Posted on 08/02/2015 6:27:56 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
*The “Laski Tells Social Program” story was on a part of page 9 I didn’t save – HJS.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Laski
During the war, he supported Prime Minister Churchill’s coalition government and gave countless speeches to encourage the battle against Germany. He suffered a nervous breakdown brought about by overwork. During the war he repeatedly feuded with other Labour leaders, and with Churchill, on matters great and small. He steadily lost his influence.[23]
In 1945 general election campaign Churchill warned that Laski—as the Labour Party chairman—would be the power behind the throne in an Attlee government. While speaking for the Labour candidate in Nottinghamshire on 16 June 1945, Laski said “If Labour did not obtain what it needed by general consent, we shall have to use violence even if it means revolution”. He was replying to a question planted by Conservatives hoping to get exactly that response. The next day accounts of Laski’s speech appeared and the Conservatives attacked the Labour Party for its chairman’s advocacy of violence. Laski filed a libel suit against the Conservative Daily Express newspaper. The defence showed that over the years Laski had often bandied about loose threats of “revolution.” The jury found for the defendant within forty minutes of deliberations.[24]
Clement Attlee gave Laski no role in the new Labour government. Even before the libel trial Laski’s relationship with Attlee was a strained one. Laski had once called Attlee “uninteresting and uninspired” in the American press and even tried to remove him by asking for Attlee’s resignation in an open letter. He tried to delay the Potsdam Conference until after Attlee’s position was clarified. He tried to bypass Attlee by directly dealing with Winston Churchill.[9] Laski tried to preempt foreign policy decisions, laying down guidelines for the new Labour government. Attlee rebuked him:
“ You have no right whatever to speak on behalf of the Government. Foreign affairs are in the capable hands of Ernest Bevin. His task is quite sufficiently difficult without the irresponsible statements of the kind you are making ... I can assure you there is widespread resentment in the Party at your activities and a period of silence on your part would be welcome.[25] ”
Though he continued to work for the Labour party until his death, he never regained political influence. His pessimism deepened as he disagreed with the anti-Soviet policies of the Attlee government in the emerging Cold War, and he was profoundly disillusioned with the conservative direction of American policy.[14]
Laski contracted influenza and died in London on 24 March 1950, aged 56.[26]
In the early 60’s one of these was put in my small town citypark and we played on it.
http://www.aviation-history.com/lockheed/p80.html
I’ve read quite a bit of testimony that contradicts the claim that no SOS went out from the Indianapolis.
When I get some time later in the day I will try and track some of it down and post it.
“Naval authorities then and now have maintained that the Indianapolis sank too quickly to send out a distress signal. A radioman aboard the Indianapolis testified at the September 1999 Senate hearing, however, that he watched the “needle jump” on the ship’s transmitter, indicating that a distress signal was transmitted minutes before the ship sank, and sources at three separate locations have indicated that they were aware of a distress signal being received from the sinking ship. Its very likely that these distress signals were received but ignored as a Japanese trick to lure rescue vessels to the area.”
http://www.ussindianapolis.org/story.htm
The same as every human being: a mixture of shame, embarrassment, self-recrimination, fear of exposure, and self-justification. See: Cain, et al. God created us with a conscience so we would recognize our need of Him as Savior.
Ike also would have been very familiar with Clark’s performance in Italy, which would not have inspired confidence.
The French Government should have gone to Africa with the Navy and what of the Army they could take to continue the War, as Churchill urged. But the senior French leaders were too divided to take that decision.
I understand Petain and Laval thought they were doing good by keeping as many Frenchmen out of German occupation as they could get away with, but the truth is the Vichy system could only work, in the sense of keeping the Germans out, by collaborating with the Germans.
Laval was instrumental in the deportation of French Jews and what became French slave laborers to the East.
I did not know that Admiral Leahy became friendly with Petain when he was Ambassador to Vichy. The letter from Leahy to Petain is very interesting. Leahy advised Petain to positively refuse to make any concessions to German demands. It would have resulted in hardships, possibly even prison, but it was good advice for both Petain and Laval. Had they done so, they would not have been in the dock.
The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.
Both verdicts were just.
“Its very likely that these distress signals were received but ignored as a Japanese trick to lure rescue vessels to the area.”
It is interesting to read these newspapers and knowing what the rest of the story is. I imagine the troops that heard the SOS would have said “We don’t have any ships in that area. Much less a single ship.”
While it is tragic - it could be viewed as the last large heroic deed in the war. Reminds me of a spy movie. “The future of the world rests on your shoulders. Of course this is top secret, and we can’t divulge the secret if you need help. You are on your own. God bless.”
Sadly, I imagine none of those killed knew the huge role that they played in changing the world. Although I suppose that is true for all of us.
This is going to be more dramatic for Kokura than you might imagine. Stay tuned.
When you capture a an enemy vessel at sea, you hoist your ensign above their ensign to symbolize the capture.
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