Word: eden
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Crowding Troubles. Early last week, Eden drove back to London from a weekend at Chequers. Everything seemed to crowd in upon him. There was Commonwealth opposition: his first visitor was Ceylon's Prime Minister Solomon Bandaranaike on his way to New York to inform the U.N. Assembly of the Colombo powers' condemnation of both Britain and Russia. Eden spent 30 minutes putting Britain's case to Bandaranaike, only to have him emerge and tell reporters that the actions of Britain and France in Egypt were "not at all justified," seemed "a resurgence of the spirit of imperialism...
After dinner, Eden's ministers arrived at 10 Downing Street. The argument was vigorous. The moderates, led by Lord Privy Seal R. A. Butler, argued hotly that the troops should be withdrawn at once and every effort made to restore Britain's standing with the U.N. The "get-tough" group, headed by Chancellor of the Exchequer Harold Macmillan, insisted that Britain must salvage something from the wreckage (or at least save some face). They urged that Eden use the troops as a bargaining point to force some sort of international control on Nasser...
...Collapse. The meeting ended without a decision. Right after the ministers withdrew, Eden's condition became alarmingly apparent. Sir Horace Evans was summoned, arrived at 9:30 p.m. He immediately declared that a complete rest was vital. Butler and Macmillan were still on hand, and were called in. The three agreed, then and there, that Butler should take over the job of presiding at Cabinet meetings and should reply in the Prime Minister's place in Commons. Otherwise, he and Macmillan were to act jointly. Thus there would be no acting Prime Minister with full powers in Eden...
Threats. In and out of the Eden drawing room, the Suez group was in full cry. Nearly 40 Tory M.P.s sent a statement to Butler warning against any further softening of Britain's position. Conservative Angus Maude declared: "If we emerge humiliated, forced to crawl to the Americans for every drop of oil while Nasser triumphs on the Suez Canal, then there is no place for me or for scores of my colleagues in the Tory Party under its present leaders." Bluntly, he warned Butler against abandoning "our bargaining strength in return for American oil and dollars," adding that...
...week's end Sir Anthony and Lady Eden took a plane for what was announced as a three-week vacation in Jamaica, where they will stay in a remote villa belonging to a friend. Eden looked pale and worn, but declared firmly: "I am assured that on my return to this country I shall feel completely fit, ready to resume my duties at once and fully...