—Portrait of the Week— PRESIDENT DE GAULLE LOST THE BATTLE,
but he won the war: though his negotiators at Brussels were conspicuously unable to dissuade the Five from. backing British entry into Europe, the French veto was enough to grind negotiations to a standstill. Blame was firmly attached to the President, and attention turned to alternative schemes. Mr. Jo Grimond attacked the Presi- dent for `posturing without power,' and a director 01 the National Association of British Manufac- turers urged that the 'last thing we should think of doing is to seek to retaliate by allowing Europe to isolate itself,' In the circumstances, this week Was a curious time for the Foreign Office to issue a volume of 'documents from the early Twenties, including one report that `our relations • with France never have been, are not, and prob- ably never will be, sufficiently stable and friendly to justify the construction of a Channel tunnel': and that 'nothing can alter the fundamental fact that we are not liked in France, and never will be, except for the advantages which the French people may be able to extract from us.'
PRESIDENT KENNEDY ANNOUNCED that no under- ground tests would be held during test-ban talks, but would be resumed should the talks break down. Both the United States and France began wooing Spain for her military help, and France, Intent on driving wedges into EFTA, invited Den- mark to join EEC. Britain and America survived a minor squabble over the British share of development costs on Polaris: we do pay. The Treasury may also pay for the Whitehead steel firm if Richard Thomas and Baldwins' take-over bid goes through: Stewarts and Lloyds, who led the campaign to speak out against State-owned steel in 1958, spoke out again this week. Strict timetables were laid down for various Commons measures, with hints of an early election. But the Only election immediately in the offing is that for the Labour Party's leadership, and all opinion polls give different answers.
* TEACHERS RECEIVED A PAY RISE: the ten-shilling widows' pension stays at ten shillings. Ford's of Dagenham face another strike by confirming the dismissal of some union men, and John Hare, Minister of Labour, declared, 'there is still room for improvement in motor industrial relations.' Though the TUC persuaded the building workers to have. nothing to do with NIC, NEDC seems sure of a rosier future and will aim at a 4 per cent. expansion per year. James Meredith continues his education in Mississippi, one that has already cost the US administration 4+ million dollars. _In the Congo the entire reserves of the Bank of Katanga were estimated at £41 I Is., and no one has. said what has happened to the millions believed to have been paid by the Union Miniere.
* THE THAW CAME AT LAST, but too late to prevent the unemployment figures touching 800,000: too late, also, for Mr, G. Pilborough of Barnes, who had successfully sued his local Council with the claim that the Council was responsible for remov- ing a two-foot pile of snow outside his home. Soccer was ruined again, but the 'situation was saved by a panel of experts who, with the help of Lord Brabazon, declared what the results would have been. The Fourth Test was drawn: the Rev. David Sheppard held a catch after six suc- cessive dropped chances. Things are looking up.
* TWO THOUSAND TROOPS were placed on special alert, ready to fly to Brunei to defend Britain's supreme national interests if the people of north Borneo get restive. Meanwhile recruiting is all the rage: the British Army is to push forward Plans for recruiting more graduates, and the US Army is giving away twist records to persuade men to enlist. 'Bend your knees, swivel your hips, twist on down ... and enlist.'
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