From Lord Beaverbrook 7th July 1943. Dear Mr. President, On my return I see a marked decline in the fortunes of the Labor Party. It finds itself debarred, by its participation in the Government, from wide criticism of the war effort, while the praise of victories goes not to its leaders, but to Churchill. It is a body in a vacuum. That decline is emphasized by the position of Herbert Morrison. The Party at its annual Conference tried to humble him, and succeeded in exalting him. His defeat by Arthur Greenwood for the Garry Treasurership has raised his prestige, so that he stands now in the public esteem second only to Churchill. He is in fact the actual leader, even though Attlee is the titular leader of the Labor Party. Churchill is safe and well in the political arena. He will remain in high authority, provided he does not get too certain. But that is unlikely. He had too many years of opposition and unpopularity to make that mistake. Acland, the leader of the new Common Wealth Party, is not making headway. The Christian Communism which he preaches has its attractions in wartime. The Bishop of Bradford is the Chairman. And though His Grace has never shown himself a maker of Party leaders, he has the glory of launching the movement which made a King into a Duke. I have seen Gilbert Winant. They say that he looks like Lincoln. But I think he looks like Nancy Hanks. How very much I liked the weekends you allowed me to spend in your company. They are the lasting memory of my visit to America. And I am frankly looking for another invitation another d Your dutiful follower resident abroad, The President, Max The White House, Washington, D.C. |