MR CHURCHILL'S BIRTHDAY

Grey River Argus, 1 December 1944, Page 6

MR CHURCHILL'S BIRTHDAY

LONDON, November 29. Messages are reaching Downing Street from all parts of the world congratulating Mr. Churchill on his seventieth birthday to-morrow. One of his secretaries said Mr. Churchill would spend his birthday as he spent all his wartime birthdays, by working. There may be a small family dinner party to-morrow night. The Czechoslovak Deputy-Premier and Foreign Minister, M. Masaryk, has sent a telegram to Mr. Churchill on his 70th. birthday. Mr. Fraser, New Zealand Prime Minister’s message said: “It is with the greatest personal pleasure that I send on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand warmest congratulations and sincere good wishes on your birthday. New Zealand people of both races join me in voicing heartfelt gratitude for your inspired and devoted leadership of the ‘British Commonwealth in these fateful years. It is the fervent wish of all of us that after the achievement of final victory you may be spared to enjoy your life in the free world you have defended so faithfully and well. Mrs. Fraser joins me in sending warmest personal regards to Mrs. Churchill and yourself.” PRESS TRIBUTES. (Rec. 8.0). LONDON, November 30. The Times, in a leader, says: Congratulations and good wishes such as no Englishman hitherto has earned will pour in to Mr Churchill to'-day. Mr, Churchill’s services to his age place the senders under a lifelong personal obligation to him. The occasion will rightly be held ’to transcend the life of politics or discussion, criticism, and contention. It is symbolical of Mr Churchill’s achievement, which even now stands secure in historv. Mr Churchill has proved himself in years of national unity a true national leader, not only in his appeal to popular imagination and in his control of strategy, but also in his mastery of the political scene. Along with his enduring youthfulness, his disarming humour, and his essential dislike of pretension and narade he has disclosed in all great issues an ever-increasing maturity of patience and tolerance. There will be personal warmth in the greetings, spoken and unspoken, coming from millions on a da” which finds him seventy years young. The Daily Mail points out that there will be a birthday present for Mr Churchill from the Food Ministry. His birthday qualifies him for an exf.ra allowance of one ounce of tea weekly which is granted to the “over seventies”. The Ministry of Food instructions say that over seventies, “if fit and able to walk”, must take their ration books to the local food office and make a written declaration of their age.