Colin Gee - Breakthrough

Attlee smiled disarmingly.

“Mr Speaker, the House will, of course, understand that I am unable to be open in this setting, but that such matters are diligently discussed during the meetings of the Committee for Imperial Defence. But I can assure the House, and especially the Honourable member for Wroughton, that no stone is left unturned in the preservation of our nation state.”

Callard-Smith pushed again.

“Mr Speaker, I thank the Prime Minister for his assurances thus far, but find myself in need of further clarification.”

Those MP’s with limited attention spans started to mentally drift away, mainly to thoughts of the lunch to come.

Callard-Smith continued.

“Can the Prime Minister confirm that there has been no discussion between the Allied powers regarding any negotiated settlement with the Soviet Union?”

As was the habit of cabinet members giving a swift answer, Attlee slid upright to the stand, gave his reply, and slid back in place on the front bench, all in one movement.

“I can confirm that is the case, Mr Speaker.”

The retired Army officer coughed gently and composed himself.

“Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the Prime Minister for his responses. Might I ask one more question, and seek his report on the progress of the Honourable member for Mortimer’s mission to the Court of Bernadotte?”

Some of those dreaming of lunch did a double-take, processing the question, and coming up none the wiser.

Others who were more attentive saw the Prime Minister pale.

The few that were astute understood that they were in the presence of history in the making.

Four others waited in delicious anticipation.

Attlee’s delay in rising, spoke volumes.

“Mr Speaker, the Honourable member for Mortimer is presently returning from a trade mission to Sweden, and he will be making his own report in due course.”

All in the house now realised that what was about to come to pass would be something special.

The stunned Attlee resumed his seat, his mind in turmoil.

The chamber was as silent as a morgue, no one’s mind on anything but what was going on in front of their eyes. Indeed, people started to arrive as if by magic, the electricity in the air drawing them forward from the outer chambers like fish into a net.

Everyone’s attention was on the Member of Parliament for Wroughton, as they waited for him to rise.

Callard-Smith stood and looked at the waiting Attlee. Very slowly, and with practised theatre, he tugged his jacket into place and slowly examined his VC. The Colonel then seemed to suddenly realise where he was and stiffened, addressing the Speaker, the central figure of authority, but fixing his gaze most firmly on the man across the floor.

“Mr Speaker, can the Prime Minister confirm that the report of the Honourable member for Mortimer will also include the results of his discussions with Soviet Foreign Ministry officials, and that a full transcript of the meeting, recording our tentative offer of a separate armistice, will be made available to this House?”

Every eye, every fibre, every sense, was directed at the Prime Minister, who almost seemed to shrink under the intense scrutiny.

He rose like a fox who knew that the pack had him cornered.

“Mr Speaker, I can confirm to the House that the Honourable member for Mortimer was secretly tasked with exploring certain possibilities, should the war situation become untenable, and that he will be reporting back to me personally on his return. I will then present the results to the Committee for Imperial Defence and, in due course, the King.”

Attlee felt he should admit the fact and try to control it as best he could, not thinking straight, as he had just admitted openly misleading the House on the matter.

The attention again switched to Callard-Smith, by common assent, now appointed as the judge, jury and executioner in the matter.

“Mr Speaker, can the Prime Minister confirm that he acted with the compliance and agreement of the War Cabinet, and that the matter has been,” he searched his memory for the quote and found it instantly, “As he so eloquently stated a few minutes ago, ‘Diligently discussed by the Committee for Imperial Defence?’ ”

Attlee continued to sit, his mind seeking a solution, and Callard-Smith took the opportunity with both hands.

“No, Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister cannot confirm that. He cannot confirm that because his personal private secretary, the member for Mortimer, was sent to Sweden to negotiate terms for an armistice involving solely this country and our dominions. Without discussion with his Cabinet. Without the knowledge of the Committee for Imperial Defence.”

His third thrust was delivered with open contempt, the sort that only a man of uniform, who has given his all for King and Country, can have for someone he sees as a traitor.

“Without regard to our fighting allies or the indomitable spirit of this island nation!”

The house remained silent, the tension, disgust and anger tangible in the very air they breathed.

With a sense of the dramatic, Callard-Smith picked up the tempo, and the volume.

“Look at his cabinet colleagues. See how appalled they are, the looks on their faces betray the facts of the matter here!”

He pointed at the opposition front benches, filled with horrified-looking men, either heads bowed in anguish or raised and focussed in anger upon the balding leader of the government.

“Without discussion, the Prime Minister has set our country on a path of betrayal from which we will not recover, unless it is stopped right now!”

The House members howled, venting their own pent-up passion at last, concentrating their anger on the same diminutive figure.

The Prime Minister rallied and took to his feet, using the dispatch box as a support, enduring the cries of derision until they faded away and he could be heard.

“Mr Speaker, I asked the Honourable member for Mortimer to meet with a delegation from the Soviet Foreign Ministry, in order explore the possibilities of a separate negotiated peace for the island.”

Again he had to wait for the anger to subside.

“Mr Speaker, I did so in order to gauge the Soviet Union’s stance and reaction, as well to ensure that all options were properly explored.”

This time he did not just stop, but raised his voice over the throng.

“There has been no commitment at all, and there is no harm done.”

The hounds bayed louder, drowning out his defence, and much was lost although, in truth, no-one cared.

“Mr Speaker, I considered it prudent to embark on this undertaking, in order to explore all options for the preservation of freedom in our lands, and in the wider world. I repeat, there has been no commitment to any course of action, neither would there be without full and frank consultations with all our allies, and within this house.”

Attlee rallied, his argument convincing him of the astuteness of the move, although the continued jeers indicated that the opposite was true of his political colleagues from both sides of the house.

“Mr Speaker, by exploring all possibilities I have acted properly and within the remit of my office. No harm has been caused by this course of action and none will result, regardless of what approach His Majesty’s Government now chooses to take.”

The noise dropped away as Callard-Smith rose to his feet, holding a piece of paper given to him by someone who had supplied the hangman’s noose for just this very moment.

“Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister informs the House that there is no harm done, but I fear that I must contest that.”

Someone coughed gently and everyone heard it and suddenly realised that the spectator chamber was full, and yet in total silence.