—Portrait of the Week— 'MINUS WERE HAPPENING at the top,
bottom and middle of Africa, on the edge of Arabia, at Belsen, Great Russell Street, all over the West End of London, at Lancaster House, in Trinidad, and even in Ireland. Not very much, though, was hap- pening in Parliament.
IN ALGIERS, the revolt collapsed suddenly after President de Gaulle had broadcast his determina- tion not to give in to the rebels. He did not make it clear how he was going to beat them if they did not give in, but the insurgents clearly realised that in France opinion had swung decisively
against army them, and that the to was not yet ready go over to their side. They therefore marched out in good order, one or two being arrested. Observers were agreed that the underlying causes of the revolt were as substantial as ever, that the situation had been worsened by the deepening hatreds created by the President's attitude, and that a 'second round' could not be long delayed.
A 'THIRD ROUND' was being threatened from the Middle East, Cairo Radio announcing that Israel was about to be 'pulverised and smashed.' Troop movements along Israel's frontiers increased, as did shooting incidents, which had begun with an artillery duel across the Israel-Syrian border. There were no reports of British troops being
m. obilised to separate the combatants, put out a forest fire, protect British lives and property, or secure passage through the Suez Canal. Not so far, that is.
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IN souTit AFRICA, Mr. Macmillan finally came to
the Rubicon and crossed it, landing firmly on the right side.
PREVIOUSLY HE HAD SPOKEN with the Archbishop of Capetown, Dr. Joost de Blank, and Mrs. Margaret Ballinger, one of the three members of the South African Parliament who represent the overwhelming majority of the population. This, it seemed, was all he was going to see of the oppo- sihon to apartheid, but it was apparently enough.
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AT aELsErv, Dr. Adenauer laid a wreath, in com- pany with Dr. Goldmann, of the World Jewish Congress, on a memorial to- the Jews who died ,Te. He spoke of his determination that such a"m8s should never happen again in Germany, and said that he would see that education of derman youth would be used to ensure that it id not. In West Berlin, the authorities actually did something about the education problem, call- thg for a revival of history text-books and declar- ing a day on which special lessons must be given IQ schoolchildren on the Nazi crimes.
yt THP
Md- NATIONAL UNION OF RAILWAYMEN called a national strike for February 15, but some mem- "ets in London went ahead with the threatened °ne'elay strike. The closing of four lines of the nderground threw an intolerable strain on Lon- .011's road resources, and the collapse of those ?sources was for several hours, complete. The Automobile Association reported that the whole the West End area was an unmoving and 1,11Movable mass of traffic, and it was taking two 'urs to travel the length of Oxford Street. Mr. arPles had apparently failed entirely to make e,‘"Y emergency arrangements in advance. Talks "hinted with a view to averting the national stoppage.
A: LANCASTER HOUSE, it was made clear that Kenya 'bun to be an African State, and sooner rather ,u"an later. The franchise proposals were declared dereeeptable' by members of the European foregations, but the sudden growth of a demand hclanirtensation to those who wished to leave tsnYa showed that they had no hope of stopping "Istory.
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