Houses Of Parliament

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A Personal Note (Archive)

In the light of the hearings into the decision to invade Iraq, it is worth remembering another Labour prime minister who came under heavy pressure from America to take part in a dubious war. During the late 1960s Harold Wilson, like Tony Blair after him, came under intense pressure from the United States to commit British troops to Vietnam. Unlike Blair, Wilson resisted. The situation was complex, with Britain relying on American aid to help support a weak pound, and actions against the rogue Commonwealth state Rhodesia. So Wilson tried to give an impression of involvement. Foreign secretary Michael Stewart publicly defended the American position in Vietnam, and offered to mediate in peace talks. This was a lost cause, but it gave the impression of action, while keeping British soldiers from getting involved. Hopeless peace initiatives also helped keep certain aggressive elements in the Labour party happy. Wilson was to be heavily criticised for his seeming support for America in the Vietnam War. He couldn't visit a university campus without students - supported by grants his government had instigated - calling him a fascist pig. Wilson it seemed had done nothing. Little did the students know the effort and resilience that had gone into doing nothing.

Best wishes

Martin

Anniversaries for February

6th February 1952 : Elizabeth II takes the throne of the United Kingdom following the death of her father George VI.

8th February 1587 : Mary Queen of Scots is executed at Forthingay Castle after being accused of involvement in a plot to kill her cousin Elizabeth I, Queen of England.

10th February 1840 : Queen Victoria marries her cousin Prince Albert of Saxe Coburg Gotha at St James's Palace.

21st February 1804 : A steam engine built by Richard Trevithick becomes the first self propelled locomotive, making it's first run along a stretch of railway line in Wales.

23rd February 1820 : The Cato Street Conspiracy to kill the British cabinet and prime minister Lord Liverpool is uncovered. Five conspirators were later executed.

27th February 1940: At the University of California, Martin Kamen and Sam Ruben discover radioactive isotope Carbon-14. The presence of Carbon-14 in organic matter allowed radio carbon dating of organic remains from archeological sites.

26th February 1991 : The world's first web browser, called WorldWideWeb is introduced by British computer programmer Tim Burners-Lee.

Historical news for February

The Imperial War Museum, London launches a new exhibition this month on how and what people ate in Britain during World War Two. This exhibition is designed to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the introduction of food rationing. Opens 12th February and runs until December.

Jorvik Viking Centre, opened twenty five years ago this year, displaying remarkable finds from what was once England's foremost Viking town. The Viking Festival 13th - 21st February will include an academic conference on developments in Viking research over the last twenty five years. On Saturday 20th February there is a major battle re-enactment. For details ring 01904 543400.

The Design Museum, London is staging an exhibition on ergonomics, described as the science of everyday life. Prototypes, interactive displays, and examples of ergonomic design demonstrate the kind of design we use everyday, hopefully so comfortably that we don't notice it. Exhibition continues until 9th March.

The British Library is staging its first major photographic exhibition, on the theme of the growth of photography in the first half of the nineteenth century. 250 images will chart the early days of photography, through to its development as a mass pursuit. Exhibition continues until 7th March 2010. Telephone 020 74127332. Entry is free.

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Almost all photography on InfoBritain is by InfoBritain or by named contributors. All educational use is permitted, but copyright is reserved for commercial uses. Occasionally we have used copyright free stock images which are available for any use. A note will identify these images.

Thank you to photo contributors Danielle Davis, Jean Edwards, Vicky Eagle of Portsmouth Dockyard, Kevin Edwards, Julian Jones, Richard Jones, Jackie Lewis, Debbie Lowless, Judy Mills of the Corinium Museum, and Susan Stuart of Old Spitalfields Market.