ELECTION IN BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 26984, 9 March 1953, Page 7

ELECTION IN BRITAIN

Possible Move In Summer

(Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON. March 7. British politicians of various parties are suggesting that Mr Churchill will spring a general election shortly after the Queen’s Coronation in June. They say the Conservative Government, which has a majority of only 10 in Parliament, would be wise to “cash in” on the cheerful national atmosphere which is expected to prevail. But Cabinet Ministers are countering this speculation, which they say they consider cynical and a reflection on Conservative public spirit. Mr Churchill’s lieutenants say the Government’s stocks are rising, and that the longer the election is postponed, the brighter will be its chances. They believe Mr Churchill has given no thought to a “Coronation election.” Some Ministers think the Government has reached the half-way house in its efforts to put the British economy on a prosperous basis, but they realise that the big job lies ahead. Constitutionally, the British Prime Minister has the right to time an election when he likes, without consulting the House. CORONATION DAY PROCESSION ROLE OF EMPIRE TROOPS (Rec. 8.30 p.m.) LONDON. March 7. A total of 2000 officers and men from the Commonwealth armed fotces and 500 from the British colonies will take part in the Queen’s Coronation in London in June, it was announced officially today. Commonwealth and Colonial contingents will lead the great two-mile procession behind the group of military bands which will lead the Queen back to Buckingham Palace after the ceremony in Westminster Abbey. Twenty-seven bands taking part in the march through five miles of London streets will include those of a brigade of Gurkhas and of the Pakistan Army. Mounted escorts from the Commonwealth and the Colpnies will be included in a mixed group of representative troops which will accompany the Queen on her ride to the abbey before the ceremony. Pipe bands of Gurkha. Scottish and Irish regiments will take part in the march. Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke, the war-time Chief of the Imperial General Staff will command the Coronation Day parade of 29,200 officers and men of the three services. Of these, 16,100 will be drawn from the British Army, 7000 from the Royal Air Force, and 3600 from the Royal Navy. The number in the procession will be 9400. Most of them will be used to line the routes, and others, including military police, will assist the civil Eolice to handle the crowds or stand y for other duties. The Empire Service League said today the Queen will review former servicemen and women of the Commonwealth and Empire in Hyde Park 5 - There are expected to be 80,000 on parade. There will be a short religious service and an address by the Queen, followed by a march pasi. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE APPOINTED (Rec. 7 p.m.) WASHINGTON. March B. President Eisenhower today appointed General George Marshall as ni« special representative at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth. Mr Eisenhower named Mr Earl Warren Governor of California, and Mrs Gardiner Cowles as assistant representatives. General Omar Bradley,, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will represent the United States military services. TITO’S VISIT TO BRITAIN (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 7. Marshal Tito will arrive in Britain on March 16 in a Jugoslav warship, the British Foreign Office said today. The Royal Navy will provide an escort from Malta to Britain. It is not known whether Madame Tito will accompany her husband. The detailed official programme for his visit is not ready, but it is known that Marshal Tito will have lunch with the Queen at Buckingham Palace. He will have talks with Mr Cnurchill and Mr Eden, and other Cabinet Ministers. Mr Eden invited Marshal Tito to London on his recent visit to Belgrade. FRENCH LEADER TO VISIT U.S. (Rec. 7 p.m.) WASHINGTON. March S. rhe White House announced today that France s Prime Minister (Mr Rene Mayer) and the Chancellor of West Germany (Dr. Konrad Adenauer) will visit Washington for talks with President Eisenhower and leading United States officials. Mr Mayer, accompanied by his Foreign Minister (Mr Georges Bidault). will arrive in the United States on March 26 for a threeday visit. Dr. Adenauer will arrive on April 7, also for a three-day visit. Later, the State Department announced that the Belgian Foreign Minister (Mr Paul van Zeeland) would visit Washington on March 16 and 17. Young Man Guilty of Murder.—lan Gordon, a 21-year-old member of the Royal Air Force, was last night found guilty of murdering 19-year-old Patricia Curran near Belfast. Gordon was also found to be insane, and ordered to be detained “during Her Majesty’s pleasure.” The murdered girl, the daughter of an Irish judge, was found dead with 37 stab wounds in a dark avenue leading to her father’s home. Gordon confessed that he stabbed her after trying to make love to her.—London, March 8.