ABSTRACT
On 23 May 1945, when Mr. Churchill on behalf of the Coalition Government tendered his resignation to the King and asked for the dissolution of Parliament, a period of co-operation unequalled in the history of this country was brought to its conclusion. It had been achieved by means of the restraint of the principal political parties, which had imposed on themselves a condition approaching political inactivity in the interests of national unity and the more vigorous prosecution of the war. They had consented to the prolongation of Parliament into the tenth year. They had submitted to, and sustained, an electoral truce. Finally they had maintained in office for five years a Coalition Government, which included members of all parties except the Communists, the Independent Labour party, and the recently developed Common Wealth party.
