While Big Ben Boomed

Winston Churchill and Anthony Eden had it out one night last week.

The plushy furnishings of the big room at 10 Downing Street muffled the echoes of Churchill's rumbling barrages, Eden's cool returns. The point: Would Eden change his mind, stay on as Foreign Secretary? The counter: Would the Foreign Office continue to be directed from above on major policy?

Britain's welfare was not alone involved. This critical midnight meeting was a clash of old friends and teammates, of politics and ambitions. Churchill had the returns on his fight with the House of Commons (TIME, April 10). They were neither pretty nor comforting. Testily said the Economist: "For every one elector who two months ago . . . doubted whether Mr. Churchill is the man to lead the country in peace as well as war there must now be three or four." It was no time to endanger already damaged leadership by announcing Eden's departure from Foreign Office and War Cabinet.

Dealer's Choice. Vainly Churchill argued that if Eden had to give up one of his three jobs--Foreign Office, House Leadership, War Cabinet--it should be the leadership of the House of Commons. Stubbornly Eden stuck to his guns. If he devoted himself exclusively to the Foreign Office, he would lose valuable contacts with members of Parliament. Inevitably, then, his bright chances of one day becoming Prime Minister would tarnish. More than that, his Foreign Office job was getting distasteful.

Particularly, he did not care for that dynamic bundle of energy and irritation, Lord Beaverbrook.* At this point, Churchill must have bristled. Max Aitken, Lord Beaverbrook, is many things to the Prime Minister--a friend with a flair and dash otherwise lacking in the men around Churchill; a tough, nationalistic figure who usefully personifies Britain's instinctive, rising desire to depend first on herself and her Dominions (see p. 33) in a world where "the United Nations" are none too united. (Again the knowing Economist spieled a commentary: "Lord Beaverbrook is a believer in strong diplomacy and splendid isolation . . . Mr. Eden a convinced advocate of negotiated diplomacy.")

Long Night. Snorting, shortening his range, Churchill urged Eden to stay on. Talks important to Britain impended with the arrival of U.S. Under Secretary of State Edward R. Stettinius Jr. It would be harmful if Eden quit on the eve of these discussions.

Through blackout curtains the voice of Big Ben boomed eleven, midnight, one, two as the pair talked on to an understanding. Then Eden went home, his black Homburg hat riding his grey-brown head as rakishly as ever. Correspondents who had reported his resignation on Churchill's desk reported it off again. Eden would stay as Foreign Secretary--for awhile.

* Third member of a potent Downing Street trio is Minister of Information Brendan Bracken. Londoners crack that the B.B.C.--Beaverbrook, Bracken, Churchill--has taken over Britain's management.

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