DIARY OF THE YEAR
Wednesday 20 January: While the Post Office unions claimed 95 per cent support for its strike, grateful customers in Croydon, Dover and Peterborough showered strike-breaking workers with beer, flowers and chocolates. In Singapore a 'study group' was set up to examine the security of sea trade routes, so giving critics of Mr Heath's arms policy a respite of six months. No respite though for Skyways, the travel firm forced to cease trading today by the Govern- ment because of a shortage of cash.
Thursday 21 January: Turning on his arms- policy critics in Singapore Mr Heath questioned why 'they wanted association with Britain any- way'. Relations between Government and Opposition reached a new low with the sudden announcement by the leader of the House that the 'guillotine' was to be imposed on discussion of the Industrial Relations Bill. In the USA Edward Kennedy was ousted by his fellow Democrats from the post of majority whip. Friday 22 January: Suspicion that the Post Office strike was crumbling scornfully denied by the union. Mr Heath left Singapore having established Britain's right to make- her own decision on South African arms, and having won a significant victory over his African critics. Mr Wilson served notice that he will 'demand' an undertaking from the Prime Minister that he will not sell the arms while the Commonwealth 'study group' is in session. Saturday 23 January: At Lord Wilberforce's inquiry into power workers' pay, electricians' union leader Frank Chapple had harsh words to say about pay rises for top civil servants. Treasury chief, Sir Douglas Allen, found him- self defending his own pay and complaining there was no criterion of productivity in the Civil Service. It was announced that the Dean of Johannesburg would appear in court next week on a charge of 'subversive activities'. Sunday 24 January: Personally intervening in the oil-price crisis today the Shah of Persia warned of 'concerted action' by oil-producing countries if western companies did not accept their demands for higher royalties. In order to fight the Government's 'guillotine' motion, seven Labour MPs were recalled from the Assembly of Europe, forcing the Tories to recall their team of eight. In Guinea ninety-two Africans were condemned to death by the National Assembly for their part in last November's abortive invasion.
Monday 25 January: While President Obote of Uganda was still en route from Singapore, army leaders under Major-General Idi Amin seized control of his country in a popular and almost bloodless coup. Forty left-wing MPS. refusing to be moved from the centre of the chamber brought the Commons to a standstill, forcing the Speaker to suspend sitting for 15 minutes. In Los Angeles all the defendants in the Sharon Tate murder trial—hippy leader Charles Manson and his 'family'—were found guilty.
Tuesday 26 January: While President Obote claimed there was still fierce fighting in Uganda and that it was only a matter of time before he returned, Mr Heath and Mr Wilson were con- ducting their own private battle in Parliament on the terms of the Simonstown agreement. And while planes at Heathrow were grounded by industrial action, Russia announced that she had finally succeeded in landing a probe on Venus and receiving signals back from it.
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