The Evening Star MONDAY, MAY 28, 1945. THE NEW GOVERNMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 25495, 28 May 1945, Page 4

The Evening Star MONDAY, MAY 28, 1945. THE NEW GOVERNMENT.

Mr Churchill's " caretaker " Government is almost as strong as that which it has superseded. The changes that have been made are the best that could have been made in the. circumstances, and if the Conservative Party is re. elected on anything like its former representation, and Mr Attlee refuses to oontiuue the Coalition until the end of the Japanese war—in view of Mr Harold Laski's statement it looks as if there will be no resumption of ( that alliance—it would seem very likely that, the Cabinet will be substantially unchanged. Several of the portfolios remain as before; a few have vanished along with the War Cabinet, the need for them having gone with the cessation of hostilities in Europe, and where Labour members no longer hold office wise appointments have been made. Mr Churchill need have little fear that his is not a good team, and those who have been tried and proved will be supported- by others who show promise of following satisfactorily in their foot-; steps. But it remains a matter for regret that the Coalition Government which carried on so brilliantly—the word is not extreme—in the war years is now political history. Another two or three years could have made Little or no difference to Labour's plans, and the interests of the country, wider than domesticities, would better served were there no opposing voices in the House to raise unnecessary opposition. For it is_to be feared that Labour, now in a recalcitrant mood, will raise a voice of objection where there may not be the need. Already there are recriminations, with election hardly begun, and these may become more bitter as polling day draws nearer. Miss Ellen Wilkinson has found it within her vision to declare that the Labour members of the Coalition Government were given the hardest and dirtiest jobs in'war time, and'if she covered up her remark by adding that it is an honour to be given hard tasks in war time, she yet used a phrase that is certain to bo quoted divorced of the qualifying addition. She also has had her gibe at Mr Churchill, declaring him to have forfeited his allegiance as the nation's leader to beconie a mere political party leader. She ignores the fact that it was Labour—and in the early stages of the dissension, the Liberals—who forced Mr Churchill to become a political party leader. It was not he. but the Labour members of the Coalition who were_ adamant in the demand for an election, and unless Mr Churchill resigns from politics altogether there could be no other Conservative Party leader than .he. Labour members might have had some difficult tasks to fulfil in the old Cabinet, but not one of the portfolios was easy to handle in the days of (Britain's greatest crisis. Men like Mr A. V, Alexander as First Lord of the Admiralty. Mr Herbert Morrison as Home Secretary, and Mr Ernest Bevin as Minister of Labour and National Security, had exalted positions in which they gave loyal and excellent service. That they are no longer in those offices is the responsibility of the "wild men of Blackpool." who could see nothing for it but an election and a plunge into uncontrolled Socialism. On the merits of the Government Mr Churchill is asking the people to return on July 5 the British public should be able to vote 'with confidence. Tts formation might be said to be Mr Churchill's devastating opening broadside in the election campaign, one from which it will take Labour a while to recover.