“Will Be No Election”

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28180, 19 January 1957, Page 11

“Will Be No Election”

There would be no election in Britain, the Prime Minister (Mr Macmillan) told a nation-wide television and radio audience last night.

Mr Macmillan, making his first speech since he succeeded Sir Anthony Eden last week, made it clear that the Conservative Government intended to carry on for its remaining three years of office.

Mr Macmillan indicated a policy of cutting Britain’s defence burden by saying: “We must carry our fair share, but not more than our fair share.

“We are going to make sure that we are not spending money on things we do not need ana on commitments we cannot sustain,” he said.

“There must be no waste of money. No vested interests, however strong, and no traditions, however good, must stand in our way.”

Mr Macmillan said that he believed history would justify Britain’s action at Suez.

Difficulties, such as shortage of petrol and oil, which the country was now up against, were the price of that action, he said.

“But the price of Inaction, he price we would have had to pay for letting things slide —that might have been very high indeed,” he said.

Mr Macmillan said of Britain s relations with the United States, which had opposed the Suez action by Britain and France; “True partnership is basea upon respect. We don’t intena to part from the Americans, and we don’t intend to be satellites. “I am sure they do not want us to be so. The stronger we are, the better partners we shall be. And I feel certain that as the months pass by we shall draw continually closer together with mutual confidence and respect.’’ In a material sense, Britain could not match the vast re-

sources either of the United States or of Russia, the Prime Minister said. "All the same, Britain is not alone. Think of the Commonwealth and all that this implies. Then there are the peoples of Europe. With these countries, with France perhaps particularly, we already have close ties.

“I firmly believe it is our destiny to work more and ‘more closely with them. “The total of the strength and wealth in all these communities. Commonwealth and Europe, is no less than that of the two giant Powers.” “Every now and again since the war I have heard people say: ‘lsn’t Britain only a second or third class Power now? isn’t she on the way out?’

“What nonsense. This is a great country, and do not let us be ashamed to say so. it has a superb record of achievement of every kind. “The country that produced the men who invented the steam engine, and the men who first mastered the atom, the country that built the first atomic power station, has no reason to quiver before temporary difficulties. "We lead the world in the production of atomic energy for peaceful and industrial purposes, and we are going to stay in front.”

Mr Macmillan referred to his new Government as a strong and united team, with Mr R. AButler as his chief partner.

Mr Macmillan said that he and all his colleagues believed in “progressive Conservatism.” “The country expects leadership. and I shall do my utmost to give it ... Do not let us have any more defeatists talk of second-class Powers and of dreadful things to come. “Britain has been great, is great, and will stay great, provided we close our ranks and get on with the job.”