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THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, - - 1939.
Foreign Office Was there collusion?
Attack On "The Suez Story?
By DOUGLAS CLARK
Churchill's
AN attack was made by the Foreign Office on Randolph recently articles about the Suez crisis now appearing in the CHINA MAIL. At a crowded conference of reporters from all over the world Mr Peter Hopa, chief Foreign Office spokesman, declared that:~~
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Sir Anthony Eden but will not Hemise the "Inac curacies" in public in order to had not authorised rive Mr Churchill a fair chance Mr Churchill to write to answer? the articles nor been
consulted by him.
Mr
Churchill had had no access to British official records.
SUEZ 3
by RANDOLPH CHURCHILL
Of course!
I WILL TELL YOU EXACTLY HOW THE FRENCH URGED THE ISRAELIS TO ATTACK
SIR ANTHONY EDEN and Mr Selwyn Lloyd flew to Paris on October 16. The exceptional secrecy of their discussions at the Hotel Matignon with M. Mollet, the French Premier, and M. Pineau, the French Foreign Secretary, was underlined by the fact that the four Ministers talked alone.
not
It is very rare on such occasions that Ministers are accompanied by diplomatic and military advisers, personal assistants, and interpreters. The clandestine nature of this conclave, which lasted five hours, was noticed at the time and served to lend excitation to an already alarmed state of public opinion.
1
out
I cannot add to what I said.
Meanwhile, in addition to all A tw days later the French France's progressively deterior-
• You appeared to read your the military preparations that informed Mr Ben-Gurian, the bung hold on North Africa had Prime Minister, that bren loosened by atins, money, tatement from prepared had been jointly undertaken by Istaril
**
Britain and France, the French Israel should launch her mili- and propaganda spouted document. Do you agree?
at the end of frem Cairo. Government had already been tazy operation
when I am the spokesman of
October, "at a moment themaking arrangements of its own
American Government the with Israel, Foreign Omee.
would not be able to reset be- cause of the imminence of the greasingly reluctant Presidential Election."
11ns Sir Anthony Eden been
Ofee?
(Pause.) I will' fnquire.
3 The Foreign Office in vent touch with the Foreign
was not prepared to comment on the articles except to say that they "appear to be in many respects inaccurate.”
It was clear that this was not an off-the-enf indiscretion. Mr Hope read from u prepared document brought to him during the conference.
Q. AND A.
inge-
I talked to Mr Hope. Here are my questions and his answers!---
• Can you specify the
have curacies you against Mr Churchill? *
alleged
.
I have nothing to add to what
I said.
ask you again: is the Foreign Ofice prepared to go into detail on the record about
these alleged inaccuracies?
I have taken note of your request, but I have nothing to add
Mr Hope said that Randolph Churchill had sent draft of
is series
member a the Foreign Ofee and asked for unofficial guidance,
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As the Foreign Offee under- stead they were written without Sir Anthony's consent, it did not feel able to give any official ad- vive.
That being so, the officlal con- cerned could not properly give
UNOFFICIAL The position is, then, that any
guidance, making on he returned the draft the Foreign Office are this general charge in public Mr Churchill.
·
*
*
★
I has long been
a
tradition of public life in Britain that public men do not attack civil servants, since the latter are precluded by the nature of their pro- fession from defending themselves.
For that reason I do not wish in any way to reflect on the conduct of Mr Peter Hope, the engaging and of highly efficient head the Press Department at who the Foreign Office, made directly (and, further, by implication) serious criticism of myself-some of which have been mis- interpreted in some quar-
ters in such a gross fashion that the law of libel may be invoked.
I have another reason for not joining issue directly
with Mr Hope.
Anticipation
The Foreign Office had
received prior notice that
MY
to
Nearly a month before the Paris meeting de scribed above, two repte- sentatives of the French Defence Ministry went to Israel to propose to the Israeli Government and staffs that France should aid an Israeli attack upon Egypt.
This nid would not be conkned
to the supply of arms and to diplomatic encouragement. The French emissaries brought with them an altogether more far- reaching plan,
Ultimatum ?
This was that the French Air Force should give netive support to such an operation, and with the French Navy protect Israel from attack by Nasser's superior bombers,
It should ako, they suggested, be accompanied by direct Anglo- French intervention, in the form of air attack and troop landings on Egypt. A date carly in November was suggested for the enterprise.
REPLY
POCKET CARTOON
by OSBERT LANCASTER
"Do tell me Just when did the Foreign Office take over handling Randolph's publicuy?"
However, they are busy questions were to be asked men, and I felt no sense of
AT at Mr Ilope's conference reproach when they and when they were naked their subordinates did not note avall themselves of this op- Mr Hope read from a with which he had been portunity. furnished in anticipation of this event.
But is it right or in keeping with the traditions
Mr Hope, I have reason of public life that these
to know, received instructions through Foreign Office from Downing Street.
his two busy Ministors should the instruct a civil servant, who
10 is paid by the taxpayers, 1
departure by Mr Macmillan and Mr Lloyd froin the normal standards.
