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15 Opposition and Crisis: January to July 1947
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 October 2009
Extract
When Headlam resumed keeping a diary at the start of 1947, the Labour government was facing a serious crisis due to the combination of an unusually severe winter and a shortage of coal, resulting from low productivity in the recently-nationalised mines.
Wednesday 1 January 1947 I gave up keeping a diary in the autumn of ‘45 and I don't quite know why I am starting one again this year. I doubt very much whether I shall succeed in keeping it going – or whether, indeed, there is any real point in doing so. However, I find my old diaries rather interesting reading – interesting to me that is to say – and so one might as well try and continue the series for one's few remaining years – they can only make the funeral pyre of my life's records a wee bit bigger. … I have neither the energy nor the inclination to publish my life's history, or to advertize my views about men and things – after all, what have I done worthy of note? and of what value are my opinions?
Friday 3 January Things do look too gloomy for words both in this country and all the world over. The Terrorists in Palestine are at it again – and one wonders what the Government can do to repress them? Surely they will come to some kind of decision on policy before long? As things are now, no one has the least idea of what our policy in Palestine is … One sign of the times is that synagogues in London are being set on fire – in any other country there would be a pogrom of Jews if Jewish terrorists were allowed to behave to people as they are behaving to our troops and police and officials in Palestine today.
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References
1 Dalton was Chancellor of the Exchequer 1945–47.
2 Thomas Greenwell (q.v.) had succeeded Headlam as Northern Counties Area Chairman in May 1946.
3 Eric James Shearer (1892–1980), service in Indian Army 1911–29; Jt. Managing Dir., Fortnum & Mason 1933–38, United Kingdom Commercial Corporation 1942–45, Caltex Trading & Transport 1950–60; a businessman and Lloyd's Underwriter.
4 John Cyril Maude (1901–1986), Con. M.P. Exeter 1945–51; Recorder of Devizes 1939–44, of Plymouth 1944–54; Additional Judge, City of London Court 1954–65, Central Criminal Court 1965–68.
5 Claude Granville Lancaster (1899–1977), Con. M.P. Fylde 1938–50, Fylde S. 1950–70.
6 Andrew Bonar Law, Conservative Party leader 1911–21 and 1922–23, Prime Minister 1922–23.
7 (William Jocelyn) Ian Fraser (1897–1974), Con. M.P. St. Paneras N. 1924–29, 1931–37, Lonsdale 1940–50, Morecambe & Lonsdale 1950–58; Pres., British Legion 1947–58; kt. 1934, cr. Baron Fraser of Lonsdale 1958; blinded at the Battle of the Somme 1916.
8 William Walter Montagu-Douglas-Scott (1896–1958), Con. M.P. Roxburgh & Selkirk 1935–50; styled Lord William Scott after suc. of father as 7th Duke of Buccleuch 1914.
9 John Archibald Boyd-Carpenter (1908–1998), Con. M.P. Kingston-upon-Thames 1945–72; F.S. Treasury 1951–54; Min. of Transport & Civil Aviation 1954–55; Min. of Pensions & Nat. Insurance 1955–62; Chief Sec. Treasury & Paymaster-Gen. 1962–64; Chairman, Public Accounts Ctte. 1964–70; Chairman, Civil Aviation Authority 1972–77; cr. Baron Boyd-Carpenter 1972.
10 Jack Galloway (b.1910), Con. Agent, S.E. Leeds 1931–34, The Wrekin 1934–36, Cannock, 1936–39; war service, Royal Tank Regiment 1939–46; C.O. Agent, Northern Counties Area 1946–1956, West Midlands Area 1956–1975.
11 Halifax (then titled Lord Irwin) had been Viceroy of India 1925–31.
12 Edith Summerskill (1901–1980), medical practicioner; Lab. M.P. Fulham W. 1938–55, Warrington 1955–61; P.S. Food 1945–50; Min. of Nat. Insurance 1950–51; member of P.L.P. Ctte. 1951–57, 1958–59; member of N.E.C. 1944–58, Chairman 1954–55; cr. Baroness Summerskill 1961.
13 (Evelyn) John St. Loe Strachey (1901–1963), Lab. M.P. Birmingham Aston 1929–31 (joined New Party Feb.–June 1931, sat as Ind. June–Oct. 1931), Lab. M.P. Dundee 1945–50, Dundee W. 1950–63; U.S. Air 1945–46; Min. of Food 1946–50; Sec. for War 1950–51.
14 George Alfred Isaacs (1883–1979), Lab. M.P. Gravesend 1923–24, Southwark N. 1929–31, 1939–50, Southwark 1950–59; P.P.S. to J.H. Thomas 1924, 1929–31, to A.V. Alexander 1942–45; Min. of Labour & Nat. Service 1945–51; Min. of Pensions Jan.–Oct. 1951; Mayor of Southwark 1919–21; Gen. Sec., Nat. Soc. of Operative Printers 1909–49; Pres., World Trade Union Conference 1945.
