The Master Of Trinity

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30668, 6 February 1965, Page 14

The Master Of Trinity

Twice rejected for Britain’s highest political office, Mr Butler has now attained one of the highest academic posts his country has to offer, To be Master of Trinity, one of the world’s greatest university colleges, is an honour but by no means an honorary office. In -it he will maintain a family tradition. His father was Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge; his great-uncle was Master of Trinity and headmaster of Harrow; another member of his family was headmaster of Haileybury. Before he began his political career 35 years ago, Mr Butler was himself a Cambridge don. His academic brilliance and political eminence fully qualify him to succeed Lord Adrian, a distinguished physiologist, and the historian, G. M. Trevelyan, recent predecessors at Trinity. Though the greatest political rewards eluded him, he served painstakingly, faithfully, and sometimes brilliantly in and behind the high seats of power. Now he can add a great postscript to his career as head of a college that lists Newton, Milton, Macaulay, Byron, three of Charles Darwin’s scientist sons, and J. B. S. Haldane among its famous members. This is no idle retirement. Once before, Mr Butler chose education as a path to new and higher ground. As dutiful spokesman in the House of Commons for Mr Chamberlain’s Foreign Secretary, Lord Halifax, Mr Butler was associated with the “ appeasement ” policy of Munich. That led him to what might have been a backwater of war-time government as president of the Board of Education. Instead, he employed his great administrative and committee-room talents to pass the Butler Education Act, a spearhead of social reform. His initiative in calling together the allies’ Ministers of Education led to the founding .of U.N.E.S.C.O. More often than not, however, Mr Butler proved his worth out of the public eye. The new Conservative policy that revitalised the party after its post-war defeat—a policy evolved from carefid political thinking rather than reliance on tradition—owed much to him; and this achievement led to his wide recognition as the brains of the Conservative Party. Twice Mr Butler seemed to be on the verge of becoming Prime Minister. Instead, Mr Macmillan and Sir Alec Douglas-Home led the Conservative Party. Some Conservatives thought him a secret Socialist; and with his dry manner and modest attainments as a speaker, he could not attract the backing he needed in the House of Commons. He was never a Churchill man. Though Mr Butter had, in 1963, more experience in high positions than any other man in active politics and had strong support in the Cabinet, . Lord Home was the successful candidate in a painful and embarrassing contest Mr Butlers magnanimity then, and his quickness to close the ranks, commanded respect. Mr Butter was once asked to comment on the suggestion that some people thought he did not have strong political views. His reply, transparently and predictably honest, was a fair judgment of 1 think 11131 comes from seeing all sides .« of 016 perhaps rather too closely at one moment”, he said. “Whenever there has been a f « r decisions—like the Central African .. i hlCh 1 have been dealing with—l have . “ lar a 631 many disagreeable and unpopuh lar decisions. And they proved to be right ”a