Spring Flirtation

For the first time since he was returned to office with a paper-thin majority 18 months ago, Prime Minister Winston Churchill was flirting with the notion of calling a general election. It was, at most, a mild flirtation. But the very suggestion that the wise old politician was again making eyes at a ballot box was enough to set tongues wagging in London last week.

Socialists have occasionally warned that Churchill might try to take advantage of the patriotic euphoria of the coronation to call a "snap general election." But the P. M. himself is said to feel that such exploitation of the coronation would boomerang. Having gone through three general elections in eight years, he is convinced that "the country is sick of elections" and wants a rest from partisan strife. This is why the Churchill government has taken pains to press its denationalization and decontrol programs with calculated gentleness.

One Economic, One Churchillian. Chancellor of the Exchequer "Rab" Butler is determinedly opposed to an early election. He needs time to pull Britain's finances out of the mire, and his arguments have been overriding. But the new spring zephyrs from Moscow have given 78-year-old Winston Churchill at least a couple of good reasons for wanting to extend his and his party's lease on power.

Reason One is economic. Struck by the drop in world markets brought about by Soviet peace maneuvers, Churchill believes that protracted East-West peace discussions would reduce defense spending and might start a recession. With new elections to extend their power another five years, the Tories would have enough time to batten down the economy and ride out the possible storm.

Reason Two is Churchillian. The epitaph history has already written for him, admiring as it is, depicts him chiefly as a "war Prime Minister," the indomitable, eloquent man who is at his best when the enemy threatens.

Few things have hurt his feelings more than the "warmonger" label tacked onto him by Laborites in the 1951 elections. If the danger of war recedes in the next few months, he might cap his career by proving himself a great Prime Minister in peace as in war. An election, returning the Tories to power with a greater majority would be a helpful hint to history.

No More Grumping. On top of that, Churchill's personal position has improved in recent months. Not long ago, many Tories were grumping that the near-deaf, often crotchety and frequently high-handed old man ought to make way for someone younger. There was almost none of such talk last week. The rivalry between Butler and Foreign Secretary Eden for the succession has also served to strengthen Churchill's position in the party. (A Gallup poll last week showed Eden still the favorite over Butler, 64% to 8%, even though Eden's prestige has fallen off.)

Visiting Churchill at his Kent estate, Chartwell, one day last week, Rab Butler pleaded with the P.M. against a fall election and in favor of a tough budget which might not be popular in an election year, but would be helpful later on. The Prime Minister, his nostrils aflare with the tempting spring air, said he would think it over.

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