Delicacy
If Ministers are going to put into the mouths of civil servrits political and historical oplatons of their own on books which they have not read, the Civil Service may And itself in
considerable position of
de- iency, and may and itself in future relleved of that Immunity from public criticism which has so far so rightly enjoyed.
So much for the ethics of procedure. What of the content of the reply which the unhappy Mr Hope was compelled by his masters to read out 10
the besembled Press?
Mr Hope riated that in the preparation of my story I und had no access to official papers. had. Nor have I ever such facilities.
But I never contended that
sought
Mr Hope was further caused to say that my book was being written without the approval or authority of Sir Ahltony Eden, Have I ever suggested that it was? I am not a hack.
Deceitful
To dany claims which neither nor anyone else had over mude strikes me as not only
to make statements of a disingenuous, but deceitful, and pejorative character about calculated.. to lead unthinking
private citizen?
persons into grave errors which they may regret,
I think it is known that I yield to none in my ad-
Would it not be more miration of Mr Harold Mac-
Such tactics seem to me appropriate if they wished millan.whe bro saved
to issue a public criticism unworthy of the Prime Minister Britain from a near-ruin in about a book, which they and the Foreign Secretary. which it was plunged by have not read to delegate Moreover it strikes me as the folly of Sir Anthony the task of reading it to particularly silly and wrong for Eden; but It seems to me some subordinate and the by his political superiors. that on this occasion he duty of sneering at it to volunteer the content that a acting with less than his usual finesse. Indeed, he some Junior Minister or to series of three arimies ebainins the Conservative Central sedma to have been some- Office?
what maladroit.
This new pragtige strikes me
Mr Macmillan, in com- as a` lil-fudged and dangerous
mon with Mr Selwyn Lloyd and the Foreign Once generally could have read the whole of my Suez story In advance if they had wished.
Rai
à civil servant to be Instructed
10
inaccuracies which they are not prepared to spocity, and which they had bad ample opportunity of correcting in advance if they had so wished..
These facts, and facts they are,
close all doubt on the vexed
question of "collusion.".
Joint work
During this time the French were continuing to co-operate with
their British lies planning their own joint opera- ficn, Musketeer.
When Mr Ben-Gucion ex- tha. de- preszed reserve as to
the sitability of the date, French representative said:
"It must be that date or never."
the
The reason that the laraeli- - manned Mysteres were able to dedicato
themselves to frontline battle was that fo two French-manned "Dijaft" detailed quadrons had beca for this collùalvo task, na that the Ieracl! Gegeraj Sing thew that the Royal Air Forca was going to take care of the Egyptlon Air Force.
Indeed, when, it seemed that there was no ikelihood of Israel towns being attacked by Egyptian bombers, the French- mstined Mysteres themselve Joined in the main land battle Fnd with considerable effect,
I arrived in Tel Avly on the The
WOR proof that there
from Tel Aviv, These two
is collusion
massive and squardons, comprising 30 air- evening on Monday, November conclusive. That this collusion etart, were manned by French 7, to find an uproarious party were additional to proceeding in the Don Hotel, at which some 20 French was ineffective may in part plfols, and
the 85 Mysteres which had eneller
bech supplied to the pilots, were being feled by all the preity girls in Tel Aviv larnell Air Force.
for the aid which they had given to Ierocl with their, Mystere aghters.
have been due to the fact a. Sir Anthony's ignorance of it. A tour d'elock on the after- hoon of Munday, October 29, a batlallon of Israeli parachutists was dropped 48 miles to the cast Mitia Pass. This' drop, which of the Canal, Arst short of the was unopposed, was intended as abait to attract the Egyptian reserve forces.
Air battle
Ma
The track from the Pass lo Suez is the direct con- Fer some months, while Bri- tinuation of the shortest road to 1-in had shown herself in Cairo. So the Egyptians gained to supply the impression of direct threat 1sraci wilh arino, France to the Canal and Calro from the
mor willlog Israel paratroops.
W03
ever
to do so. In particular, large They reeled immediately by numbers of tanks were deliver- sending their Second Infantry
Brigade to counter-attacit.
ed during the summer.
A party
were
The French-mdnued fighters played an important part the war. Durlog the first twe diny4 of the tabli tiffensive they suppiled the alr cover above the ground forcen; and, more Important $1111. they provided the protection that was necessary for tho Isrnell towne left open Egyptian alt attack,
BY
against
Everyone seemed highly collusive, And why not.
