§ 2.35 p.m.
§ THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY)My Lords, before we proceed to the Business of the Day, I am sure that it will be the wish of all your Lordships that I should voice the deep regret, which I know noble Lords in all parts of the House will have felt, at the news we received yesterday of the death of the noble Earl, Lord Clarendon. It earlier years, Lord Clarendon held office in this House and was a very familiar figure here. But, during the time that most of us have taken part in our doings here, he no longer, of course, took any very large share; his other duties made that impossible. But his was undoubtedly a life devoted entirely to the service of his country. The fact that he served with eminent success in such different spheres as Chairman of the B.B.C., Governor-General of South Africa and Lord Chamberlain, I think shows the breadth of his interests and the high quality of his attainments. In South Africa, in particular, as many of us know, he made himself greatly beloved, both by his charm and by his sagacity. Courteous, kindly, with a high sense of public duty, Lord Clarendon was, I am sure we all agree, one of those great public servants whom this country can least afford to lose, and he will be mourned by a host of friends. Our sympathy, I know, will go out both to Lady Clarendon and to his family, whose sorrow we so greatly share.
§ EARL JOWITTMy Lords, one of the most difficult tasks that falls to the Leader of the Opposition is on an occasion such as this—a task, I may say, which has been rendered more difficult during the four years or so that I have held this office by the fact that I have always had to follow the noble Marquess, Lord Salisbury: he always manages to touch 178 so apt a note on these occasions that it is difficult to find anything else to say. This is the last time I shall have to perform this duty, but I cannot conceal from your Lordships the fact that I am rafter proud and privileged to be able to perform this duty on this particular occasion.
When I first became Lord Chancellor, without many friends in this House, Lord Clarendon was Lord Chamberlain, and I found from him help and encouragement in the task which I had to undertake. I read in the Press that one of his ancestors on the maternal side was a daughter of Oliver Cromwell, and I have no doubt that he had, on his paternal side, relationship with the Cavaliers. He was a happy blend of the two, because whilst he had that stern sense of duty which we associate with the Roundheads, he had that inherent gaiety which we associate with the Cavaliers. The result of this combination was that he was a most charming personality.
The noble Marquess, Lord Salisbury, referred to the fact that Lord Clarendon served in South Africa. He served there in very difficult circumstances, because he succeeded the Earl of Athlone and Princess Alice, who had done their work supremely well: and it is a high tribute to Lord Clarendon to say that, coming after them, he upheld the great traditions which they had set, and was universally beloved by all who met him. I would say that he is distinguished perhaps beyond all men I have ever met by two qualities, one positive and the other negative. The positive quality is this: that of all the men I have ever met I think he was the kindliest. The negative quality is this: that of all the men I have ever met, I never met anybody who was more completely devoid of any form of conceit. Perhaps that was because he had a sense of humour which enabled him to look at himself from a rather detached point of view. So he dies, full of years and full of honours, but carrying with him this honour which I venture to think he would have cared for more than any other; that he had the deep and universal affection of all those who worked with him and met him. My Lords, I beg to associate myself entirely with what the Leader of the House has said, and we on this side desire to acid our tribute of sympathy to those whom he has left behind.
LORD REAMy Lords, speaking for noble Lords on these Benches, we also should like to associate ourselves with what has been said by the noble Marquess the Leader of the House and by the noble and learned Earl who leads the Opposition. As a Party, we have flourished in the past more than we are flourishing at the moment, and it was perhaps in those days that Lord Clarendon was at the zenith of his political career, as opposed to his other career. For that reason, if for no other, we should like to salute him and express our sorrow on his death. If I may speak without permission for those who have had the privilege of entering your Lordships' House within the last ten years or so, I would say what a model he was to all of us younger people who wanted to know what to do and how to do it: in his tradition, his courtesy, his charm, his ability and his readiness at all times to speak to anybody, to help and to give advice with friendliness and with humour. We feel sadly his departure, and we associate ourselves fully with what has been said by the two noble Lords who have just spoken.
§ 2.40 p.m.
§ LORD TEVIOTMy Lords, I rise to support everything that fell from the noble Marquess, Lord Salisbury, the noble and learned Earl the Leader of the Opposition, and the noble Lord, Lord Rea. I do so because, Lord Clarendon and I, long before he succeeded, were boys together in the days of his father at The Grove, Watford, which was a most delightful house where his family lived. Lord Clarendon and I during our lives were for some time parted. He rose to very high distinction, about which your Lordships have heard to-day, leaving me far behind; but when I contacted him again at various times of our lives, he was always the same: just that same delightful fellow, as he has been so well described to-day. In all those years—and I go back, I am afraid, into the last century—although we played games together and worked together, we never had a cross word. I am glad to look back on the last few years during which I have been closely associated with him at the club and some times here.
180 He was always hampered in his game-playing by his leg, but he was formidable in the games that he and I used to play together. He never minded being beaten although we used to have the delightful arguments that friends do have as to why he won or why I won. He had one great tragedy in his life in the loss of his eldest son in a shooting accident in Africa. His courage in standing up to that blow I remember with the greatest appreciation. No worse thing can happen to one than happened to him then, and yet he stood up to it magnificently and never lost his courage in facing life afterwards. I had to rise to say a word about Lord Clarendon. I feel there is a place in my heart where he will always live.