It is astonishing, in these circumstances, that a General Election
in the early autumn is being mooted. Sir Douglas Hacking may have had no other intention when he warned his cohorts to stand by, than to counteract the rumours that were getting about that the Government proposed to extend the life of this Parliament beyond its normal period. None the less, some Members of the Tory Party would like to see a snap election in November, on the ground that, if the worst has not happened before then, we shall have a breath- ing space in international affairs, and it may be the last opportunity for the Government to fight on a ticket of " We've kept you out of war." There is also a growing feeling that a portion of the Tory Party will not be able to stomach very much longer what they regard as Socialist measures being pushed through under threat of war. The Civil Defence Bill, the new Profits Tax, the Ministry of Supply, the evacuation schemes, have trampled on almost every principle that Conservatives hold sacred. Finally, it is now recognised, except amongst the most extreme partisans, that the shadow of war alone has kept the present Cabinet in office. Everyone believes that, if war comes, we shall have a wholesale reconstruction of the Cabinet. There is no doubt that the country would be glad to see this reconstruction immediately. * * * *
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