Jubal cleared his throat. "Just a moment Mr. Kung.  Knowing that someone was certain to raise this non-existent issue I tried to explain the Larkin Decision to my client.  At first be had trouble realizing that anyone could think that this legal fiction would apply to Mars.  After all, Mars is inhabited, by an old and wise race - much older than yours, sir, and possibly wiser.  But when he did understand it, he was amused.  Just that, sir - tolerantly amused.  Once - just once - I under-rated my mother's power to punish a small boy's impudence.  That lesson was cheap, a bargain- But this planet cannot afford such a lesson on a planetary scale.  Before we attempt to parcel out lands which do not belong to us, it behooves us to be very sure what peach switches are hanging in the Martian kitchen."