World: They're Off

Only six weeks ago, most British politicians believed that Prime Minister Harold Macmillan's government would not dare call a general election before spring 1964. But in Westminster last week M.P.s were wagering that the Tories would go to the people this fall. Labor Party leaders even claimed to know the date: Oct. 24, about the last possible Thursday (Britain's traditional polling day) before the end of campaigning season.

Reason for the shift in thinking was the good economic news for the government that came with spring's thaw after the worst winter of the century. Suddenly came word of new export records, booming...