Word: butler
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...Aims. Within the quiet Cabinet room differences were minimized. Richard Austen Butler, who is in effect deputy premier though his title is only Lord Privy Seal, did not quarrel with the desirability of Eden's objectives in wanting to fight on. But, said "Rab" Butler pointedly, he himself had just made a speech, which he had thought was in line with Eden's views, saying that Britain had intervened in Egypt only to stop the fighting. How could he go back to the House and say now that Britain refused the cease-fire even though the other combatants...
...dispute about how to ans'wer the Russian note. Cabinet members were cheered by the U.S.'s prompt reply that it would oppose Russian intervention and agreed that Bulganin should be told to mind his own business. But the members disputed long over the ceasefire. Butler reiterated his argument that further gains by British arms would not compensate for U.S. and world disapproval. One worry was that protracted fighting might provide the Russians with a pretext to send volunteers in massive numbers to Egypt, with untold consequences to the balance of power in the Middle East...
...Butler's Praise. Though dissatisfaction with Eden's performance is real, there seems no immediate likelihood that he might be overthrown by a revolt of Tory backers in the House. The Tories have a 59-vote majority; no large body of Tories wants to bring down the government in such a way as to bring the Labor opposition to power. Tories do not do things that way. The Tory way is quiet talk at the Carlton Club, little conferences in House offices, and an agreement that Anthony needs a rest...
...Eden were to be replaced, the leading contender would be the cold and talented Rab Butler, who all through the crisis managed skillfully to convey his aloofness from Eden while at the same time publicly expressing his loyalty. Privately, he let it be known he had not been consulted on many points. Publicly he exclaimed: "I have never known, under any Prime Minister I have served, the qualities of courage, integrity and flair more clearly represented than in our present Prime Minister." Commented the Economist: "Remembering, as one was meant to remember, that Mr. Butler's last Prime Minister...
...Butler, though he has established a useful position for the future, is still in no position to challenge Eden for the leadership, knows that he would lose if he did. Said one Conservative old hand: "You must understand how strong is the spirit of unity among Conservative leaders. We remember how much damage has been done by splits in our leadership-Fox and Pitt, Peel and Disraeli. The only reasonable way for Butler to express such differences as he may have with Eden is within the party, within the government. That way, he may have some influence and only that...