PORTRAIT OF THE WEEK Under heavy Russian pressure the Czech
government reimposed rigorous newspaper censorship, threatening to expel recalcitrant journalists from the party. The chief govern- ment censor resigned and was succeeded by a Stalinist. The Middle East flared up again when Israeli planes raided the Jordanian port of Aqaba in reprisal for a rocket attack on the Israeli holiday resort of Eclat. Dr Gunnar Jarring, head of the UN peace mission in the Middle East, decided to give up the 'unequal task, but four-power talks continued. In Biafra there were rumours of preparations to evacuate Umuahia.
At home the sunniest Easter since 1946 came and went. Two drivers were killed and thirty passengers injured in a train crash near Wol- verhampton. The town's council ended its two- year ban on the wearing of turbans by Sikh busmen and BOAC pilots ended their six-day strike with wage increases of up to £2,600 for senior pilots. The British version of the Con- corde made its maideh -flight and the 'Queen Elizabeth 2' returned to Southampton. There was much rejoicing. Mr Edward Short, the Secretary of State for Education, denounced what he described as a 'right wing backlash' and compared Lord Snow to Dr Gocbbels. Lord Caradon decided to return to Anguilla after Mr Ronald Webster demanded the withdrawal of Mr Lee and the remaining British troops. Accusations of a 'double-cross' by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office were strenuously denied by Mr Michael Stewart.
Mr William Rogers, the new American Secretary of State, hinted at troop withdrawals from Vietnam in his first press conference. The Vatican newspaper Osservatore Romano described the entire film industry as 'a second immense original sin, a sin of man, a collective sha, a refusal of beauty, of reason, of truth, by humanity.' It was reported that Mr Basil d'Oliviera, the coloured cricketer who plays for Worcestershire, had been offered a highly paid coaching job in South Africa last winter pro- vided that he declared himself unavailable for the MCC tour. Mr Peter Besse!) proposed to raise the matter in Parliament.
Twenty-five paintings, which included six Picassos said to be worth £300,000, were stolen from. the house of Sir Roland Penrose, chair- man of the Instfture of Contemporary Arts. Lady Spencer-Churchill, eighty-four, was seri- ously to after a fall at her house. Mr Jeremy Thorpe demanded an inquiry into alleged Cabinet leaks over the disciplining of Mr lames Callaghan. Master Fisk, President of the National Union of Students, was defeated and replaced by the more 'radical' Master Straw. Mr Desmond Donnelly announced the forma- tion of a new party comprising himself, Colonel Maurice BuckmaSter, and anyone else who wanted to join; and invited suggestions for its name.
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