THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1951.
The Churchill Story: 14th Instalment
PROMISE FULFILLED
IN 1924,
after five busy years marred by' illness and defeat at three elec- tions, Winston Churchill fulfilled a boyhood promise.
He became Chancellor of the Exchequer and put on the robes of office which his father had worn. nearly half-a-century earlier.
The years since the war had been full of political ups and downs and personal joy and grief. During them, Marigold, his three-year-old daughter, died, and Mary, who was to bring him much happy com- panionship, was born.
For two of them, as Minis- ter for War and for Air, he supervised the demobilisation of armies and prosecuted the struggle against the Bolshevist Revolution.
H
Colonial Secretary THE did not escape criticism
for either job, but it is now clear that the decision to back the Whites against the Reds was taken before he be- came War Minister and was confirmed by the Allied chiefs in Paris. It was not his at all, though he supported it.
For eighteen months he was Colonial Secretary. His greatest achievement was undoubtedly
mation of the
State.
then
the nego-
Irish
By Colin Frame
faced defeat
women
He had a scratch and humbly amateur organisation, Mayfair canvassed for him; well. He chorus girls from Daly's sat up all night addressing envelopes; his old battalion second-in- command Sir Archibald Sin-
his committee; a. clair was on borrowed house filled with priceless Romneys and Gains- boroughs was his H.Q.
a
He was tired. He needed a holi- day.
So "without seat, without a party and without an appendix" as he put it, he
went to Cannes.. There he busied himself with pen and paintbrush. His news- paper articles commanded. in-
Poster Of Diana mense prices-he was paid
£500 apiece. for one series of MRS CHURCHILL joined in, twelve-and the first. two as did his children. volumes of "The World Crisis," his classic study of the war, made him richer by £20,000.
He
was greatly shocked by a poster fifteen-year-old Diana splashed with the slogan "Vote for Dad- dy."
Painting was a pastime he
Polling day was a riot of ex- first made his own as a solace citement.
It is said that one when he left the Admiralty. One story is that he became was so upset by the behaviour foreigner arriving at Victoria
when Sir interested
John of the phlegmatic English that Lavery painted his
portrait, he caught the next train to the Another that Lady Lavery took Continent convinced the revolu- his hand and guided it over his tion had begun. first canvas.
Sunday
An carly count was followed The truth is that neither was by the news present
"Churchill is in" that moodily despairing of his inac-tain. But more careful counting when, which was flashed round Bri- tivity in time of war, he ook showed that he had lost to the his daughter Diana's paintbox official, Tory by 43 votes. out with him on a walk in the country.
First Painting
relaxation THE enjoyment, the peace and
that "came
him through
This defcat was for him victory. Britain had followed the campaign and his political popularity was re-established.
In the autumn of that year to he had no difficulty, when the that first simple first Labour Government fell, tiations which led to the for-painting with a child's box of in winning the Epping Division Free colours he found so rewarding of Essex by a majority of more
that he bought oils and brushes than 9,000. next day.
His two-year holiday from Later on Lady Lavery Parliament was over. It has been the only break in his half-century of service there. His studies of landscape and At Epping he still described still life have since found their himself as a Constitutionalist Once, when negotiations were triumphant way into the Royal-but there was no doubt now at crisis-point, Churchill won Academy, but on that holiday which party he felt to be his Collins over by showing him a at Cannes his painting was re-
home. framed copy of the reward the garded only as a means of for- Boers had offered when Chur-getting the troubled world of chill escaped.
politics and renewing his strength.
Duchy?" He returned to his latest and loveliest home,
Michael Collins, the Sinn Fein leader, just before he died by an assassin's bullet, sent a message to him; "Tell Winston," he said, "we could never have done anything without him."
Out Of Office POLLINS had grumbled at the £10,000 price the Govern- men put on his head. "At least it was a good price-look at mine, £25," said Churchill dis- gustedly.
Collins roared with laughter and the tension eased.
When the Conservatives broke up the Coalition and Lloyd George fell, Churchill fell with him.
