CHURCHILL RESIGNS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25852, 24 May 1945, Page 5

CHURCHILL RESIGNS

COALITION AT AN END

DATE OF ELECTION ANNOUNCEMENT AWAITED (Rec. 1 a.m.) LONDON, May 23. It is officially announced from No. 10 Downing street that Mr Churchill had an audience with the King at noon and tendered his resignation as Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Defence Minister. The Press Association’s lobbyist says that Mr Churchill decided to break up the coalition immediately. The National Government has thus come to an end with his resignation. All offices now become vacant. It is understood that Mr Churchill will be entrusted with the formation of another Government. The correspondent adds that the new Government will meet when the House of Commons reassembles next Tuesday. Mr Churchill has now to begin forming a “ caretaker ” Government, in which Sir John Anderson, Sir James Grigg, Sir Andrew Duncan and other non-partyities will be members. An announcement of the forthcoming dissolution of Parliament is expected very shortly. The date of the general election is. likely to be July 5. • Mr Churchill went to Buckingham Palace to see the King as the first formal step towards a general election. It is ex- • pected that an official announcement will follow that the King has granted a request, for the dissolution of Parliament, and that a proclamation will be issued in 21 days. The Evening Standard’s political correspondent says that Cabinet has held its last business meeting. Departing Ministers, in view of their obvious intention to disclaim responsibility for ending the Coalition, may decide that by not tendering their resignations they are fixing the onus more firmly on Mr Churchill, thus forcing him to ask the Labour Ministers to put their offices at his disposal. When Parliament reassembles on Tuesday the state of the parties will be Conservatives 359, Labour 164, Liberals 19, Liberal-Nationals 24, National Labour 5, Independents 19, Nationals 6, Independent Labour 3, Common Wealth 3, Communist 1, Scottish Nationalist 1.

Mr Churchill has addressed the following letter to Mr Attlee: — “My dear Mr Attlee—l am sorry to receive your letter of May 21, in which you reject my proposal that we should work together until the defeat of Japan is achieved. In this letter you tell me our only course is to prolong the present coalition until the General 'Election in October. This would mean that, from now until October, outside the Government (and even within it) we should be continually preparing for the election. We have already suffered several months of this electioneering atmosphere, which, I am sure, is already affecting administrative efficiency, and might soon weaken the country and the world at a time when, above all others, it should be stronger. “I agree that it is on the problems of the economic life of the country .that party differences are most acute'. What is required, you say, is decisive action. This can only be forthcoming from a Government united on principle and policy. I agree also, with your statement that ‘my colleagues and I do not believe it would be possible to lay aside political controversy now that the expectation of an election has engaged the attention of the country.’ For mv part, I am surfe that a continuance of this uncertainty and agitation would be harmful t» the whole process of the recovery of our trade and the change-over in industry. It is not good for any country—and it is impossible for any coalition—to live for so long a time .under the spell of an approaching General Election. Least of all is this

possible in a world where events are so tumultuous and dangerous as now. “ Opinions are much divided as to how party advantage may lie between June and the October election, and I regret the aspersions with which you have darkened this correspondence. I have concerned myself solely with trying to create tolerable conditions under which we could work together. It is clear from the tone of your letter and the feelings of your party that these no longer exist, and it is odd that you should accompany so many unjust allegations with the earnest request that we should go on bickering together until the autumn. Such a process would not be a decent way of carrying on a British Government. I regret that you should speak of ‘rushing’ the election. Foreseeing what might arise at the close of the German war we discussed, as you will remember, tne whole question of procedure in detail in the War Cabinet. The normal period between dissolution and poll is 17 days, and it was you and your colleagues who proposed that there should be at least three weeks’ additional interval, in view of the special circumstances prevailing. “ We gladly accepted this reasonable request, and the unanimous decision of Cabinet was made known by you on January 17, when you announced in the House of Commons that the King had been graciously willing for this occasion to announce his intention to dissolve Parliament at least three weeks beforehand.”