GENERAL ELECTION

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 February 1942, Page 6

GENERAL ELECTION

POSSIBLE IN BRITAIN. LONDON, February 16. Some of Mr. Churchill’s closest advisers are considering plans for an early general election, says the political correspondent of the “Daily Mail.” A decision will be made soon, ana if an election is decided upon it would be modelled on Mr. Lloyd George’s “coupon” election of 1918. Candidates pledged to support Mr. Churchill in ail circumstances would be given official backing regardless oi party consideration. BRITISH PRESS COMMENT CONFIDENCE IN~MR. CHURCHILL RUGBY. February IG. There is no suggestion in Press comment in London ofminimising the (gravity of the Far Eastern situation, and Mr. Church ill’s description of the fall of Singapore as “a heavy, Jarreaching’ military defeat,” is echoed m every quarter. At the same time, there is no question that the general feeling is of unabated confidence in Mr. Churchill and of firm determination to act in the spirit of his words—“the same qualities which brought us through the awful jeopardy of the Summer of 1940 and the long Autumn and Winter bombardments from the air will bring us through this other new ordeal, though it. may be more costly and it will certainly be longer. The “News Chronicle” states: _ “At such moments the first need of the nation is to reaffirm its faith in itself and its unalterable determination upon victory. Mr. Churchill, the toughest and the most tenacious warrior of the Empire, has been, in this respect, a perfect'example to _ all. Carrying an incalculable load cf responsibility, he has never wavered and when times were bad he has never dissembled. The news is grave, but we must keep it in its perspective. The war may go still worse for us before it begins to go finally and decisively better. But- we know with certainty that given fidelity of purpose and unsparing individual effort, the united nations contain, within their maturing capacity, the means of absolute victory.”

Both the “Daily Herald” and the “Daily Mail” feel that Mr. Churchill is bearing a heavier burden of responsibility than any one man should be expected to carry, and the “Daily Mail” concludes its comment: “The fortunes and mistakes of war will not be taken advantage of by anyone. Mr. Churchill can rest assured of this, but nothing will deter us from probing into the weaknesses in our war direction and demanding that the Government put them, right. Only thus shall we steer our way, not only into the storm, but through it." “The fall of Singapore and the escape of the German warships have given a sharper edge to the disappointment and anxiety which the course of the war in the Pacific has aroused along the whole Allied front,” declares “The Times” in a leading article. “The Times” adds: “Some criticisms are misplaced,_ but their whole purpose is to stimulate a greater and better co-ordinated efioyt. That, can only be welcomed by the Administration as reinforcing its authority to subordinate every other interest' and consideration to the primary purpose of winning the war. The spirit of the- British people is demanding that the Government match its own determination and express d in an unending and ruthlecs search for efficiency without regard to things or person.” RECONS'TRUCTION URGED (Recd. 10.30 a.rn.) LONDON, Feb. 17. At a private meeting, Midland Members of the Commons passed a resolution affirming confidence in Mr. Churchill, but calling for serious attention to the grave feeling of unrest and doubt, and urging such a change in the administration as to secure the co-ordination of the defence services and the reconstruction of the War Cabinet, for the purpose of relieving the members from departmental responsibility.

LOSING COMMONS’ SYMPATHY

(Rec. 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 17. The Commons was less sympathetic towards Mr. Churchill to-day than at any time since he assumed the Premiership. The general demeanour oJ‘ the House indicated that the desire for a change in the personnel of the Government was fairly widespread. Some London newspapers warn Mi’. Churchill that lie cannot carry on single-handed. They ask him to get riel of incompetents who are hindering the war effort.

The ‘’Daily Herald” says: ML? need a Prime Minister with time to think, and a War Cabinet with time to think.

The “Daily Mirror,’’ saying that Mr. Churchill’s burden is too heavy, suggests that he should appoint a Defence Minister, while ho remains Prime Minister. The best of his colleagues should be relieved oj their hariassing departmental duties, and retained in. a small 'War Cabinet, with the task of surveying the war as a whole. Mr. Churchill’s worst or inefficient colleagues should be removed. The “News-Chronicle” says: Mr. Churchill must hand over, or at least delegate the responsibilities, which events have shown are not compatible with the role of national leader. He must establish a War Council comparable with the War Cabinets of 19.17 and 191'8, which will share with him the direction of policy as a whole.