Foreign News: Accolade

"I cannot describe to the House the aid and comfort he has been to me in all our difficulties. . . . His unequaled experience at the Foreign Office, his knowledge of foreign affairs and its past history, his experience of conferences of all kinds, his breadth of view, his power of exposition, his moral courage have gained for him a position second to none among the foreign secretaries of the Grand Alliance."

So Winston Churchill last week described upright, dependable Anthony Eden to the House of Commons. It looked very much as if Churchill were promoting his choice for the next tenant of 10 Downing Street. Once known chiefly for his good looks, impeccable platitudes and his black homburg, Eden has steadily grown in stature by his sane and balanced arguments, his parliamentary and diplomatic steadiness. In the debates on Poland and Greece he was completely at ease before the House. As he spoke, he turned toward all parts of the Chamber, gestured, seldom referred to notes, discussed broad international problems with such obvious grasp that even opponents were convinced that he had left his hat at home.

Said newly elected Sir William Beveridge (Liberal), when challenged by a critic for having voted with the Government: "How could any of us do anything else after Eden's speech?"