NEXT WEEK:
The battle
• THE WAY
by Beachcomber
the
The
an
life Venus, and half dreading, her of member On the morning of October A the only honorary
Great poisonous beauty, The military staffs of France and Israel began work on their 31 a considerable air battle was Ouse River Board, one of whose
fought around the Mitla Pass, duties is to me lleences to After him, Della! joint project on October 1. The The Egyptian Air Force mude 40 anglers, I hope that 1059 Will TANTIVE: Tantivy Tantivy! representatives of M. Bourges- Manoury, the French Minister or 60 sortes by a mixture of see a record figure for coarse there he goes!" cried a
Hussian MICs and British Vam-
Amazon, fishing. of Defence, paid severe) per-
For tickling carp the Penthesilea of the enveris met these air operations with board" recommenda the Wain- "Don't be ifly. Myrn." salá sonst visits to Israel. General pires and Metcars. The Israeils sing, to say nothing of refined howler-hatted Moshe Dayan, Chief-of-Staff of French Mysteres, 36 of which wrigh tlekler, which sends the Sir Ralph. "It's a rabbit." the faraell Army, came to Paris has been supplied by France Ash into shrieks of Inughter. "Cone away?" murmured twice during October.
These during October.
The record for spearing eels by unhorsed rover.
"Hark forward" replled two moonlight is held by the AnnS- But, superung that the long
Arabist obsessions, the French manned by Israeli pilots.
By the evening of November mese
Watonakhurzed girls in chorus. angler diplomatic delays might dis- kept secret their arrangements
Dieu! were firmly in Phul. His photograph is over
Que le son di Quorn hearten the English leaders, and with the Israelis until October 1 the Israelis
nature possesion of the area knowing of Britain's traditional 10. Then, however, the
Bround the cais in our boardroom at est triste au fond des bols.
Pontefract. This secma de good Illustrated thriller of the Frunes-Israeli discussions the Mitla Pase.
"Listen to
said a day is any to soy all this. ho
me,"
Bir was revealed to some of
Charles. British Ministers and staff of.
The Tibetan Venta
મુ am cers concerned with Operation
all cars," replied Musketeer.
again (1) Freddy. Sir Anthony has publicly and The Israelis could easily have
come 10 the Tut, tut privately denied that he had captured Ismailla and still more WORD has
W Foreign Office of a secret
A rowdy the easily have scooped up 38 aban- ahy foreknowledge, of
council meeting recalled to Impending Israeli nilack upon donet Russian T34 tanks only rocket-site in the Afghan hip- THE account of
The site was said to Egypt. Eden is an honourable five miles east of Ismallia. But, terland.
as a factory for me the famous occasion
Captain Foulenough, in sultabic rian, and his word must be for reason which will become be diaguised
was disguise, got into a meeting. On ccepted. But we must ask: apparent tomorrow, they left daming peas, and there
them there, as an easy spoil for talk of a mysterious Tibetan the agenda was a plan to fire "Why didn't he knew?"
of surpassing beauty the English, the French, or the woman Try plints, wonder
I
who's who was in some way involved. People for not emplying their
own dustbins.
move The choice of an emissary driving them now.
to shouted Foulenough, "that we penetrate the secret naturally adjourn to the bar "Order] fell on Colonel Egham, who Order" cried a beetle-browed It Is the duty of a British
had so often been outwitted by councillor. That is what The best remaining hope of Prime Minister who is commit-
Nobody Dingi-Poos.
doubled intend to do," said Faulenough, making the long-delayed inter- ting his country to an net of
that she was the mysterious waiter! Barman! Where vention lay in a war between war to know what is going on.
lady concerned. Thus it was everybody?" This is no a Israel and EgyPL
During Perhaps, with his diplomatic
the last week in that the colonel tourid Himself drinking bout," saldo ste.n It is understandable that the training, he preferred not to October two squardon of in the village of
Furzah, lady, "OK." replied Forl- mind of France know? Perhaps
the some of his governing
Escadron Dijon were stained with walnut jittee and enough, "It's water for you, oid should have inclined to such colleagues thought it better that flown to Israel and stationed at the dirt of travel, half hoping girl." action. For several years he shouldn't?
Lydda Airport, 13 miles to find oncé more the Tibetan
**If
"Is that an ultimatum?" Ben-Gurion asked. you wish," was the, an
swer.
For four or five days before this visit to Tel Aviv the French inner Cabinet had had such action in mind. It had become clear that the diplomatie pré- texts for an attack on. Egypt had been exhausted.
FOUR D. JONES
QOSH, FANCY THE BOYS TRUSTING ME ON THIS IMPORTANT.
MISSION.
FERDINAND
Parachutists
UP KILLAND
By reason of its swifideas and the totality of lis success, the operation. ranks with the highest milltary exploita
DOWN VALE...
THE COWBOY RACES ON TO BRIDGE ROCK
[AT LAST!
1 MUST
BE GETTING
[MEAR, NOW,
SUFFERING
SITTING BULL/THIS MUST BE THE CREEP
WITH THẺ NOTE
by MADDOCKS
זיי
when
-{London Express Service).
SHEAFFER'S
SHORKEL"
PENS
Skrip
WRITING FLIMO-
By Mikk
isbon
BRICK BRADFORD
THE ANTERIA TD "POUND BRICKE}}
VITA: CRNO UD!
By Paul Norris
SWISSAIR
AUSTIN
for
THE FAMILY
My
METRO CARS (HK) LTE
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