Search for a Jujube

Hardly anyone except Winston Churchill thought the Labor government should be challenged with a vote of censure on rearmament. But the old battler insisted. In Parliament he moved: "That the House, while supporting all measures conceived in the real interest of national security, has no confidence in the ability of ... present ministers to carry out an effective and consistent defense policy . . ."

The Conservatives hoped to split the Labor majority at a vulnerable point: where the government's pacifist wing flutters in protest against the government's strong rearmament program. But Churchill did not touch the vital issue. His resolution was not against rearmament, but for a more efficient rearmament. As he spoke for his motion, the Tory leader plainly showed the weakness of his argument. He taunted the Laborites for a gingerly approach, lamely charged that Prime Minister Clement Attlee had failed to produce atomic bombs in Britain.

Minister of Labor Aneurin Bevan, usually a hothead orator, softly sneered that finding a reply to Churchill was like "trying to climb up a smooth, flat surface; I can get no hold ... at any point whatever. He went on from generalization to generalization . . ." Chancellor of the Exchequer Hugh Gaitskell said: "I have never heard from [Churchill] a speech ... so completely lacking in serious argument." As the government barrage ripped into him, Churchill squirmed, slapped his waistcoat, fumbled in his pockets, finally got to his feet, turned and looked behind him. Spellbound, the entire House watched Winnie's antics. Gaitskell broke off his rebuttal. Churchill apologized impishly. Explained the seasoned scene-stealer: "I was only looking for a jujube."*

No Labor pacifist felt his conscience troubled in voting against the Conservative motion of censure. In his fourth attempt this year to bring down the government, Churchill suffered his sharpest rebuff. The Laborites won the vote, 308 to 287.

*I.e., cough drop.

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