One-Man Band The Daily Telegraph describes as 'a flattering story'
the account given by the Prime Minister or by his office of the role he played. in the Anglo- Irish negotiations. The account goes: '. . '. at 10.39 p.m., on Monday, having no work to do, Mr. Wilson wandered over to Marlborough House to "see how they were getting on." He found the negotiators had got into a few diffi- culties. He took over the "driving seat" from Mr. Bottomley, Commonwealth Secretary, is said to have enjoyed every bit of it, and agreement was reached at 12.45 a.m.'
I suspect that the Daily Telegraph (which is not a devotional paper) had its tongue in its cheek. The story is a very unattractive one. I like Mr. Bottomley as a person, but I am all in favour of things being taken out of his hands. There is much to be said for the Prime Minister ordering from time to time, 'Find out what Arthur is doing and tell him not to.' But it is one thing for a political opponent to attack Mr. Bottomley's competence. It is quite another for him to be derided by his own Prime Minister. Nothing is more revealing, in the story than the precision of the times .given, and the direct quotes.
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