Captain Moonlight: The organ grinder

(Photograph omitted)

Who says the Germans have no sense of humour? Well, actually, a German journalist told me, and it is not my practice to doubt a journalist. You might think this photograph offers evidence to the contrary, but I'm not so sure. The man in the hat is Klaus Kinkel, the German foreign minister, doing his party turn after an international conference. That is a barrel organ he is turning. And despite the grin on his face, I can't help noticing the uncanny similarity of those two monkeys to Jacques Santer and Neil Kinnock. I have seen Cabaret; I know that serious symbolism always underlies German jollity. Next week: Douglas 'Dougie' Hurd, one man and a mike stand, laughter is his policy.