PORTRAIT OF THE WEEK
Mr Johnson astonished everyone by announcing that he did not choose to run for President in 1968; and those who do so choose are running very much harder. First off the mark was Senator Robert Kennedy, who asked the Presi- dent to confer with him in the interests of national unity. Senator McCarthy distinguished himself in the Wisconsin primary election. Mr Nixon was still quoted as even-money favourite.
The President announced an end to the bombing of North Vietnam 'except in the area north of the demilitarised zone.' This brought from Hanoi an offer to talk with Washington about the cessation of bombing and the Presi- dent said he was 'very interested.' The Saigon government earlier declared that if neces- sary it would continue the war on its own. The us Air Force sent its first six Fills to the Far East and lost two in the first week.
At home four new Tory A1PS, Mr Baker (Acton), Mr Speed (Meriden), Mr Williams (Dudley) and Mr Smith (Warwick and Lea- mington) took their seats in the House of Commons—three having been captured from Labour in last week's by-elections. This week's fresh difficulties for the Government came with the White Paper on wage restraints: a block of some fifty Labour members threatened impla- cable hostility. Keeping on the pressure, Mr Heath was photographed having a pint of beer with Annie of Annie's Bar, now restored to the House's facilities; but he was totally outflanked by Mr Jeremy Thorpe, the Liberal leader, who became engaged to be married.
Mr Crossman remarked that the Wilson Cabinet, Mark I, was nearing the end of its usefulness, and should now be replaced by the Wilson Cabinet, Mark II. Mr Cecil King accepted the premise but reached a different conclusion: a fresh start for the Government and a fresh infusion of leadership for the country needed 'some new character at No. 10.' Mr King did not name the new character. Mr Wilson kept mum.
With a straight face, the Treasury announced that Britain's gold reserves had fallen by only £20 million in March. Mr P. J. Proby, the pop singer, was also in the red, owing £84,039: 'business was bad,' said Mr Proby, 'because my pants split.' Rolls-Royce, more happily placed, followed their £150-million-plus American order for the RB 211 engine with another £25 million worth from Delta Airlines.
There must be some public explanation, ruled the Lord Chief Justice, before a man goes to prison; but when he gets there, the Govern- ment's advisory council on the penal system want him watched by armed guards. Mr Callag- han was not thought to care for this.
In the last Test match, England scraped a draw with the West Indies, and won the series.
A nurse at Wythenshawe hospital has been ordered to shave by the matron; Mr Michael Stewart has been written into the play Mrs Wilson's Diary without any increase in the cast —he is invisible; and the Dutch government finds that modern communications have ren- dered obsolete the twenty-one gun salute. It snowed.
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