Dundee, which ̈ ̈had made him easily top of four in 1918, placed him fourth of
five in 1922. Fifth was Willie Gal- lacher, the Communist.
was
an
showed him how to colour boldly,
chill
use
Chart-
The new Prime Minister, Baldwin, called for him. "I am prepared to make you Chancellor," he said. "Of the queried Churchill recalling those miserable war- time days in such a sinecure. Baldwin.
"Of the Exchequer," said
Budget Speech
and
REITH
EDITORS PRESA SERVICE, INC. WUEYA, YORK
-102
"I wonder what kind of a figure I've got.”
FOR THE BUSINESSMAN
Newsprint May Be Short
Montreal, Jan. 4. The Newsprint Associa- tion of Canada today pre- dicted a very tight world supply and possible shortage of newsprint in 1951 if American sumption continues to in- crease.
con-
The United States takes 60 percent. of
the totat world supply as compared with a pre-war proportion of 44 percent, the asso ciation said.-Reuter.
Anglo-Danish Trade Talks?
Copenhagen, Jan. 4. Denmark is considering seek- ing trade talks with Britain on ministerial
level, informed circles here said today.
Since the devaluation of the Pound Sterling in September, 1949, trade relations between the two countries have deteriorated has been repeatedly attacked by and the British trading policy the Danish Press;
well, still his joy and pride. a 16th century manor nest ling in Kentish woods overlooking the Weald. Nowadays he and Mrs Chur-
this post are the honoured care-
Churchill takers of it, for Chartwell, with Whitehall compass-Navy, War, practically boxed the its 24 rooms over which flies the ancient flag of Warden of Munitions (similar to present- Air, Home, Colonies, Trade, the Cinque Ports, has been day Supply) all had been his at
The influential financial news- bought for the nation,
one time or another.
paper Fina Natidende declared today that Britain was regain- Rowdy Election
But he had to wait sixteening her feet economically at the years more for the biggest prize
expense of the smaller European ROM there he left for of all, the Premiership, which Leicester to take up again rounded off a record of respon- the political cudgels as a Liberal sible Governmentai jobs unique free trader in ат election in British political history. where tariffs were once more
the main theme. It was another
Mrs Churchill, always cool and gracefully valiant at her
He wished, as he rose to make husband's side, had to
his first of five Budget speeches, fight most of this election for him.
that his mother had been with rowdy elec- He had just had his appendix tion. "I cannot shy a stone at
Mrs Churchill, Randolph and out--it
Diana dog who
in the gallery smiling every emergency
barks," he operation and it was
snarled at his barrackers. To
down on him. a big question whether he would live the usual parrot cry he lifted "She shone for me like the Churchill sat on the platform his head and replied: "The evening star," he wrote in "My to make a few speeches but he
Dardanelles might have saved Early Life" (Odhams Press) of was clearly ill and was seldom millions of lives. Don't imagine this dark-eyed vital American heard by more than the first I run away from the Dar-beauty who won Lord Randolph
danelles-I glory in it."
Churchill's heart at first glance and who for 47 years gave her Leicester rejected him. brilliant elder boy Even his friends
every hope began to and encouragement. feel his career in politics was
HE
Cuts Income Tax
few rows, so stormy was the
barracking.
For the first time "What about the Dardanelles " was the opposing battle-cry.
JEST A MINUTE! By GEOFFREY EVANS
"And now a few words on the progress and advantages of
over.
Then occurred the bargaining which resulted in the Labour
was
a most attractive
Party forming a Government person even in old age. She for the first time in British his adored her. She would never married three times. Churchill tory. Churchill was appalled, allow the family and angry with the Liberals Lord Randolph's robes of office. to part with who had made this possible.
She kept them in a trunk Winston, too, would wear them as Chancellor. E decided that what the Now that he stood in the country needed was a proud office her husband held Liberal-Conservative Coalition with much distinction he would against the Socialists.
