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Royal Society talk, keeping Harold Wilson at bay and Cabinet Office presence at IoP

I attended my last meeting of the Institute of Physics Publications Committee, which turned out to be quite extraordinary.  The Committee consisted as usual of Chairmen of the Institute's journals and was chaired by John Dunworth.

J. Dunworth and C.F. Frank had a conversation in my presence before the others arrived.  The Royal Society had been discussing the role of the NPL.  Blackett & Lighthill (ex RAE) had preferred to accept that the NPL should carry out such tasks as the Prime Minister directed.  C.F. Frank had opposed acceptance and had been supported by F.E. Jones and G.B.R. Feilden.  J. Dunworth asked C.F. Frank what he would have done if he had lost.  C.F. Frank said he would have kept on pressing.  J. Dunworth then said - turning to me (previously looking sideways) - that the thing is not to resign but maintain contact and carrying on fighting.

Other points made to me in the course of discussion before the meeting were that I should be a Fellow of the Royal Society and that people like me, who were on a par with the Feildens and F.E. Jones's, were much needed to keep Prime Minister Harold Wilson's hands off the NPL.

There was an odd man out attending the meeting, namely D.C. Press of the Cabinet Office (in whose Obituary note by Lord Zuckerman in The Times on 14th September 1984 there was reference to his secret work on behalf of the Government).

Great attention was paid to my views on Publications Committee structure.  There were suggestions of links with meetings groups and three layer structures (brought up by S.F. Edwards) and dividing into Industrial and Academic Publications Boards (brought up by Dunworth).  I successfully opposed division.  However, I lost on 'market research'.

I noticed that members of the Committee looked at D.C. Press to determine his reaction whenever I made a contribution to the discussion.

My resignation for personal reasons was noted.

D.C. Press went early after handing a note to Dunworth, both turning to look at me.

A barrister says "someone is trying to destroy you" and names a tough solicitor

I called on Tom Salkeld Green, a barrister member of my Lodge, and left him some papers.  I had an appointment to see John Coales so I arranged to call back later in the day.

When I called back Tom Salkeld-Green, having read the papers, said "someone is trying to destroy you".  He said "What you need is a tough solicitor" and recommended F.E. Mostyn.

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