Mixed Reception For Eden From Commons

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28155, 19 December 1956, Page 15

Mixed Reception For Eden From Commons

(Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 17. Sir Anthony Eden had a mixed reception from Parliament today when he made his first appearance in the House of Commons since his return from his holiday in Jamaica. Most of his supporters greeted him with cheers, but Labour M.P.’s and other Conservatives, including some of the “Suez rebels,” were icily silent.

It was a placid House of Commons to which Sir Anthony Eden returned. Indeed, the House in many ways was united. There was little that was unusual about the questioning of Mr Aubrey Jones, the Minister of Fuel, about petrol rationing, while there was universal agreement with the Foreign Secretary (Mr Selwyn Lloyd) about the need for the quickest possible clearance of the Suez Canal. The entire House also voted in favour of an article in a Sunday newspaper suggesting that members were receiving special petrol privileges being referred to the Committee of Privileges. When Sir Anthony Eden arrived some ten minutes before he was due to answer a question by a Socialist,

Mr Emrys Hughes, many Conservatives cheered warmly, but the Opposition sat in icy silence. The reception was watched closely by political observers, because many believe his personal prestige is in the balance over Britain’s Suez intervention and subsequent decision to withdraw the forces from Egypt. As Sir Anthony Eden, sun-tanned and smiling, entered, some applause built up on the Government side with several Conservatives enthusiastically waving their Parliamentary documents in greeting.

But a number of Conservatives who have opposed what they consider a “premature withdrawal” of troops from Egypt took no part in the demonstration. A few of the Left wingers of the Conservative Party, who disapproved of Britain intervening with force at all in Egypt, also remained silent.

The cheers seemed to come only from about half of Sir Anthony Eden’s supporters. The Leader of the Labour Opposition (Mr Hugh Gaitskell) stood up to say pointedly that he hoped the Prime Minister had had a good rest in spite of any disturbing messages ne might have received from Britain, and that

he was now fully restored to health,

There was another burst of cheering when Sir Anthony Eden rose to answer a question by Mr Hughes inquiring whether he would appoint an official historian to write the history of the armed conflict with Egypt. He seemed relaxed and in good humour when he replied that no provision had been made for the publication of an official history for events subsequent to the Second World War.

To Mr Gaitskell, who asked whether all the relevant documents would be preserved, he replied: “Certainly.” The documents were there and would remain for anybody who liked to dive into them.

Mr Randolph Churchill and Mr Malcolm Muggeridge, the editor of “Punch.” two of the Prime Minister’s most virile critics, watched proceedings from the gallery. In the days to come, Sir Anthony Eden will be watched closely and all his statements and speeches will be analysed thoroughly. The Conservative Party is by no means yet settled down after the events leading up to the Prime Minister’s enforced holiday and there remains much speculation about his future.

Sir Anthony Eden is due to meet all his Parliamentary supporters at a private gathering tomorrow. But Conservative M.P.’s do not think that this meeting—a regular fixture—will be the scene of a major party dispute.