Evening star., 1942-07-10
Beaverbrook Papers
Urge Parliamentary
General Election
We Must Have New Blood
In House of Commons,
London Express Says
BY HELEN KIRKPATRICK,

ny HEAEN AlnAfh 1N1Ch,
Foreign CORRESPONDENT Of The Star and
Chicago Daily News.
LONDON, July 10.-The demand
for general election once more is
being pressed by Lord Beaverbrook
and his London Daily Express. The
government is not likely to give way.
For the second time in recent
months the demand for a general
election to replace the present Par
lament, which was elected in 1885,
is being made by the Beaverbrook
papers. The Express today urges it
on the grounds that I'VE must have
new blood in the House of Com
mons
Seemingly contradictory is the
papers opening statement that yes
terday the Salisbury by-election was
the 91st of the war. Hence there
have been 81 new members intro
duced into Parliament already. The
Express argues that many members
Of this Parliament were elected on
Lord Baldwin's pledge not to spend
money on defense.
Arguments Refuted.
The arguments against the elec-
ton are refuted by the Express. One
of the principal ones brought for
ward Is that the voters lists are out
dated and the movement of the pop
ulation has been such since the out
break or war that it would be i'm
possible to get out new ones. Many
thousands of electors are with the
armed forces overseas for another
thing. And the time the Government
would have to devote to electioneer-
ing speeches is regarded as too es-
sential at this critical stage of af-
fairs.
The Express says ration cards
provide an adequate list of voters.
It points out that as the United
States and Canada can find time
during the war to have elections
Britain should be able to do so.
No suggestions are made as to how
the soldiers votes could be can
vaSSed.
When the Labor Party conference
in May threatened to break the
party truce, the government imme-
diately investigated the possibilities
Of holding a general election. A
coupon election" was the only pos
sibility. BY that the amount Of
campaigning might be cut to a
minimum. All candidates holding a
coupon from the government would
be regarded as national unity can
didates and the electorate would be
asked to return them. But when
the means of getting votes from the
armed forces abroad was examined
1t was found that the war would
have virtually to be stopped to
enable votes to be collected.
Break in Party Lines.
1t was also realized by the govern
ment that q certain number of men,
bers Of both the Conservative and
Labor parties would not conform to
party lines and that the number
of Independents would thereby be
increased. Men like Lord Winter
;on and Sir John Wardlaw-Milne
If the Conservative party and
Emanuel Shinwell Of the Labor
,arty would, undoubtedly, refuse
government backing and the num-
Der of independents would thereby
,e increased. This was not regarded
rs desirable.
Lord Beaverbrook is recognized to
be behind the scenes" leader of the
independents, although many of
those now sitting as independents
in the House would not wish to be
associated with him. By obtaining
a general election it is likely that
Lord Beaverbrook is hoping to aug
ment the group of independents.
The Express suggests that people
have not much faith in the present
Parliament. There is much to con-
firm that-the people realize that
debates in the House will not win
battles and the people want battles
to be won
| Copyright. 1912, by Chicago Daily Nevs)