They Didn't Meet...

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30575, 19 October 1964, Page 13

They Didn't Meet...

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) LONDON, October 18. At 5.19 p.m. yesterday the former Prime Minister, Sir Alec Douglas-Home, slipped quietly out of No. 10 Downing street by the back door, the “Guardian” reported.

His departure with Lady Douglas-Home went almost unnoticed.

All day long, a crowd of hundreds, stretching from Whitehall up to and past the door of No. 10, had watched Sir Alec Douglas-Home’s last hours as Premier. Cheers had greeted the

comings and goings of staff and tradesmen. At 4.30 p.m. after Sir Alec Douglas-Home had been to see the Queen, the new Prime Minister, Mr Harold Wilson, arrived and entered the Prime Minister’s official residence.

Now both party leaders were at No. 10.

Then, at 5.19 p.m., by the back door into Horse Guards Parade, away from the crowds,

and the cameras, Sir Alec Douglas-Home left.

Someone asked if he had seen Mr Wilson while they were in the house together. No, he replied, he had not. “I was upstairs clearing up.” Sir Alec Douglas-Home and his wife got into the Daimler with five cases, two hats, three coats, one worn leather briefcase and one umbrella, and drove away.