Eighty Years Ago This Week

      France's Vichy prime minister Pierre Laval was tried for collaboration and passing intelligence to the enemy. Unlike the trial of Marshal Petain which had been conducted decorously in light of defendant's reputation and standing the entire court, notably the jurors who hurled abuse at him, showed open hostility. Laval was given little opportunity to speak and made vigorous use of what freedom he was given. In protest at the conduct of the trial he refused to remain in court. He was sentenced to death on all counts. Britain's ports were almost shut down by a series of unofficial strikes. The strikers chiefly aimed at an increase in or simple introduction of a fixed wage; they were mostly employed on a casual basis and paid piecework. The return to their usual ports of men deployed elsewhere during the war also provoked discontent. The general secretary of the TGWU Arthur Deakin which represented dockers was close to Ernie Bevin who had been a key Labour minister in t...