once showing a proper and commendable lack of evenhandedness, have given exchange control permission for the transfer.
Whilst the finest flower of brave young Arabs and Jews have been cut down on the Golan Heights and in Sinai, money raised in Britain flows to Israel and from there back to the United States and to Britain to pay for supplies and arms. The Arabs raise the price of their oil to the West and liquidate Swiss and sterling balances to pay for more, weapons then send the' money to Russia and the Eastern Bloc. In due time Russia, sends the money to the United States to pay for the grain they need to make up for inadequate harvests. .
What is food for General Motors is as always food for the United States.
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