PORTRAIT OF THE WEEK
The British government asked for a new $1,000 million standby credit from the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, terms to be announced next month, after the German cabinet, following a stormy meeting, bad announced that it would not revalue the Deutschemark: a spokesman explained that the decision was 'for eternity.' Parliament was refused an emergency debate on Mr Jenkins's letter of intent, Mr Callaghan was expelled from the newly formed inner Cabinet, and re- affirmed that he had no intention of r_ from the Cabinet. Mr Wilson decided to delay the publication of the Industrial Relations Bill by three weeks, until after the TUC had met on 5 June. Mrs Castle said she wal, hoping for a 'copper-bottomed compromise.' Trade figures for April showed a deficit of £59 million, mak- ing it the third disastrous month in succession. Tory net gains in the local elections were finally agreed at 957 seats, Labour net losses 900.
Less than twenty-four hours after M Alain
Poher, the almost unknown interim President of France, announced his candidature for the French presidential elections, an opinion poll gave him a 12 per cent lead over the Gaullist candidate and erstwhile favourite, M Georges Pompidou. Ex-President de Gaulle went to Ireland on holiday; a specially large bed was sent to his hotel near Parknasilla, Co Kerry. The Pope downgraded ninety saints, including St George, St Christopher and St Barbara, sug- gesting that they need be venerated only by those who wish to do so. A state of emer- gency was declared in Malaysia after racial clashes between Malays and Chinese in which between fifty and a hundred people were re- ported to have died. An inexplicable epidemic of deaths among Russian generals claimed its thirteenth victim, and the Sunday Times com- mented: 'The fact that everyone seems to be dying suggests that there's nothing wrong with the Russian army.' Mr Stonehouse, Postmaster- General, suggested abolishing the telegram ser-
vice, and then said that he was only thinking aloud. A special service for 'life and death' communications would in any case be re- tained.
In Washington, a judge of the us Supreme Court, Mr -Abe Fortas, resisted pressure to resign while the administration threatened to publish details of alleged improprieties over money. President Nixon bought an estate in California for £142,000. At Oxford, a commit- tee set up by the university reported in favour of giving undergraduates a say -on disciplinary rules but confining academic decisions to the dons. Members of the Daily Mirror chapel of the National Union of Journalists prevented the newspaper from printing an article by Mr Clive Jenkins, the maverick union leader, on the grounds that he was not a member of the union. Lady Margaret Hall, the women's col- lege, entered a crew for Oxford's eights week, and - Princess Margaret ,contracted gastro- enteritis.
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