Enjoyed The Fight against the day
HE
have liked to have heard.
her
He never fought as a Liberal gentle congratulations. But she again.
had died three years earlier.
This first returned Britain standard.
In 1924, when he stood for the Abbey division of West-
minster at what was probably
the most exciting
Constitutionalist.
election of
Budget speech to the gold
But his speech
contained Income tax was lowered from 4s 6d to 4s.
his life, he called himself some good news.
impish
In fact, he had the backing Halfway through it, with of mapy influential Tories, but typical Churchillian there was an official one against humour, him.
he paused and said; "It is imperative that I should
His answer : ta challenges refresh the revenue and this I about turning his coat again shall now, with the permission was the same as that twenty of the House, proceed to do."
Amid cheers he raised a most but un-Crippsian glass to his lips and drained it. It contained-
years earlier: that his principles had remained the same parties had changed theirs.
He enjoyed every minute of whisky. this fight. He felt himself the leader of a new Centre Party
(MORE
ON
MONDAY}
nations. Reuter.
Seeds
BANK OF
ENGLAND
STATEMENT
London, Jan. 4.
The Bank of England state-
ment for ithe week ending January 3, reads as follows: Notes in circulation Public deposits
Private deposits
€1,333,207,000
25,332,000
396.127,000
Government securities
344,040,000
$2,006,000
43,487,000
10.3
---United Press.
Other securities
Receipts
Bank ratle
Paris, Jan. 4.
The Bank of France statement for the week ending Decem ber 28, reads as follows: Total gold holdings Frs. 182,784,771,248 Total of other cur-
rencies
Sight
abroad
balances
Advance to cur-
rency stabilisa- tion fund
Bill "discounted in France and Abroad Notes in circulation
4,483,220,001
161,030,330,154
131,100,000,000
427,220,771,002 1,560,561,200,470. -United Press.
Haifa Shops May Close Down
Haifa, Jan. 4. foodstuffs here may decide to Importers and wholesalers of close their shops and disrupt. the distribution of supplies, a here today at a Chamber of Commerce meeting.
And Oilspokesman of their union said
New York, Jan. 4. Prices in the seeds and oils market here, closed today un-
Wholesalers who complained changed with the following their benefits have been reduced exceptions:
from ten per cent to three per Flax Seed, per bushel, F.O.B. cent during the past two years, Minneapolis 4.30.-United accused the Government of try- Press.
ing to eliminate them alto gether.
STANDARD BRIDGE
By M. Harrison-Gray
Dealer: South.
Game all.
N.
Q 10 8 3
76
Q8-7 3 2
W. 952
J 10 8 5 2 K Q 10
S.
A 764
KQ
92
E. AK J ❤A 9 4 3 * J8765 A 95
AK J 10 6
This hand from a 1936 Gold Cup match was bailed at the time as a triumph for trial bids. but it brings out the advance in modern approach methods.
The auction started
both rooms with One Club- Three Clubs. The first South bid a gambling Three. No-Trumps and went
two down. The other bid Three Spades, which was raised to Four and made after weak defence.
is
The raise to Three Clubs clumsy and wasteful. North should bid One Spade which South raises to Three. and North bids Four Spades. This contract can only be beaten In the unlikely event of East leading a Club: (even so it is difficult for him. to read West with a single- bon, although the latter can suggest a desire to rif by playing "high-low in trumps.
London Express Service
They say that for 12 months no reply has been received to letters to the Ministry of Trade, asking for increased profit. Reuter.
New York Stock Exchange
New York, Jan 4, Heavy industry shares paced the stock market in another major assault on its highs since 1930. Both industrials and rails broke through to new peaks. Industrials soared to $200.86, up $1.87, its highest since September 12, 1930, Railroad advanced to $70.03, a new top since July 13, 1931. Rails rose in fractions to about a point. Televisions which had
when materials sagged shortages curtailed production, picked up.-United Press.
Metal Market
Prices
Prices
New York, Jan. 4. in the metal market
here closed today unchan
he following excepti
or higher New
157.-Unit