SPECULATION ABOUT GOVT.

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30157, 14 June 1963, Page 11

SPECULATION ABOUT GOVT.

Rumoured Revolt In Cabinet

(N.Z J 3. A.-Reuter—Copyright)

LONDON, June 13.

Lively speculation, divided views and rumours of revolt within the Government were splashed across this morning’s British newspapers. 1 he newspapers carry reports that at least four members of the Cabinet are considering the possibility of forcing the Prime Minister (Mr Macmillan) to resign —even by the week-end.

The press speculation comes after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting at which the crisis touched off by the former Minister for War, Mr John Profumo, was discussed.

Mr Macmillan was reported to have secured a Cabinet vote of confidence on his handling of the Profumo scandal.

But under the front-page banner headline ‘ Cabinet Revolt,” the "Daily Express” said four Cabinet members might force Mr Macmillan to resign—"even before next Monday s House of Commons debate on the Profumo affair.”

"The weapon they would use would be their own resignation," the newspaper said. The “Daily Express" named the leader of the group as the 50-year-old Minister of Health, Mr Enoch Powell, who resigned from the Government before—in 1958 over expenditure. Those also named are the Minister of Housing. Sir Keith Joseph, aged 45; the Minister of Education. Sir Edward Boyle, aged 39, and the Home Secretary, Mr Henry Brooke, aged 60. The “Daily Mail" reported

that two of the Ministers, Mr Brooke and Sir Keith Joseph, last night denied suggestions that they might resign over the scandal.

“Sir Edward Boyle refused to confirm or deny a report that he, too, had considered leaving the Government,” the “Daily Mail” said. The political correspondent of “The Times” said it was too early to assert without reservation that at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting Mr Macmillan made sure there would be no ministerial resignation in protest against the handling of the Profumo affair.

“The real test may well come within the next few hours when the Cabinet meets again at Admiralty House,” “The Times’’ political correspondent said. The Cabinet will meet again this morning but the Profumo affair will not be on the agenda. The front-page report in the “Daily Mirror” claimed that Mr Macmillan is now in grave danger of being forced to resign over the Profumo scandal The report said: “Let there be no doubt about it, the question of the hour is: Can Mr Macmillan survive?”

The newspaper said the ' ’onservatives’ loyalty to Mr Mremillan “is at snapping point" and that under his leadership “the affluent

society has become the effluent society."

The “Daily Telegraph" front page report said: “The Cabinet was still intact after its two-hour meeting on the Profumo crisis yesterday, but although no resignations have been announced it is too soon to conclude that the Prime Minister has the situation under control.”

The “Daily Mail’’ said that secret inquiry by a select committee of members of Parliament into the scandal is now regarded as probable in Whitehall.

A report In the “Daily Sketch” said: “Mr Macmillan leads his Government into the crucial Commons battle or Monday, backed by the firm belief that there are no more skeletons in the party cupboard.” fin an editorial. “The Times” said there should be “some repugnance against what has happened” in order to restore public faith. “This sorry business has passed from being one of politics to one of conscience,” the newspaper said. “The Times” said two things must be done before all others: restore public faith by some assertion of repugnance against what has happened, even if this involved sacrifice, and make a fresh start to end the “disgraceful gossip and innuendo that is now naming and defaming honourable men.” Mr Macmillan had no alternative but to resign and dissolve Parliament, the political weekly “Time and Tide” said yesterday. “He has already lost the effective leadership of Government and party. He will have little more to lose personally by dropping the titu-> lar leadership as well,” it said.

“If Mr Macmillan does the proper thing—resigns and dissolves Parliament—the Conservative Party will lose the general election. But it is likely it would lose in any event, Profumo scandal or not.

“Hundreds of thousands, maybe millions of Conservatives, are no longer prepared to put up with the Prime Minister’s ‘unflappability.’

“Nero fiddled while Rome burned. Macmillan played golf while a great political party crumbled. “If the Prime Minister does not resign, the Tories could be out of office not for five, but for 20 years.” the publication said. Backing for Govt.

Mi“ Macmillan is reported to have left the two-hour emergency Cabinet meeting yesterday with Ministerial backing for his handling of the crisis. Authoritative sources said Mr Macmillan and the Government were confident they could dispel in Parliament on Monday the doubts and misgivings existing over the case. They said Mr Macmillan had no intention of resigning over the crisis and there was no indication any other Minister intended to. The mood of confidence reflected from Government quarters was in sharp contrast to the atmosphere before the meeting called to discuss a secret report on security aspects of the case prepared by the Lord Chancellor (Lord Dilhorne).

Some political observers said Mr Macmillan, by winning round one at Cabinet level, had strengthened his hand for dealing with the political storm—particularly if it should develop on partisan lines. They said the Cabinet's example should have a strong rallying effect on doubters among Government supporters. The Deputy Leader of the Labour Party (Mr George Brown) has decided to cut short his visit to the United States, and will return to London on Saturday in time for the opening of the debate. He had originally intended to carry out several engagements in New York next week.