“SILENT” PRESS TRIBUTES

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27628, 7 April 1955, Page 11

“SILENT” PRESS TRIBUTES

“Old Lion Takes His Leave”

(Rec. 8 pjn.) LONDON, April 6. Fleet Street’s national newspapers today paid “silent” tribute to Sir Winston Churchill by supplying these extracts from leading articles they would have printed bad the newspaper strike been settled:

The “Daily Telegraph”: “His decision to hand on the torch cannot easily be questioned, but it is profoundly saddening. ‘Peace,’ he has said, ‘is the last prize I seek to win,’ and retirement has come before it has been won.”

The “News Chronicle”: “The old lion, full of years and honour, takes his leave. Generations of Britons will count us fortunate who lived under his leadership.” The “Daily Mirror”: “Sir Winston Churchill remains the greatest Englishman of our. times. In war and peace he has served the nation unsparingly. As a war-time leader he was the right man in the right place at the right moment.” The “Daily Herald”: “It is not as a party politician but as a national figure—one of the giants of world history—that Sir Winston Churchill has earned his country’s gratitude.” The “Daily Sketch”: “It is deeply unfortunate that Sir Winston Churchill should depart from the great stage of history in the semi-silence and semi-obscurity imposed by the newspaper strike. It is also characteristic ... he carries his own limelight. He obeys his own judgment. And that stage is darker now that he is gone.”

“End of an Epoch” The “Evening News”; “Sir Winston Churchill’s retirement marks the end of an epoch. His name will be remembered with honour and gratitude wherever English is spoken and hearts are free and brave.”

The “Daily Mail”: “It was fitting that Sir Winston Churchill should, in his own time and at his own choice, surrender the seals of office to his Queen. History will probably decide he was the greatest of all Prime Ministers.”

The "Manchester Guardian,” in a leading article today, said: “Sir Winston Churchill has chosen his hour well. He leaves with his party al! set for an election and the Opposition in disarray . . . His resignation is not the end of his public life. He has his part to fill as elder statesman. There is no telling what fresh bursts of energy may come and what new phase of his incredible career may open up.” The "Manchester Guardian” added: “The House of Commons, we may trust, will hear him again and he will be at hand to guide and strengthen his successors.”

All the world except London today read of the Prime Minister’s resignation. Londonefs, cut off by the newspaper strike, depended on the 8.8. C. for word of the biggest domestic story of the year.

Parliament, deprived yesterday by Sir Winston Churchill’s absence of its last chance to pay tribute to him as Prime Minister, will seek today to make amends. Tributes will be paid immediately after question time by members of all parties, but Sir Winston Churchill is not expected to be there to hear them. By evening he will be motoring to his country manor, Chartwell, in Kent, where he will rest until he flies on April 12 for his holiday in Sicily. Yesterday, Sir Winston Churchill attended a Cabinet meeting, and there was an emotional scene as he stood and shook hands with his colleagues. Almost certainly because of the emotional strain that it would have imposed upon him. Sir Winston Churchill decided not to go to the House of Commons on what would have been his last occasion as Prime Minister. But his political future came in for an oblique reference in the House when the Lord Privy Seal (Captain H. F. C. Crookshank) replied to questions on the Prime Minister’s behalf.

Mr Emrys Hughes asked: “Can we be told if the Government is going to bury 'Caesar in the House of Lords, or is he going to be allowed to come back here to worry Anthony?’’ The question brought loud laughter but no reply.

Crowds cried “Good old Winnie’’ as Sir Winston Churchill, a large cigar in his mouth, stepped into a car at Dowhing street to go to the Palace in the afternoon.

Loud cheering greeted him all the way to the Palace gates, where, still puffing at his cigar, he took the salute from the Scots Guardsmen on sentry duty. In the inner quadrangle, the Queen’s private secretary, Sir Michael Adeane. was waiting to receive him. Ln the Queen’s presence, Sir Winston Churchill bowed and kissed her hand. Then, in rounded sentences, he spoke of his age and his desire that the leadership of the Government should pass to a younger man. He recommended Sir Anthony Eden as his successor.

While they were talking, a helicopter bringing the Duke of Edinburgh back from a visit to Chatham roared and spluttered over the Palace. It cleared the roof and settled down m the garden below the window where the Prime Minister was handing over the seals of office to the Queen. Minutes later there was a spurt of activity among the metropolitan policemen at the north gate of the Palace. One dashed out into the roadway, baited the other traffic, and then Sir Winston Churchill’s car drove out. In spite of the emotional strain of the day, Sir Winston Churchill was tonight reported to be in “good health and excellent form.” , Soon after his audience with the Queen he drove out from No. 10 Downing street on a private visit. Crowds blocked the path of his car. shouting “Good old Winnie” and cheering wildly. About 200 persons were still waitd j outside No. 10 when Sir Winston Churchill returned. They began chanting: “We want Winnie,” and at 8.45 p.m. he appeared smiling at the open window wearing his war-time siren suit and a white, open-necked shirt. Eleven times Sir Winston Churchill raised his hands in the “V” sign, and the crowd grew wildly excited under the influence of his gleeful grin. Churchill’s Career: Page 9. |