Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-06-17
BY CROSBY MOVES
star staff Writer


LONDON, June 1.-THE re-
volt Of the Conservative Party,
which for the last week has
threatened to topple the gov
eminent Of Prime Minister
Macmillan. appears to have
been smashed.
Even before today's debate
in the House of Commons over
the unsavory Profumo scandal,
1t was clear that the govern
ment could count on a COM
Portable majority in any vote
Of censure: After a week end
of agonizing uncertainty, re-
bellious ministers were back
in line. No massive OBJECTIONS
were expected from the rank
and file Of Conservative back
benchers.
II immediate danger has been
averted, however, it is scarcely
towering victory for the
Prime Minister. The long
range outlook for Mr.. Macmil-
Ian himself and his party as
a whole is still highly uncer-
tain. To many observers it
looks as If Mr.. Macmillan may
have won a battle and lost the
war.
Bargain Rumored
Indeed there are rumors of
a bargain struck between Mr..
Macmillan and his critics in
his own party. In return for
their votes today, 1t is said the
Prime Minister has promised
to step aside in the near future
in favor Of a younger man.
Needless to say, these rumors
are hotly denied by all Con-
sentative leaders. It does not
seem unlikely, however, that
a change Of party leadership
is in the offing.
Whatever outward appear
ance Of solidarity may have
been achieved, the Conserva-
tive Party has been shaken to
Its foundations by the scandal
that broke on June 5 with the
resignation Of Mr.. MacInillan's
War Minister, John Profumo
At that time, Mr.. Profumo adj
mitted having lied to the House
and to his superiors by form
ally denying an improper rela-
tionship with a 21-year-old can
girl named Christine Keeler.
At this time, it was also re-
vealed that Miss Keeler was
simultaneously entertaining an
assistant Russian naval attache
in London, Capt. Eugene
Ivanov, who is strongly sus-
pected Of having been a
member of the Russian intelli-
gence service. The Labor Party
raised the question of a possible
breach of security, which was
to provide the main theme of
today's debate.
Revolt QueIIed
Throughout last week. there
were obvious signs of rebellion
within the ranks of the govern
ment itself. At one point, as
many as four ministers were re-
ported on the point Of resign
ing. Any such move would have
split the party wide open and
almost certainly would have
forced Mr.. Macmillan's resigns-
ton.
mis- revolt was quelled when
the Prime Minister, in a series
Of cabinet meetings and private
conversations, succeeded in
convincing his ministers the
government was In no way to
blame for what had happened.
An investigation carried out
by the Lord Chancellor, Lord
Dilhorn, indicated that no
breach Of security had actually
occurred. More important, Mr..
Macmillan persuaded his col
leagues that he and other gov
eminent leaders were guilty
neither Of connivance nor ex-
cessive naivete in accepting Mr..
Profumo's protestations Of in
nocence..
The battle was won when one
OF the more reluctant cabinet
members, Minister Of Education
Enoch Powell, declared yester-
day that 1.-THE personal honor
and integrity Of Prime Minister
Harold Macmillan are abso-
lutely unsullied and untouched"
by the Profumo affair. Given
his reputation for austerity,
other Conservatives apparently
felt that what was moral enough
for Enoch Power must surely
be moral enough for the aver
age voter.
POlled Aided Macmillan
There was also perhaps a less
moral but still important factor
that operated in Mr.. Macmil-
lan's favor. This was publica-
ton Of a poll last Saturday in
dicating that the Profumo
scandal had had little effect on
political Royalties Of the country
as whole.