British Labour Upset— Election Switches From Bread To Bombs

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 February 1950, Page 5

British Labour Upset— Election Switches From Bread To Bombs

LONDON, February 15 (Rec. 2.30 p.m.).—Britain’s election campaign tonight switched dramatically from bread to bombs, following Mr Churchill’s call for Big Three talks to end the “cold war.” Mr Churchill’s move has clearly presented the Labour Party with a first-class dilemma —and tremendously stimulated the confidence of the Conservatives.

A leading Conservative headquarters spokesman stated categorically: “We are going to win.” He based his view on the results of a nation-wide poll said to show a striking swing to the Tories, particularly in London, the home counties around the metropolis, the north-west and, to some extent, the Midlands. While the country awaited Labour's reply to Mr Churchill, the author of all the excitement calmly prepared to address a crowd in his constituency near London. Mr Frank Byres, Chief Liberal Whip in the last Parliament, said: An approach to Russia must be based on national unity at home and should be made on an all-party basis. What is now required is a determined effort by all parties to achieve unity so that Britain’s next Prime Minister can speak with the voice of- the whole nation.” The Prime Minister, Mr Attlee,

steadily pursuing the return path on his 1000-mile tour, referred to Mr Churchill’s charges regarding the Government’s wild extravagance. He said: “Mr Churchill is a great master of words, but it is a terrible thing when a master of words becomes a slave of words, because there is nothing behind those words. They are just words of abuse.”