15 (Edward) Clement Davies (1884–1962), Lib. M.P. Montgomeryshire 1929–62 (Lib. Nat. 1931–39, Ind. Lib. 1939–42, Lib. from Aug. 1942); Chairman of the ‘All Party Action Group’ in May 1940; Lib. Leader 1945–56.
16 Davies was at this time Leader of the Liberal Party; Headlam's reference to ‘Nat. Libs.’ is a mistake, probably resulting from the fact that Davies had sat as a Liberal National from 1931 to 1939 (he resigned the Nat. whip in Dec. 1939 and rejoined the Liberal Party in Aug. 1942, becoming Leader on 2 Aug. 1945).
17 Priscilla Jean Fortescue Thomson (1915–1978), married first 1934 Sir Arthur Lindsay Grant of Monymusk, 11th Bart, (killed in action, 1944), second 1948 2nd Baron Tweedsmuir; Con. M.P. Aberdeen S. 1946–66; U.S. Scotland 1962–64, M.S. 1970–72; M.S. For. Office 1972–74; delegate to U.N. General Assembly 1960–61, Chairman of U.N. Ctte. for Refugees 1961–62; cr. Baroness Tweedsmuir of Belhevie 1970.
18 W. S. Morrison (q.v.) was known as ‘Shakes’: shortened from Shakespeare, the nickname derived from both his initials and his love of Shakespeare's works.
19 James Chuter Ede (1882–1965), Lab. M.P. Mitcham Mar.–Dec. 1923, S. Shields 1929–31, 1935–64; P.S. Educ. 1940–45; Home Sec. 1945–51, & Leader of the House Mar.–Oct. 1951; Chairman, Surrey County Council 1933–37; Chairman, London & Home Counties Electricity Authority 1934–40; Pres., County Councils Assoc. 1953–61; cr. Baron Chuter-Ede 1964.
20 Osbert Peake (1897–1966), Con. M.P. Leeds N. 1929–55, Leeds N.E. 1955–56; U.S. Home Office 1939–44; F.S.T. 1944–45; Min. of Nat. Insurance 1951–53; Min. of Pensions & Nat. Insurance 1953–55; Chairman, Public Accounts Ctte. 1945–48; cr. Viscount Ingleby 1956.
21 Charles Frank Byers (1915–1984), Lib. M.P. Dorset N. 1945–50; Chief Whip 1946–50; Chairman, Lib. Assoc. 1946–63; Chairman, Lib. Party 1950–52, 1965–67; Lib. Leader in the Lords 1967–84; cr. Baron Byers 1964.
22 Rhys John Davies (1877–1954), Lab. M.P. Westhoughton 1921–51; U.S. Home Office 1924; Pres., Manchester & Salford Lab. Party 1917–20, Trades Council 1920–22; member of P.L.P. Exec. 1923–24; member of N.E.C. 1921–27.
23 i.e., Lab. M.P.s on the far left or of Pacifist opinions.
24 As well as the Liberals, the No vote included 72 Lab. and 1 Con. M.P.s.
25 David McAdam Eccles (1904–), Con. M.P. Chippenham 1943–62; Min. of Works 1951–54; Min. of Educ. 1954–57, 1959–62; Pres. Bd. of Trade 1957–59; Paymaster-Gen. & Min. for the Arts 1970–73; Chairman, British Library Bd. 1973–78; kt. 1953, cr. Baron Eccles 1962, Viscount 1964.
26 Under the influence of alcohol, but not completely inebriated.
27 Philip Albert Inman (1892–1979), businessman, dir. of publishing, hotel and industrial companies; Lord Privy Seal Apr.–Oct. 1947; Chairman, Hotels Exec., British Transport 1948–51; a Church Comm. 1946–57; cr. Baron Inman 1946.
28 Frederick William Lawrence (1871–1961), assumed additional surname Pethick on marriage 1901; Lab. M.P. Leicester W. 1923–31, Edinburgh E. 1935–45; F.S.T. 1929–31; India & Burma Sec. 1945–47; cr. Baron Pethick-Lawrence 1945.
29 William Francis Hare (1906–1997), Lab. Whip in Lords 1941–44; P.S. Burma 1944–45; Postmaster-Gen. 1945–47, & Min. of Information Feb.–Mar. 1946; India Sec. Apr.–Aug. 1947, & Burma 1947–48; M.S. Colonies 1948–50; P.S. Agric. 1950–51; Gov.-Gen., Ghana 1957–60; Chairman of Cttes., House of Lords 1965–76; styled Viscount Ennismore 1924–31, suc. 5th Earl of Listowel 1931.
30 Francis Aungier Pakenham (1905–), Lord-in-Waiting 1945–46; U.S. War Office 1946–47; Chanc. Duchy of Lancaster 1947–48; Min. Civil Aviation 1948–51; 1st Lord of Admiralty 1951; Lord Privy Seal 1964–65, 1966–68; Colonial Sec. 1965–66; Lab. Party Leader in the Lords, 1964–68; cr. Baron Pakenham 1945, suc. 7th Earl of Longford 1961.
