Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-09-25
AttIee Firmly Rejects
Demands fol, Another
Election This Year
By the Assoeiofed Press

LONDON, Sept. 25.- Prime
Minister Attlee has replied with
a firm mo" to demands raised
In some sections of the Labor
Party for another general elec-
ton this year.
A source close to No. 10 Down
ang Street said nothing short of
a parliamentary defeat for Mr..
Attlee would bring elections in
Britain before 1851.
This informant said the final
decision rests with the Prime
Minister, and Mr.. Attlee prefers
to hang on with his paper major
ity Of seven in the House of Com
mons, particularly in view of the
unsettled international situation.
No Action on Charges.
I A group Of left-wing Labor sup
porters has been reported advo-
eating an early election with the
hope of improving Labor's ma
jority. The Conservative oppo-
sition press has freely predicted
an election this year.
Party leaders said today they
expected no disciplinary action
against r. w. G. Mackay, labor
member of Commons, who pub
aicly accused the British govern
ment of sabotaging European CO.
operation by refusing to join in
the Schuman coal-steel plan.
Mr.. Mackay made the attack in
q Steaming political pamphlet
called Heads in the Sand" The
British Press Association said the
attack was so strong he might be
called before National Executive
Committee meeting Wednesday to
make an explanation.
His action in leaving his sick
bed to support the government in
last weeks vote on steel nation
alization will likely cause the
National Committee to excuse his
strong words. observers said.
Struggle Shaping Up.
Mr.. MacKay was a member of
che British delegation to the re-
cent Council of Europe meeting
at Strasbourg. Observers said his
attack may be the forerunner of
a bitter intra- party struggle for
power which is expected to flare
up at the Labor Party's annual
congress opening at Margate &C.
tober 3.
Already signs of the struggle
have been cropping up elsewhere.
Health Minister Aneurin Bevan,
head of the ultra Socialist wing of
the party, is clashing with Deputy
Prime Minister Herbert Morrison.
Mr.. Bevan wants to call another
general election as soon as pos
sible in the hope of improving
Labor's margin in Commons.
Mr.. Morrison. backed by Prime |
Minister Attlee, does not favor an
autumn election.
Mr.. Mackay's pamphlet aSsailed
che National Executive Commit
tees statement on European
unity" issued June IL. The state
ment, which Mr.. Attlee later told
Commons did not necessarily rep
resent government views, objected
to French Foreign Minister Schu-
mans proposal for a supra
national authority to control
Western Europe's coal and steel
production.
Mr.. MacKay declared the state
ment represents the views of
ministers in the British govern
ment who would like Britain to
remain in glorious isolation and
independence and would like to
see the Council of Europe die"
The Attlee regime by a vote of
300 to 289 last June defeated a
demand by Conservatives and Lib
erals that the government join
the Schuman talks in Paris. Six
nations-France. West Germany.
Italy, Belgium, Holland and Lux
embourg-have been negotiating
on MIR. Schuman's proposal since
June 20.
General outlines of the plan
have been approved and a draft
agreement is expected to be ready
early next month.