Wilson To Visit Moscow

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30062, 21 February 1963, Page 15

Wilson To Visit Moscow

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, Feb. 20. The new leader of the British labour Party (Mr Harold Wilson) is to visit Moscow at the invitation of the Soviet Prime Minister (Mr Khrushchev), _ the Press Association reported last night. Mr Wilson, wile last visited the Soviet Union in August, 1962, was reported to be planning a visit to Washington ftlo No date was mentioned for the Moscow visit, but it is expected to take place during the Easter recess of Parliament or after the House of Commons rises in June. Labour’s former leader, the late Mr Hugh GsttskeU. was prevented by his fatal illness dfcriy last month from carry-

ing ou* a planned visit to Moscow.

Mr George Brown, who last week loet to Mr Wilson in the contest for the leadership of the Labour Party, will almost certainly remain deputy party leader, political observers said yesterday. After learning the result last Thursday—a 144-103 victory for 46-year-oJd Mr Wilson—Mr Brown, aged 48. disappeared from public view and wm only Expected to return to Parliament today or on Thursday. However. Mr Wilson has been in touch with Mr Brown by telephone and it was thought that he would continue as deputy to the new leader. If so. he will probably also take on the key role of "shadow” Foreign Secretary for the Opposition, a post left vacant by Mr Wilson’s promotion to the leadership. Mr Brown may give up his chairmanship of the party’s tea bony sub-cocnmitte#,

which involves much work in connexion with by-election* and the co-ordination of

party activities at a national and local level.

Observers thought h* was likely to concentrate hi* energies on Parliamentary matter* now that the Opposition is stepping up pressure on the Government ag a general election draw* nearer. Some of Britain's biggest union* are planning to give record auma to the Labour Party'* election fund the “Evening Standard" reported yertetday. The Labour Party leader* have set the unions a target of £500,000. The "Evening Standard" said the powerful Amalgamated Engineering Union—with more than 1.000.000 member*—was considering a donation of £50.000. The fueling was growing among union* that they must give their beat to try to help Labour win the election, which the party leader* war* pt pared for thia year.