Britain's Conscience

Not since Munich has Britain's press been so shaken as by the attack on Egypt (see FOREIGN NEWS). Unlike the French papers, which overwhelmingly cheered the assault, British national dailies either attacked the government or went along with it reluctantly, showing every evidence of troubled conscience.

The diehard Blimps, as usual, died hard. Lord Beaverbrook's Daily Express (circ. 4,042,334), whose zealous devotion to imperialism has outlived the empire, usually flaunts its dislike of Sir Anthony Eden. But last week it hailed his action: "Let there be no doubt that it is a prudent step, a necessary step and one that deserves unqualified support from the nation." The chest-beating tabloid Daily Sketch (circ. 1,123,855) shrilled: "Stop the sniveling and close the ranks." But misgivings ran like chills through responsible Tory papers that staunchly upheld the government when the Suez crisis broke in July.

Lord Camrose's Daily Telegraph (circ. 1,075,460), an old Conservative faithful, revealed its instinctive reaction--and its ignorance of what was brewing at 10

Downing Street--in its first comment on the invasion by Israeli troops: "Whatever sympathies may be felt, it is the duty and interest of the Western powers to do everything possible to prevent war." After the British-French attack was launched, the Telegraph treaded water for two days, mainly criticizing the tactics of the Labor opposition, before it ventured a tepid defense of the Prime Minister. Then it warned that there would be "deep anxiety" until the government could show that "this really is a police action, that [the] pledge not to use our troops for any other purpose is sincere." But once the government makes that clear, said the Telegraph, "many of those now sincerely and violently against them will change their minds."

The Times (circ. 220,705), the Tories' most influential editorial voice and an un questioning supporter of force in August, now tempered its support with "deep disquiet." It deplored Britain's decision not to consult the U.S. and the Common wealth, feared that there would be a "strong reaction" from the Arab world. Demanded the Times: "Was the need for speed really so great that President Eisenhower had to hear about the Anglo-French ultimatum from press reports?" There were also uneasy questions from Lord Rothermere's staunchly Tory Daily Mail (circ. 2,071,708), another August advocate of force.

"Eden's War." Sir Anthony's press critics cried for his head as never before.

The Liberal News Chronicle (circ. 1,441,438) called his decision "folly on the grand scale," said: "There can be no further confidence in a man who has brought his country to such a dangerous state of ignominy and confusion." Boomed the Labor-leaning Daily Mirror (circ. 4,649,696): "There is NO treaty, NO international authority, NO moral sanction for this desperate action. This is Eden's war."

More coolly, but with deadly aim, the small (circ. 56,000) but influential independent weekly Economist headed its editorial "Splenetic Isolation." Wrote the Economist: "Sir Anthony Eden has isolated Britain, except for the company of France. Inexorably the evidence suggests that the Anglo-French decision was primarily aimed not at keeping the peace, but at recapturing ground lost when President Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal.

The manner in which this crisis has been handled suggests a strange union of cynicism and hysteria in its leaders."

The most eloquent blow was dealt by the independent Manchester Guardian (circ. 167,000), which has steadily opposed government policy on Suez and Cyprus: "Millions of British people are deeply shocked by the aggressive policy of the government. Its action is a disaster of the first magnitude. It is wrong on every count--moral, military and political. To recover from the disaster will take years, if indeed it is ever possible. In the eyes of nearly every other nation in the world, including the U.S. and members of the Commonwealth, [Britain and France] will be guilty of an atrocious act of war."

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