MACMILLAN’S TALKS OFFER

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28540, 20 March 1958, Page 11

MACMILLAN’S TALKS OFFER

Labour Refusal Expected

(Rec. 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 19.

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Gaitskell) would turn down an offer by the Prime Minister (Mr Macmillan) to join in secret talks with the Cabinet on defence policy, two London newspapers predicted today. The Labour "shadow cabinet” will meet tonight to discuss the Prime Minister's proposal, which was revealed yesterday to the House of Commons.

Mr Macmillan said that he had asked Mr Gaitskell whether he could have a talk with him, without any commitment by Labour, on the possibility of discussion on the lines suggested recently by Mr Emanuel Shinwell, a former Labour Defence Minister. Mr Shinwell proposed that the Defence Minister (Mr Sandys) should give essential facts about defence to rank and file members, including the Opposition. The “Daily Mall" said: “Mr Gaitskell will probably tell the Prime Minister that he Is unable to take up the offer for the same reason that Sir Winston Churchill, when Leader of the Opposition in 1949. hastily side-stepped a similar arrangement with Lord Attlee

“Sir Winston Churchill felt he would be too inhibited by possession of defence secrets to do his iob of criticism as Leader of the Opposition.” The “Daily Herald" commented:

“Mr Macmillan hoped, no doubt, by this move to stifle criticism of the Government’s shaky defence policy.”