LORD WAVERLEY DEAD

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28477, 6 January 1958, Page 7

LORD WAVERLEY DEAD

Former Home Secretary

(Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 4 Lord Waverley. who as Sir John Anderson gave his name to the famous garden air-raid shelters during World War 11, died from bronchial pneumonia today in a London hospital, aged 75. He had

been ill for some months and received the Order of Merit in hospital on December 8 from the Queen’s private secretary. As Sir John Anderson, he was Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1943 to 1945. At the beginning of World War 11, he was Home Secretary and Minister for Home Security. After the war, he was for a time chairman of the Atomic Energy Committee and from 1946 until his death was chairman of the Port of London Authority. He was created Viscount Waverley in 1952.

Chief Guide Improves.— Lady Baden-PowelL the Chief Guide, is progressing well in Portland General Hospital, a hospital official said today. Lady Baden-Powell is recovering after an emergency operation on New Year’s Day.— Melbourne. Jan. 5.

Mr Macmillan 'said nobody could have tried harder than Britain to reach agreement with the Soviet Government. But he did not despair. “That is why at N.A.T.O. last month we made it perfectly clear that we were ready and anxious to make a new effort to break the deadlock,’’ he said. “I don’t mind whether we make it through the United Nations or at some smaller meeting.

“Whether it is done this way or through diplomatic channels or a combination of both, the object would be to clear away the rubble of old controversies and disagreements, perhaps to get the path ready for a meeting of heads of government.” Mr Macmillan said he began the New Year in a spirit of confidence and looked forward to his Commonwealth tour next week.

“It is peace which will occupy us a great deal in the talks I shall be having with my fellow Prime Ministers in the Commonwealth countries I am going to visit,” he said.

But the work for peace was dominated by the problem of how well the West could get on with the Russians. Yet over the Russian policy hung a question mark. “Fair and Friendly Words” “They often speak fair words. They spoke many fair and friendly words to us on New Year’s Day. Are these professions of respect and friendship really genuine? Or are they saying a number of things they think we would like to hear in order to weaken our resolve?

“We cannot yet be sure of the truth. And it is a terrible responsibility for any government to have to choose to act upon this interpretation. or that, without being absolutely certain.” Discussing nuclear disarmament, Mr Macmillan said the hydrogen bomb was a protection. “We dare not let our revulsion from the idea of the H-bomb deprive us of our best guarantee of safety from attack and so the best guarantee of peace.” He felt the present stalemate was “no bad thing.” At least it meant that world conflict was much less likely. Turning to United States bases in Britain, the Prime Minister repeated that they could not be used for war except by agreement between Britain and America.

‘‘lf occasional flights with hydrogen bombs are necessary to ensure the reliability of our defence, we must accept that necessity,” he said. “Effective deterrence depends on instant readiness to deter. These bombs cannot go off of their own accord. There cannot be a nuclear explosion if the aircraft which carries them fails and crashes. “There would be a small risk of radiation, but practically negligible.” said Mr Macmillan. To make the bombs effective, required an elaborate piece of technical drill by the aircraft crew. “The Same Veto” If bases for nuclear rockets were the up-to-date equivalent for bomb-carrying planes, then Britain’s whole defence policy and strategy would become meaningless unless there were such bases in this country—‘‘and we will have exactly the same veto upon the use of the rockets as we have on the use of bombs from aeroplanes.” he said. Discussing the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance. Mr Macmillan said it would be fatal if it was allowed to be broken up. “It is not just a military alliance, but it provides a moral basis for a large part of the free world,” he said. Today, he declared, there was such an even balance of power that war was made almost impossible. “Do not let us lose this advantage.” he said. ‘‘Reduction in all forms of weapons must be so planned as to reduce tensions and not to increase apprehensions,” the Prime Minister said.