182 Note by Bruce of Conversation with Attlee

After the High Commissioners Meeting I spoke to Attlee and told him I knew there had been a meeting of the Cabinet that morning to consider the Egyptian situation [1], that I could think of no matter which more directly concerned us, but I was sick of hammering at him to implement the understanding we had reached last August [2] and I was not bothering my head about the matter.

To this outburst Attlee really made no reply and in fact had no opportunity to do so because I merely flung it at him and walked out of the room.

On Friday morning the 7th May I received a notice for a Cabinet Meeting at 1 o'clock to consider Egyptian position. I decided, however, that I would not go to the meeting and sent a notice to Attlee to that effect. It was quite obvious that the invitation was due to my outburst on the Wednesday, but I came to the conclusion I could not tolerate getting asked to meetings during the Prime Minister's absence because I had intimidated Attlee and then the practice ceasing as soon as the Prime Minister returned.

This appeared to me too undignified and I explained this to Attlee in the afternoon.

It is indicative of what an extraordinarily little man he is that he offered no comment whatever, but merely accepted the position.

S.M.B.