DIARY OF THE YEAR
Wednesday 2 June: Delegates , from the Com- monwealth sugar-producing countries were pre- pared to support Mr Rippon's sugar agreement with the EEC. Gold reserves were at their highest for five years and the Cammell Laird shipyard at Birkenhead will not close down after all. Mill Reef won the Derby. Thursday 3 June: Although the cholera epi- demic in Bengal has killed thousands, there is minimal outside aid as yet. Mr Feather inter- vened in the steel strike, an explosion cut com- munications in Lisbon and British Rail is to crowd smokers into fewer carriages. A judge reckoned the famous four-letter word was not obscene while Mr Jim Slater reckoned his life was worth £10 million.
Friday 4 June: The end of the steel strike came when the Steel Corporation offered more talks on pay. The end of the Lisbon meeting of NATO foreign ministers came with a cautious response to Russian proposals to reduce forces. The start of international relief in Bengal came at last and the Indians are trying to contain disease with mass vaccination. Georg Lukaes, the Hun- garian philosopher, died aged eighty-six. Saturday 5 June: With flooding, famine and disease- in Bengal, only war was needed to com- pound the disaster and this seems likely to break out between India and Pakistan. Mrs Gandhi flew to Calcutta to discuss how best to lighten the refugee burden. Russia sent Soyuz ii into orbit to link up with the Salyut space station. Sunday 6 June: Cholera threatened to engulf Calcutta after refugees had broken through an Indian Government cordon protecting the city. After a week's lull, Etna erupted again. A French destroyer was sliced in two by a Russian tanker and bread was forecast to cost 15p a-loaf soon.
Monday 7 June: Indian energy in fighting the cholera epidemic caused slight optimism that it could be contained. Mr Rippon and the EEC agreed on how to run down sterling's role as a reserve currency. Overseas parcel post will cost more in July and Mr Wedgwood Benn will visit China in September. Tuesday 8 June: The Foreign Secretary told MPS that British charities had responded to the Bengal crisis 'magnificently' and the Govern- ment was ready to provide more money. The Keep Britain Out Campaign is to hold a refer- endum on the EEC issue in eight constituencies,
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