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Major British Parties Vie for Jewish Votes in General Election

October 2, 1964
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Britain’s three major parties, bidding for votes in the October 15 general election, all made statements today on issues of special concern to Jewish voters, particularly regarding the Middle East.

Sir Alec Douglas-Home, the Premier and leader of the Conservative party, has left this election assignment to his Home Secretary, Henry Brooke, who speaks in general terms and avoids specific issues. Brooke fells voters that the guiding principle of the British Government is to maintain the balance of arms in the area.

Labor party leader Harold Wilson has been much more specific, asserting that, if Labor wins, we will try to obtain agreement of the Great Powers to halt the arms race in the Middle East. Jo Grimond, Liberal Party leader and head of the party least likely to win, has told voters that he also favors a halt in the arms race. But he has added that, if the Arabs refuse to make peace with Israel and continue their arms race, Israel is entitled to maintain the balance by getting the new modern arms it needs.

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