The Benn Diaries: 1940-1990 by Tony Benn Page B

Department intercepted and decoded messages passing between Paris and Jerusalem and discovered what was afoot. These messages are likely to leak out from the State Department and destroy the whole basis of Eden’s case. Far from claiming the credit for putting out a small fire, he will be charged with having incited the Israelis to start it. This should surely produce more resignations from the Government and alter the whole position once more.
    As Hugh Massingham said in Sunday’s
Observer
, ‘Meanwhile the little time bomb – the charge that there was collusion between Britain, France and Israel – ticks quietly on. If it goes off one day, a lot of beliefs and favourite figures will disappear in the ruins.’
    Other items from Clark’s story are these:
    First, Mountbatten opposed the attack as did Sir Norman Brook, the Secretary of the Cabinet. Sir Roger Makins, Permanent Secretary to the Treasury, first read of it in the newspapers. Finally, the dirtiest thing of all was when Eden told Clark to tell the newspapers privately that Nutting’s resignation was not on principle but because of personal difficulties he was in. Clark says he replied, ‘If you want that put out, you must put it out yourself.’
    One final titbit from today which might be worth following up. Shirley Catlin of the
Financial Times
said that
The Times
itself had been secretlybriefed of the Israeli attack and the British intervention four days before it took place. I wonder.
    Thursday 29 November
    Our Party meeting at 6.30 ended with a most touching little scene. Gaitskell announced the new Shadow Cabinet appointments under which Nye Bevan takes over Foreign Affairs from Alf Robens who is looking after Transport, Fuel and Power. Alf got up to say that he wished Nye all good luck and felt no bitterness at what had happened. Nye responded with a graceful little speech, contrasting our present happy unity with the acrimonious discussions of the past. The Party cheered itself silly in delighted relief at the formal recognition of the final end of all our splits.
    Sunday 2 December
    Today was the third conference of the Movement for Colonial Freedom. It was held in the Bonnington Hotel in Southampton Row and was a much smaller conference than before. This, however, was itself a good sign. Only the representatives from area councils and nationally affiliated trade unions had been invited. So that everyone who came carried weight. The Fire Brigades’ Union, Electrical Trades Union, National Union of Railwaymen and the Miners from South Wales and Derbyshire of course represent hundreds of thousands of members. Our total strength is over five million and there are 109 Labour MPs amongst them. Jim Callaghan, who has just been appointed Shadow Colonial Secretary, sent a message of good wishes and this was very much appreciated. In short we felt that we were a going concern, as indeed we are. It is a fantastic achievement that less than three years after our foundation we should be so well established and so influential.
    The greatest change in our policy statement this year has been the decision to urge the summoning of a conference from all the colonial territories as soon as a Labour government is returned to office. With these representatives we should work out a specific timetable for our withdrawal and the transfer of power. This will achieve a psychological revolution and set the people free to work towards its realisation.
    After some discussion we passed a resolution demanding the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Hungary. We, above all people, were entitled to do this, and it was supported by John Horner, the General Secretary of the Fire Brigades’ Union, and other ex-Communists.
    Saturday 8 December
    This afternoon I went to the Hanham Labour Party children’s party and then looked in at the old people’s Christmas sale at Memory Hall. Neither of these was really planned, but being in Bristol it was very nice to be able to get to