10 JULY 1964, Page 3

—Portrait of the Week— 'WHAT I LOSE on the frigates

I'll regain on the telly,' seemed Mr. Wilson's philosophy. In the approach to the countdown period to the general election, every whisper is being gauged in public Opinion poll terms—by press and politicians alike. While Tories regarded the Spanish frigate deal as More valuable lost than won, Mr. Wilson accused the Prime Minister of conducting unspecified 'secret negotiation? with Spain. Mr. Wilson was revealed as the mysterious peacemaker in the TV Production staff strike. The TAM-rating figures for the blank ITV screen were not revealed, and the major political event on BBC—the Heath/ Brown confrontation on State ownership—de- served a blank screen.

THE PRIME MINISTER had his problems, with the Commonwealth Premiers meeting in London: following President Nkrumah's lobbying, Southern Rhodesia seemed likely to be the top cause of dissension, but some Premiers were re- ported unimpressed by the Ghanaian cajoling. Mr. Brooke was the centre of criticism again— this time for delay in initiating an inquiry into the Challenor case, and in granting free pardons to some prisoners. Meanwhile' four Flying Squad officers were charged with conspiracy. The VC-10 aircraft plagued Mr. Amery, faced as he is with the choice of heavily subsidising BOAC to run it or harming Vickers by cancelling it; and a cross- Channel ferry ran aground off Newhaven after a stormy crossing.

GOVERNOR WALLACE IS to enter the US Democratic Presidential stakes on a segregationist plat- form, while Governor Scranton, watching the Coldwater Convention votes piling up, received the support of Eisenhower's brother. Mr. Tshombe was invited to form a government in the Congo, several thousand Algerian troops took to the hills to prepare revolt against Ben Bella, and Fidel Castro's sister, who recently fled from Cuba, claimed to be a CIA agent. Malawi became independent, after a twenty-one-gun salute from borrowed guns. The new premier, Dr. Banda, Promptly ended BBC news broadcasts in the country. China is to buy several Rolls-Royce cars. Flying saucers were seen again, and the growth in the lean of the Tower of Pisa is getting less each year.

THE EGG MARKETING BOARD Was peeved at reports that it had 4,000 tons of frozen liquid eggs—or 'industrial milange—which it could not get rid of : scientific civil servants were so peeved at a Wage claim rejection that they are to urge school- leavers not to join them. Medical reports issued this week suggested that over two million people Iii the UK were deaf, and one in ten suffering from a potentially serious disease without realising it: meanwhile the Government Chemist praised the high quality of illicit whisky made on private Stills. MIS is to become DM, Radio Caroline set out for the Isle ,of Man, broadcasting pop music as she went, and the City of London had its own Festival—though topless dresses and swimsuits Were banned from the Miss City competition. After a row over black magic, the president of the Witchcraft Research Association decided to resign.

A WEEK OE DISAPPEARING ACTS in sport : the Grand National may go, as Aintree racecourse may be turned into housing estates. A £10,000,000 betting coup on greyhounds disappeared beneath writs and legal action. England's hopes of regaining the ' Ashes seemed to have disappeared when Australia won the Third Test.