31 John Burns Hynd (1902–1971), Lab. M.P. Sheffield Attercliffe 1944–70; Chanc. Duchy of Lancaster 1945–47; Min. of Pensions Apr.–Oct. 1947.
32 Wilfred Paling (1883–1971), Lab. M.P. Doncaster 1922–31, Wentworth 1933–50, Dearne Valley 1950–59; P.P.S. to M. Bondfield 1924; Whip 1929–35, Dep. Chief Whip 1935–41; P.S. Pensions 1941–45; Min. of Pensions 1945–47; Postmaster-Gen. 1947–50.
33 William Scott, Con. cand. Jarrow 1947.
34 Alfred John Barnes (1887–1974), Lab. M.P. East Ham S. 1922–31, 1935–55; P.P.S. to W. Graham 1924; Whip 1925–30; Min. of Transport 1945–51; Chairman, Co-Operative Party 1924–45.
35 Oliver Brian Sanderson Poole (1911–1993), Con. M.P. Oswestry 1945–50; jt. Con. Party Treasurer 1952–55; Con. Party Chairman 1955–57, Dep. Chairman 1957–59, jt. Chairman Apr.–Oct. 1963, Vice-Chairman 1963–64; Gov., Old Vic Theatre 1945–63; cr. Baron Poole 1958.
36 This is a reference to Ronald Deane Ross (1888–1968), Ulster Unionist M.P. Londonderry 1929–51; P.P.S. to Sir B. Eyres-Monsell 1931–35; Chairman, Ulster Unionist Parl. Party 1939–41; Recorder of Sunderland 1936–51; N. Ireland Govt. Agent in London 1951–57; suc. 2nd Bart. 1935; Headlam's use of the forename Hugh was a mistake possibly resulting from the fact that the other leading Ulster Unionist M.P. of the period was Sir Hugh O'Neill (q.v.)
37 Albrecht Kesselring (1885–1960), German army career 1904–35, then transferred to the air force; Chief of Staff, Luftwaffe 1936–1938Google Scholar; C. in C. Air Fleet I (Berlin) 1938–39, Air Fleet II 1940–41; C. in C. South, commanding all German forces in the Mediterranean theatre 1941–45 and the Italian front 1943–45; C. in C. North-West Europe, March–May 1945; sentenced to death by a British military court in Venice, May 1947, for Ardeantine Cave massacre of Italian civilians in March 1944, sentence commuted to life imprisonment, released on health grounds 1952.
38 The procedure by which a debate is closed at a previously fixed time.
39 Dorothy Crisp (b. c. 1910), married 1945 John Neil Becker; Ind. cand. Acton 1943, St. George's 1945; Chairman, British Housewives' League 1947–48; she used her maiden name throughout her involvement with the League, although she was expecting her second child in 1948.
40 Socially rather than politically: Dalton had an upper class background and education, but had not been involved in politics other than in the Labour Party.
41 Arnold Babb Gridley (1878–1965), Con. M.P. Stockport 1935–50, Stockport S. 1950–55; Chairman, 1922 Ctte. 1945–51; Controller, Electric Power Supply 1916–18; kt. 1920, cr. Baron Gridley 1955.
42 The Tory Reform Ctte., of which he was the first Chairman in 1943–44.
43 John Scott Maclay (1905–), Lib. Nat. M.P. Montrose Burghs 1940–50, Renfrewshire W. 1950–64; Head of British Merchant Shipping Mission to U.S.A. 1944; P.S. Production May–July 1945; Min. of Transport & Civil Aviation 1951–52; M.S. Colonies 1956–57; Scottish Sec. 1957–62; Pres. of Assembly, Western European Union 1955–56; Pres., Nat. Lib. Council 1957–67; Chairman, Jt. Exchequer Bd. for N. Ireland 1965–72; cr. Viscount Muirshiel 1964, K.T. 1973; a shipowner; his father, the 1st Baron Maclay, was Min. of Shipping 1916–21.
44 Sumner Welles (1892–1961), U.S. diplomat; Ass. Sec. of State 1933–37, Under. Sec. 1937–43; a close friend of Roosevelt.
45 A leading supporter of Headlam in the Newcastle North C.A.
46 Florence Fletcher (d.1961), Con. Woman Organiser, Rugby 1934–39; wartime service in A.T.S., rising to rank of Chief Commander; Con. Agent, King's Norton CA, 1945–46; Dep. C.O. Agent, Northern Counties Area, 1946–47; Secretary, Women's Nat. Advisory Ctte. of N.U., 1947–60.
47 Arthur James Cook (1883–1931), Sec., M.F.G.B. 1924–31; a leading figure in the General Strike of 1926 and of the miners' strike of 1926–27.