PORTRAIT OF THE WEEK
President de Gaulle decided not to devalue the franc but to impose rigorous cuts in public ex- penditure instead, as well as currency restric- tions and price and wage controls. Mr Jenkins announced an almost equally rigorous rise in taxation—on cigarettes, drink, petrol, and all purchase tax, as well as a credit squeeze and a returnable import levy. The roc called once more for growth instead. Dr Kiesinger declined to revalue the mark, despite implied threats from Mr Wilson delivered after midnight to the German Ambassador in London that we might have to withdraw troops from Germany if he didn't. Mr Wilson denied the threat and criti- cised the Germans for revealing it (which, they said, they hadn't). In Prague, foreign travel restrictions were reintroduced. President Nasser closed all Egyptian universities after three days of student riots about all the usual things.
Riots in Western Nigeria against tax rises killed ten people. Parts of Ibadan were sealed off by troops after a chieftain's palace was set on fire. An International Red Cross medical survey, announced by Lady De La Warr, presi- dent of UNICEF, predicted that between six and eight million people'will have starved to death in Nigeria/Biafra by the end of next month. It estimated that 10,000 people are now dying daily in the 'liberated' areas. The British government continues to support the blockade. Mr Anthony Grey, the Reuter correspondent who has been confined to his room in Peking for sixteen months, was visited for the second time by members of the British mission; that evening Mr Wilson said the Government was doing everything possible to secure his release.
Votes at eighteen were approved by the Commons despite a revolt from Mr Douglas Houghton and other elderly Labour back- benchers. The Press Council rejected complaints against the Daily Express for having published photographs of the Queen in bed. Cyril Lord, the Ulster carpet firm, was about to be rescued by Viyella after Courtaulds had decided that this was not a luxury they could afford : then Viyella, too, lost interest. The National Trust lost its appeal to prevent a six-lane road through Saltram Park, Plymouth. The battle for Rainbow Wood, near Bath, continues.
The Church Commissioners revealed assets in land and stock exchange investments exceed- ing £400 million. Income of over £21 million a year justified an increase in clergy stipends within the Government's income policy. A hundred AEF members went on strike at Smeth- wick in protest against alleged discrimination against a white man by Asians. The Earl of St Germans won an appeal against the paro- chial church council for leave to put 3 heraldic elephant into the church of St Ger- mans. Supporters of West Ham United wrecked the train in which they were returning home after their team drew 2-2 with Ipswich.
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