BRITISH TOPICS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 65, Issue 196, 1 June 1945, Page 3

BRITISH TOPICS

ITEMS OE INTEREST. FLAVOUR OF PEACE DAYS. LEADERSHIP OF LABOUR PARTY. (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 31. With a “fashionable” race meeting at Ascot, a test match with Australia at Lords, and with the greatest mass betting since prewar days now taking place on the Derby, which will be run at Newmarket on June 9, a championship boxing match, and with a general election pending, the people of Britain have had much of the flavour of peace in a few weeks since V-E Day.

But it has been little more than flavour. There is a long way to go before “piping days” return again, and they knoAv it. Whereas a month ago they were reading news of the latestvictories, they now find the daily newspapers cautiously discussing the future, describing the return of evacuee children and explaining how the cut in rations will be worked: why there is a shortage of fish, that for the rest o£ the year there will be no Clothing increases, and they are trying to explain Avhy there is a cigarette famine, but on the other hand restoration of the basic .petrol ration has given a great deal of pleasure, and, generally speaking, everyone is looking forward to the summer holiday period, although many, of course, may be away from their divisions on polling day for the general election. This is a point being made against Mr Churchill in his decision to hold a midsummer election, but the Prime Minister is hoping shortly to be able to announce neAV arrangements for polling for those electors in Lancashire towns who will be aAvay on holiday on July 5. Mr Churchill is to make his first election broadcast on the evening of June 4, and Mr C. R. Attlee Avill make the first statement of Labour’s case over the air later in the week. Under the arrangement between the .parties in the late Government, eight Conservativs and eight Labour leaders will speak in the radio campaign. Other Conservatives will include Mr Anthony Eden, Mr Brendon Bracken, Mr Oliver Lyttelton and Mr R. A. Butler. For Labour, Mr Ernest Bevin, Mr Herbert Morrison, Mr Arthur Greenwood, Dr. Dalton and Sir Stafford Cripps will speak. Sir Archibald Sinclair, Sir William Beveridge, and Sir Percy Harris will present the Liberals’ cas% LABOUR LEADER. Gossip has been going on this week about a possible change in Labour leadership. Mr Attlee Avas appointed in 1935 largely because the party could not agree to have Mr Greemvood or Mr Morrison. He lacks personality, particularly as opposed to Mr Churchill, and noAV it is said the party cannot agree whether to have Mr Morrison or Mr Bevin. It is noticeable that when Mr Churchill’s Government met in the House of Commons for the first time this week, it was Mr Morrison, Mr Bevin and Mr Attlee who did most of ’the questioning and that Mr Morrison and Mr Bevin vied with each other in baiting the Government.

Whether there is anything in the gossip regarding a change remains to be seen. Chief interest in international affairs now tends to centre round the talks being held by President Truman’s special envoys, Mr Harry Hopkins in Moscow and Mr Joseph Davies in London. It is stated that preliminary surveys have been wide. The diplomatic correspondent of “The Times” states that the present exchanges began as a sounding in preparation for the meetings of Mr Churchill, President Truman and Marshal Stalin, but may end in the drawing up of a broad outline of a new policy. He adds: “Already much good has resulted, and there has been a welcome clearing of the air in advance of the meeting of the Big Three.” Events in Syria have caused wide concern, and in many quarters there is resentment at the French action. The crisis is featured to a greater extent in the daily newspapers than the air atacks on Japan. Military commentators express the opinion that the future of the Far Eastern war is' largely a matter of Japanese psychology, and the correspondent of “The Times” states that all that has jjppri revealed of Japanese temperament points to resistance to the end rather than surrender. Opinion generally seems to be that the war will be long and tough. t -