HIGH PRAISE FOR SPEECH

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27038, 13 May 1953, Page 9

HIGH PRAISE FOR SPEECH

“One of Churchill's Greatest”

(Rec. 9 pan.) LONDON. May 11. Reuters political correspondent says that Sir Winston Churchill’s statements on three controversial questions —the Big Powers’ conference, his criticism of French policy in IndoChina and his open support of Zionism —are likely to arouse criticism abroad but were favourably received by Conservatives and Labour men in Britain.

Many Conservatives and some Labour leaders hailed the speech as one of Sir Winston Churchill’s greatest.

In an hour's review, he swept away much of the tog over the international horizon. One former Labour Cabinet Minister said that he “scarcely put a foot wrong.” Labour members were particularly Impressed by Sir Winston Churchill’s words to America and what they felt was the underlying implication that an end was attainable in the Korean war. Most Labour members also appeared to accept his “plain talk to Egypt.” The “Daily Mail” says that Sir Winston Churchill lit a new and bright flame of hope for the world when ne called dramatically for an almost immediate conference of the Great Powers on the highest level. His speech was the greatest made in the House of Commons in the cause of peace since the war. A “Daily Mail" leading article headed: “The Voice of Britain.” paying a tribute to Sir Winston Churchills “seizure of the diplomatic initiative,” is typical of the comment of most London morning newspapers in their editorial comments. “It seemed there was nowhere in the western world a man or a government big enough to take the risk of finding out Russia’s sincerity by proposing direct talks at the highest level —ana without delay. Sir Winston Churchill has done it and seized the diplomatic initiative which his countrymen felt instinctively to be available.” The “Daily Mail” strongly supports Sir Winston Churchill's proposal for Big Power talks without rigid agenda and a host of bureaucrats—“not daily press conferences for the propagation of irritants by the irritated exclamation mark.” Tne newspaper added that Sir Winston Churchill revealed his grasp of a factor which Mr Eden had always shrewdly borne in mind— Russia’s haunting fear of aggression from Europe. On Egypt, the “Daily Mail” said: “Sir Winston Churchill replied to General Naguib’s latest outburst with more courtesy and less woolliness. There was never any intention of scuttling from Egypt. If instead of talking General Naguib starts shooting he must take the consequences.” "The Times” in a leading article teaded “The Supreme Event” said Sir Kinston Churchill spoke “with all the reflective wisdom of an elder statesman and historian. He was a patient and discerning guide through the tangle of world events rather than a proponent of detailed solutions for detailed problems.”