Portrait of the week
Once more unto the brink: the Arab-Israel quarrel blazed up again, with President Nasser ordering the United Nations force to go home, and then block- ading Israeli shipping in the Gulf of Aqaba. The encircled Israelis made warlike noises in response. U Thant flew to Cairo, Mr George Brown flew (after some delays) to Moscow, and Mr George Thomson flew to Washington and New York. As the crisis atmosphere intensified, there were would- be reassuring statements that Britain need not fear petrol rationing.
Away in Vietnam, things were growing uglier, too, as the Americans blasted into the 'demili- tarised' zone which, they explained, had long been used as a sanctuary by the Vietcong. In Hong Kong, Communists rioted in the streets, and the police had to use rough tactics to quell them. In Shanghai, Britain's diplomatic representative was savagely treated and then ordered out, two others were smeared with glue, and Britain and China exchanged stern messages.
Enviably away from it all, Sir Francis Chichester sailed on towards Plymouth, although even his seclusion was interrupted by an unexpected visit from a television boat. Lord Chalfont was picked to negotiate Britain's entry into Europe, although no one seemed to be optimistic about her pros- pects any longer, and there were hints of yet another Anglo-French difference, over the Chan- nel Tunnel. The Prices and Incomes Board severely criticised Britain's banks.
Brussels had a terrible department store fire, in which some 300 people were said to have been killed. Lord Thomson of Fleet and Mr Harold Wilson had 'a joke' about the death of the left-wing paper the Sunday Citizen, but the paper itself didn't think it funny. Malcolm Muggeridge gave support to Mrs Whitehouse's 'clean-up TV' movement. The resistance to the Stansted airport plan rumbled on at protest meetings and in the press. Spain agreed to 'discuss' the restrictions on flights to Gibraltar, but not to change them. Russia got a new secret police chief, and Greece got an heir to the throne.
It was not a good week for Chelsea. They were beaten in the cup final by the Spurs (two goals to one), and the Chelsea Flower Show opened amid torrential rain, thunderstorms, and icy gales. But then it was not a very good week for anyone.
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