ELECTION PLANS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 February 1942, Page 3

ELECTION PLANS

UNDER CONSIDERATION IN BRITAIN FAITH IN CHURCHILL. DECLARED TO BE UNABATED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, February 16. Some of Mr Churchill’s closest advisers are considering plans for an early general election, says the “Daily Mail’s” political correspondent. A decision will be made soon, and if they decide upon an election it would be modelled on Mr Lloyd George’s “coupon’ ’election of 1918. Candidates pledged to support Mr Churchill in all circumstances would be given official backing regardless of party considerations.

There is no suggestion in Press comment here (says a British Official Wireless message) of minimising the gravity of the Far Eastern situation, and Mr Churchill’s description of the fall of Singapore as/‘a heavy and farreaching military defeat” is echoed in 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 their other new crdeal, though it may be more costly and will certainly be longer.” The “News Chronicle” says: “At such moments the first need of the nation is to reaffirm its faith in itself, and its unalterable determination to gain victory. Mr Churchill is the toughest and most tenacious warrior of the Empire, and has been in this respect a perfect example to all. Carrying an incalculable load of, responsibility, he has never wavered, and when times were bad he has never’ dissembled. “The news is grave, but we must keep it in 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 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.” MIDLAND MEMBERS CALL FOR ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGE. AND RECONSTRUCTION OF WAR CABINET. (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON. February 17. A private meeting of Midland members of the House of Commons passed a resolution, affirming their confidence in Mr Churchill, but calling for serious attention to the grave feeling of unrest and doubt and urging such a change m the administration as would secure coordination of the Defence services, and reconstruction of the War Cabinet, for I the purpose of relieving its members of departmental responsibility.