Search For P.M. Confuses Papers

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30264, 17 October 1963, Page 17

Search For P.M. Confuses Papers

(N ,Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, October 16. Britons got a picture of confusion and indecision from their newspapers today on the Conservative Party struggle to find a new Prime Minister. The potential successors were unchanged—Mr R. A. Butler, Lord Hailsham, Lord Home, and Mr Reginald Maudling.

Political correspondents disagreed about the extent to which individual fortunes were rising and falling in the dramatic flurry of “consultations” to

find a party leader.

There was some impatience about the delay in finding a candidate in the time since Mr Macmillan announced last week he intended to resign. “The Great Tory Farce” was (he bold headline above a front page leading article in the “Daily Mirror.” In yesterday's Cabinet meeting Ministers “agreed to disagree,” it said. It said: “They don’t know who should be the boss. They couldn’t choose the one-eyed minister who could be king in the cabinet of the blind.” The paper gave nutshell opinions on the candidates for the succession as follows: patient Butler; faceless Home; honest Maudling; rowdy, reactionary Hailsham: progressive Macleod; and energetic, amiable Heath.

The “Daily Herald” said: “Decide or get out! This circus has gone on too long.” Hallsham’s Hopes The “Daily Sketch” saw Lord Hailsham’s hopes fade as one by one his rivals visited Mr Macmillan's bedside.

The "Guardian” said the Queen was likely to send for Lord Hailsham. The political correspondent, Francis Boyd, wrote: “The Queen, acting on advice, may before the end of the week send for Lord i Hailsham and invite him to form a government.” Boyd said that if the Queen did ask Lord Hailsham to form a government “he would certainly succeed, and there might be no major resignations from the Government.'’ “It was thought last night that the issue lay solely between Lord Hailsham and Mr Butler," Boyd said. "It was also thought that Lord Hailsham had a slight lead over his rival. “Lord Home’s role as ■ third man has diminished though by last night it had not been struck out of the script. Need For Haste

“Members of the Government are now in a hurry to be done with the struggle for the leadership: they have much other business to tackle. "... The one fact about the leadership that emerged at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, which never discussed the issue in terms of personalities, was agreement on the need to find Mr Macmillan’s successor as quickly as pos-

“Neither Mr Butler nor Lord Hailsham will concede the victory to the other, and there is no need for a third man to be called in to break the deadlock: the Queen can break it by inviting one of the rivals to try to form a government.

"This is the most likely development.” the newspaper said. “It would not be a case of the Crown intervening in party affairs. The Queen would act on advice from Mr Macmillan or some other figure based on the best assessment they can make of the

party’s needs and wishes.” The "Financial Times” political correspondent said: “Since it is now plain that neither Mr Butler nor Lord Hailsham—the two main contestants—will at present give way to the other, the views of Mr Macmillan could be crucial in the final outcome. “In such circumstances, the plain evidence of the last week or so that Mr Macmillan does not favour Mr Butler as the best next Tory leader must be regarded as relevant in any assessment one tries to make of what advice the Prime Minister will eventually offer the Queen. “It could also be significant that, while the Butler and Hailsham factions may be more or less evenly balanced if all segments of the Tory Party are taken into account. Lord Hailsham seems to be pulling slightly into the lead so far as Conservative M.P.s are concerned.” it said. “This is said to be the result of a questionnaire which has been put to Conservative M.P.s. "And although Mr Butler could more easily command a majority in the Cabinet than Lord Hailsham, it could be argued that Lord Hailsham’s constituency support, together with a marginal lead among Tory M.P.S, might provide a better consensus of allround support.

“If the Prime Minister is, moreover, to exercise a casting vote in interpreting the conflicting evidence, it could be argued that Lord Hailsham's chances have now increased,” it said.

“Maudling Moves Up" The “Daily Telegraph” saw Mr Maudling moving up in favour, and "The Times” struck a similar note.

The “Daily Mail” said Mr Butler, Lord Hailsham and Mr Maudling waited for someone else's strength and nerves to crack first. There was speculation about yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, and the “Daily Worker” said the leadership issue was not even discussed. Yesterday, the Prime Minister summoned to his bedside in quick succession all six principal figures in the leadership drama. Authoritative sources said last night it was conceivable that if the Government and

party failed to agree soon on a successor, Mr Macmillan might have to give the casting vote. But he would do so with great reluctance, and only if it appeared the only way to extricate the party from the present impasse. He conferred first with Mr Butler, then with Lord Home and Mr Maudling.

Later Mr Macmillan saw Mr lain Madeod, a senior Cabinet Minister and Leader of the House of Commons. Lord Home is president of the union of Conservative Associations and Mr Macleoil is one of thfe party’s two joint chairmen. Mr Macmillan last night also bad a talk with Lord Hailsham. Still another visitor last night was the Deputy Foreign Secretary, Mr Edward Heath, who is also among those discussed as potential successors. Lord Home saiid after his visit, with Mr Maudling: “We have had a good talk with him." But he declined to give any indicetion of when an announcement on the leadership might be made. Election Danger

Belief hardened last night that the deadlock was unlikely to be resolved before the week-end. In the behind-scenes movements the leaders have to ensure the situation does not blow up into an open quarrel over rival contenders. They fear that if the authority of the administration itself was weakened a snap General Election might be forced on the country. Some political observers noted that Mr Macmillan had not yet resigned the Prime Ministership and that he was making what appeared to be a rapid and complete recovery to normal health. They posed the question whether, if the leadership issue dragged on, it might start moves to persuade Mr Macmillan to change his mind and stay on for the time being. But authoritative quarters thought there was little chance of this happening. The doctor who performed the prostate gland operation on Mr Macmillan last week said last night that he was “progressing very well indeed."