PRESS FINANCIAL TIMES GANG The Daily Grlegraph

Scan page 3

modelled on Hitler's Nazi Party, and secured his unchallenged position as head of the Maronite military apparatus by the slaughter of prominent members of the rival Franjieh family. He has been supported with arms and cash by the Israelis since taking over the Phalange from his father in 1976.

His election as President - by a 'Parliament' elected back in 1972 - was greeted by a personal telegram of congratulation signed, "Your friend Menachem Begin"

Gemayel's abiding hatred for the Lebanese Left and for the country's Muslim majority has been amply demonstrated. and he is described hy his own brother as "possessed by megalomaniac violence" . Yet the Tory press in Britain has concentrated on building the image of the new President as possibly the bringer of peace to If indeed there should be a period of realignment and lull in the political struggle between the forces of left and right in Lebanon, however, this would be a result not of Gemayel's personal preferences so much as the situation in which he finds himself.

Reagan

On the one hand Gemayel is beholden to the Israelis, and they in turn are subject to the demands of the Reagan administration.

For the US imperialists, the main objective in supporting the Zionist invasion of Lebanon has been the establishment of a stable regime -not the prosecution of a new stage in the unresolved civil war of 1975-6. Gemayel ing to talk with Gemayel until "after the Israelis have left" , or even to talk to him at al, it seems clear that manoeuvres are already beginning towards an arrangement for "peaceful coexistence' with the Phalangist president.

Jumblatt Such talks were foreshadowed by the various frantic attempts which were made during the Israeli siege of Beirut to set up a Lebanese 'government ot national unity, involving leaders of the Lebanese Left, in particular Walid Jumblatt.

Now the leader of Amal, the 5,000-strong Shi'ite mil itia, Nabieh Berri, has declared his view that the Muslim violence"

Army

The Murabitoun have forces estimated at anything between 700 and their own claim of 5,000, and are currently issuing press cards to journalists in continuity with those previously issued by the PLO. Their leader, Ibrahim Kolleilat, has consistently said that he will oppose any use of the Lebanese army in West Beirut.

But Kolleilat too has gone along with the sombre mood of compromise and retreat, talking of Murabitoun putting down their arms - though not until after a Zionist withdrawal.

If indeed it proves possible on this basis to subdue the armed forces of the Left without waging a renewed THE ROYAL Family showed today why not a single one of their number has had to wait in a dole queue for handouts from the state.

They proved that when it comes to grey matter, these talented aristos are not only superior to every subject, but also top in every subject.

Dr Tony Benn, that graduate of some Marxist redbrick commissariat, thinks he can garrotte the Queen and replace her with one of his professors in idioc? from County Hall.

But Prince Edward has shown Benn where he can put his MA in misery.

The Balmoral boffin has won himself a place al Cambridge in an astonishing display of brilliance.

He faced the trials of the exam room just like millions of other boys and girls - but with the added burden of missing the so-called education dished out by comprehensives so beloved by Benn and his cronies.

While his competitors were swotting up on advaneed sex lessons, or whatever passes for 'French' in LEA, Prince Edward was taking cold showers and rolling in nettles at his five-star training camp, Gordonstoun.

To send him there, his mother, like so many others, had made sacrifices. She was prepared to scrimp and save so she could hand over for his education £5000 a year - more than some NUPE members have the nous to carn for their whole existence, let alone be prepared to spend on their children.

This battle to give her children the best whatever the cost paid off. Prince Edward scored one of the most devastating intellectual successes in the whole history of the British monarchy.

Fith.. in a spelling bee.

There are of course some sneering knockers who try to twist every success for their own ends.

There are those Daily the other four 'ahead' of Prince Edward did not get places at Cambridge - or at any other university. They complain they did not even win places on a job creation scheme.

Carping Such envious carping beneath our contempt.

The beauty of our education system - which survives now almost alone in Oxford and Cambridge - is that it is not confined to the narrow dictates of the winning post.

Character and breeding are required to win a place at our great educational establishments. The fact that his mother owns the place is neither here nor there, as everyone knows.

Even if Prince Edward was a dustman, his quality would show through.

It was that same quality that made Admiral Woodward sclect • his brother Prince Andrew to act as Mail decoy for Exocet missiles in front of the flag-ship of the great British task force.

It is the same quality which makes his brother Prince • Charles such a compelling raconteur.

The Prince of Wales' tales of nights in the red light districts of his naval ports are the stuff of which English literature 'S' level passes are made.

Trendy And what if some perverted anti-monarchist decries his nights of bliss?

It is better than condon: ing adultery, as some trendy bishops would have us do.

Besides, visits to a brothel are in the long tradition of the true English monarch -Elizabeth and Victoria apart, of course.

Benn may moan

sharpen his guillotine, but that's what we call a real education.

Scan page 4

Socialist Organiser no. 98 September 21982 Page 4 Socialist Organiser no.98 September 2 1982 Page 4