UK journalist and ex-envoy to India dies aged 99

LONDON: Britain's prominent journalist and former high commissioner to India John Freeman has died at the age of 99.

In a varied career, Freeman, who died here yesterday, was perhaps best known for his interviews for BBC television series 'Face to Face'.

Besides serving as an envoy to India between 1965 and 1968 under Harold Wilson's premiership, he was also a decorated soldier, editor of the 'New Statesman' magazine, Labour MP, Britain's ambassador in Washington and chairman of 'London Weekend Television'.

His interviewees for 'Face to Face' included Martin Luther King and Bertrand Russell and his interview style was appreciated for being direct.

Freeman was MP for Watford from 1945-55, and made his first speech in the House of Commons on August 16, 1945.

The war was effectively over - Germany had surrendered and the two atomic bombs had been dropped on Japan - and he spoke about the aftermath of the conflict.

Ending his speech, he said: "We have before us a battle for the peace, no less arduous and no less momentous than the battle we have lived through in the last six years.

"Today the strategy begins to unfold itself. Today, we go into action. Today may rightly be regarded as 'D-Day' in the Battle of the New Britain."