Rumour still concerns itself with a general election in November,
but-nothing on the subject has been said by the Prime Minister or by any member of the Cabinet. Our own impression is that the more the nation looks at the prospect of a general election the less it likes it. Those who are in favour of a general election pretend that opposition to it comes merely from party agents and from party spirit. We should have thought that the exact contrary was true. For our own part it is simply the desire to avoid the distrac- tion of party strife during the war that makes us dislike the thought of a general election. It is difficult to believe that there is any real reason for a general election except the fact that it might suit the Prime Minister's political convenience. The argument that the Reform Act must come into operation directly the new register is completed is losing what force it had because reports from the constituencies declare the register to be still in a rather chaotic condition. Moreover, the Act itself never contemplated the use of the new register at the earliest possible moment. The Act distinctly lays it down that it shall come into operation by Order in Council—in other words, when the public interest makes it desirable that there should be a general election.
Previous page
