Churchill visit called help to Mackenzie King
Canadian Premier suffer second reverse on political front
By John A. Reichmann, United Press staff writer
Québec, Canada –
Canadian political observers today appraised the arrival of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill as of timely political assistance to his host, Prime Minister W. L. Mackenzie King.
Mr. Churchill’s arrival by coincidence came just after Mr. Mackenzie King’s second recent political reverse. On Monday, his Liberal Party lost three by-elections to groups to the left and one to the right. A fortnight ago, he lost over 60–90 seats in the Ontario Legislature.
Has supported war
Mr. Mackenzie King, as head of the Liberal Party, has steadfastly supported the war policies of Messrs. Roosevelt and Churchill. He has collaborated closely with Mr. Roosevelt and many observers believe Mr. Churchill strongly supports his policies from a sentimental standpoint despite certain prohibitions which would preclude his taking part in Canadian politics.
There are many currents in Canadian policies which serve as explanations for Mr. Mackenzie King’s reversals, but the fact most emphasized here is that he has suffered them and faces even more serious ones.
In the case of Ontario, his Liberal Party had held more than 60 out of 90 seats in the provincial Legislature. The elections reduced this strength to 14 while the Conservatives and Socialists almost evenly divided the remaining seats with an apparent balance of power in the hands of Mitchell Hepburn, his prime opponent.
Communists gain
On Monday, in the federal by-elections, the Communists for the first time in Canadian history apparently gained one seat. The winner was Fred Rose, only recently released from a concentration camp, and running on a Labor ticket in the Cartier division of Montréal. The Communist Party is outlawed in Canada.
On this picture, Mr. Churchill’s presence can only have a beneficial effect as far as Mr. Mackenzie King’s political future is concerned. The visit of the two leaders and Mr. Churchill’s praise of the Canadian Army’s exploits in Sicily can readily give the impression that Mr. Churchill endorses Mr. Mackenzie King’s conduct of the war.
Only future developments can determine whether this will be sufficient to maintain Mr. Mackenzie King in authority.