CABINET LEADERS MEET

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25934, 14 October 1949, Page 7

CABINET LEADERS MEET

British Election Date Discussed

MINISTERS’ VIEWS DIFFER

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, October 13. The Prime Minister (Mr Attlee), the Foreign Secretary (Mr Ernest Bevin), and the Lord President of the Council (Mr Herbert Morrison) held an 80minute talk on 7116 timing of the British General Election at No. 10 Downing Street last night, says Reuter's political correspondent. Political quarters believe that the meeting settled the question whether the dissolution of the present Parliament will be next spring—as has long been arranged—or next month. A section of the Cabinet has been pressing for the dissolution next month.

Messrs Attlee, Bevin, and .Morrison who met within a few hours of Mr Bevin’s return :.‘rom the United States, will report the result of their talk to a meeting of the full Cabinet this morning. The Cabinet, on their recommendation, may make the final decision on the election timing, but it is likely to maintain close secrecy on its decision until the Conservative Party’s annual conference ends to-morrow.

The Cabinet is said to be equally divided on the question of the election timing. One section, headed by the Minister of Health (Mr Aneurin Bevan), supported by Left-Wing Labour members, favours a November election. Another section takes the view that the Government should run its full course to the middle of 1950.

The chairman of the Conservative Party (Lord Woolton), speaking at a Conservative Party dinner last night, said: "I saw with some surprise the other day that I had fixed November 21 as the General Electioh date. I don’t fix election dates; I wish I could. Those are secrets locked in Mr Attlee’s bosom. I can tell you two things: first, whenever it comes we are ready; and second. I can give you the name of the next Prime Minister.”